Updated at 1:19 PM: The day after the Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1, the Red Wings head to New York to play the winless-in-six New York Rangers (7:30 PM EST on FSD/MSG/NHL Network U.S./97.1 FM).
Ryan McDonagh (upper-body) won’t play, and the Rangers, who are only 1 point behind the Wings in the Eastern Conference standings, but are admittedly “rebuilding,” so they’re looking to clear the decks.
As for the Red Wings, Mike Green (neck) traveled with the team to New York, and it’s assumed that Jimmy Howard will start opposite Henrik Lundqvist, though we won’t know those details for sure until Blashill speaks with the media around 5 PM (back-to-back games = no Wings morning skate).
Ahead of the wildness surrounding the Rick Nash trade, NewYorkRangers.com’s Matt Calamia penned a game preview:
The Game: After the organization’s past is honored when Jean Ratelle’s No. 19 gets raised to The Garden rafters, the present Rangers will take on the Detroit Red Wings looking to snap out of a losing streak.
The Rangers were edged, 4-1, Friday night by the Minnesota Wild at The Garden for the team’s sixth loss in a row. Jesper Fast scored the team’s only goal while rookie Alexandar Georgiev made his second start in as many days and finished with 33 saves in the defeat.
Henrik Lundqvist is expected to get the start on Sunday, and with no practice on Saturday, any lineup changes are unknown at present time.
The Rangers picked up points in both of the earlier games against the Red Wings this season, most recently in a shootout loss on Dec. 29 at Detroit.
Detroit topped the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-1, on Saturday night to leap over the Rangers in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Dylan Larkin leads the club with 36 assists and 45 points in 60 games, followed by Henrik Zetterberg’s 42 points in 60 games.
Goaltender Jimmy Howard was victorious last night in Detroit, leaving open the possibility that Jared Coreau could make his first start of the season following the trade of Petr Marazek to Philadelphia last week.
…
Inside the Numbers:Ten of the last 18 contests between the Rangers and Red Wings, including nine of the last 15 games and six of the last nine games, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.
And David Booth spoke with the Free Press’s Susan Selasky about “going vegan“:
David Booth plays left/right wing for the Detroit Red Wings. On December 1 he made the switch to a strictly plant-based diet, eliminating all meats.
“I’ve always been curious about what’s goes into the body,” Booth says. “I wanted to be as nutrient dense as I could and I’ve always geared towards plants.”
Booth, 33, doesn’t have anything against good organic meats or wild game, he’s a hunter himself. But he thought he would try veganism.
“I was strict and am still doing it,” he says. “After one month I felt so good on it and decided do it for all of January too.”
Booth, a full two-plus months into going vegan, says he eats vegetables, whole foods, grains, sprouts, grains and legumes.
“I just started eating more of them and eliminated the cheeses and the creams,” he says. “I love cheese. It’s one of my favorite things, but I really haven’ts had a super big craving for cheese or any kind of meat, since I stopped.”
Since going plant-based, Booth says he’s lost 8 to 10 pounds, feels great and lighter.
“Which has been a huge factor for me. I think the lighter you feel, the faster you you’re going to be in the game,” he says. “The game is so fast right now. I think you need to be about as light and strong as you can and I feel both with what I’ve been doing lately.”
George the Diet Guru: You’ve gotta do what’s best for you, and always talk to your doctor before making radical changes to your diet.
Anyway, the Rangers didn’t hold a morning skate, but they were talkative in the locker room, as noted by NHL.com’s Dan Rosen…
To dispel any crazy rumors or thoughts, Henrik Lundqvist says he loves the Rangers, can’t see himself anywhere else, wants to win only here and the Rangers haven’t asked him if he even would consider moving. It’s NOT happening. Lundqvist starts tonight.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 25, 2018
Alain Vigneault says Ryan Spooner should play tonight at MSG. He thinks he’s more comfortable on the wing. Not sure who he will play him with yet.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 25, 2018
Alain Vigneault says Ryan McDonagh is coming along. He said it’s 50-50 if he travels to the west coast with the Rangers and they will know after the game tonight. So, read into that however you want.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 25, 2018
To add to this, the context of the question was McDonagh’s injury and AV says if it were crunch time McDonagh would probably be playing.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 25, 2018
The New York Rangers…
AV said he expects Spooner to be in the lineup tonight. #NYR
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 25, 2018
AV called Nash one of the best 200-foot players he’s ever coached and a great teammate. #NYR
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 25, 2018
The New York Post’s Brett Cyrgalis…
Lundqvist said he loves #NYR franchise, and “I can’t see myself being anywhere else.”
— Brett Cyrgalis (@BrettCyrgalis) February 25, 2018
Vigneault said he expects Spooner to be in the #NYR lineup tonight, as long as the travel works out.
— Brett Cyrgalis (@BrettCyrgalis) February 25, 2018
And CBS New York’s Sean Hartnett…
#NYR HC Alain Vigneault expects Ryan Spooner to be in the lineup tonight vs. Detroit.
— Sean Hartnett (@HartnettHockey) February 25, 2018
Update: Here’s NHL.com’s Dan Rosen’s game preview:
The Game: The New York Rangers expect to have forward Ryan Spooner in the lineup as they try to end a six-game losing streak when they play the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Spooner was acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins on Sunday. The Rangers sent forward Rick Nash to Boston in the trade.
The Red Wings will try to build on their 3-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
Detroit is seven points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Rangers are eight points behind the Blue Jackets.
Players to watch: Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg has nine points (three goals, six assists) in the past 10 games.
Spooner had 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 39 games with the Bruins. He’s expected to play on the wing.
Holy Cow, did the Bruins get fleeced!!!
Howard likes playing in the Garden so Wings should win.