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New York Rangers: A tough match up with the Dallas Stars

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 31: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 31: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

After a triumphant return from an extended break the New York Rangers take on the tough Dallas Stars as they start a four game home stand.

Winning two games against the cellar dwelling Detroit Red Wings was an accomplishment, but Monday the New York Rangers will have a real test as they face the Dallas Stars, one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

It’s the first time this season that the Rangers will play the Dallas Stars.  They catch them at a good time as the Stars have not won in regulation in seven games.  They did win three of those games, but needed overtime to do it.

Dallas is doing it this season with a shutdown defense.  They allow only 2.49 goals per game, the second best in the league after Boston.  They are scoring 2.59 goals per game, fifth from the bottom of the NHL.   The new Dallas Stars feature an adequate offense and a stingy defense.  It’s a far cry from the 2015-16 Stars team that featured the most potent offense in the NHL.

The two key storylines for the Rangers will be the status of Chris Kreider and who will be in goal for the Rangers.  Kreider left Saturday’s game versus Detroit after taking a knee to the head.  All reports are that it is not a concussion and he will be day-to-day, but the team called up Phil Di Giuseppe as insurance at forward.

Coming off a 33 save, 1-0 shutout, the likelihood is that Henrik Lundqvist will get his second straight start in goal, after getting only two starts in a month in January.  The future Hall of Fame goalie is clearly frustrated by the three goalie system and showed what he was made of with a determined and outstanding performance against Detroit.

As for Dallas, they are in a playoff dogfight in the Western Conference.  They are in third place in the Central Division with 62 points,  but with only  a six point cushion over the first non-playoff team and only two points ahead of the top wild card team.

This game will be a good test for the Blueshirts and will be an indication if they are playoff contenders or pretenders.

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