Rangers at Capitals - Open Game Thread

Two games in two nights against the Penguins and the Capitals? Who makes the NHL schedule, George R.R. Martin? Tonight the Blueshirts will cross sticks with Washington after unraveling in the second period against the Penguins last night. Henrik Lundqvist isn't with the Rangers because of neck spasms. Magnus Hellberg will serve as the backup goaltender tonight behind Raanta.

The Rangers are 6-3-1 in their last ten games and are 14-15-3 on the road this season. The relentless Washington Capitals are 26-5-2 at home this season

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A Different Perspective: Japers' Rink

Mike's Player to Watch: Antti Raanta

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Hopefully tonight we'll see Eric Staal get more even strength ice time than Tanner Glass tonight. The younger Staal that skates on the Rangers' blue line is expected to return tonight from the flu.

Your expected lineups:

RANGERS

Chris Kreider - Derek Stepan - Mats Zuccarello

J.T. Miller - Derick Brassard - Jesper Fast

Viktor Stalberg - Eric Staal - Kevin Hayes

Tanner Glass - Dominic Moore - Oscar Lindberg

Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi

Keith Yandle - Kevin Klein

Dan Boyle - Marc Staal

Antti Raanta

Magnus Hellberg

Injured: Rick Nash (bone bruise), Henrik Lundqvist (neck spasms)

Scratched: Dylan McIlrath

CAPITALS

Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - T.J. Oshie

Andre Burakovsky - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Justin Williams

Jason Chimera - Marcus Johansson - Tom Wilson

Daniel Winnik - Mike Richards - Jay Beagle

Matt Niskanen - Karl Alzner

Brooks Orpik - Dmitry Orlov

Mike Weber - Taylor Chorney

Braden Holtby

Philipp Grubauer

Injured: John Carlson (lower body), Nate Schmidt (lower body)

Scratched: Stanislav Galiev, Michael Latta