Chicago (37-18-5) at NY Rangers (32-18-6)
When: Wednesday, February 17th 2016
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: NBC Sports
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The New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks will meet for the second and final time this regular season, but both are playing well enough to meet again in June. The Rangers have moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division by going 5-0-1 in their last six and 8-0-2 in their last ten at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers should welcome the return of captain Ryan McDonagh to the lineup tonight after missing four games with a concussion sustained on February 6th against Philadelphia. New York could be without two other defensemen tonight as Marc Staal’s wife is expected to give birth on Wednesday and Dan Boyle is battling the flu. Center Derek Stepan has scored three goals in the last two games and tallied one in New York’s season-opening victory over Chicago back on October 7th. Henrik Lundqvist, who is expected to start tonight, made 32 saves in the win over the Blackhawks to start the season. The Rangers don’t have any chance of catching the Capitals in the division, but are holding on to the three-seed in the East.
The Blackhawks are also the three-seed out West, but are just one point behind the Dallas Stars in the Central Division and the top-seed. The Blackhawks followed a three-game winning streak in which they scored 12 goals, with a three-game skid where they only managed four goals. They broke out of it in a big way on Sunday by thrashing the Maple Leafs 7-2. Patrick Kane scored his team-leading 34th goal and added three assists for his third four-point performance. Andrew Shaw (1 goal, 2 assists) and Duncan Keith (3 assists) also contributed with three-point nights. Rookie Artemi Panarin scored and set up a goal versus the Maple Leafs and netted his first career NHL goal in Chicago’s 3-2 season-opening loss to New York. Corey Crawford will likely get the start tonight and managed 24 saves in the previous meeting with New York. With veteran Marian Hossa sidelined with a left leg injury, Richard Panik has replaced him on the top-line, but has been held scoreless in his last six games.
Tonight’s DraftKings Fantasy Picks: Artem Anisimov, Artemi Panarin, Kevin Hayes, Duncan Keith
The Rangers have been more consistent lately and they’re on fire at home. Its a small price to lay tonight.
Pick: Rangers -110
