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New York Rangers vs Blackhawks: A battle of playoff wannabes

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 17: Brandon Saad #20 of the Chicago Blackhawks bumps Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 17, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Blackhawks 4-3.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 17: Brandon Saad #20 of the Chicago Blackhawks bumps Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 17, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Blackhawks 4-3.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 25: Members of the New York Rangers celebrate with Pavel Buchnevich #89 after he scored a first period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on October 25, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 25: Members of the New York Rangers celebrate with Pavel Buchnevich #89 after he scored a first period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on October 25, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

It’s back on the road for the New York Rangers as they travel to Chicago to face the Blackhawks.  This is a key game with both teams are on the verge of falling out of the playoff race.

The Blackhawks are closer to a wild card berth than the New York Rangers despite being in last place in the Central Division with four fewer points than the Blueshirts.  Both teams desperately need a win if they expect to stay relevant in the playoff race.

The Blackhawks are the only team in the NHL that the Rangers have not played yet. It’s a good time to be playing them as they have won only one of their last nine games in regulation, going 2-5-2.

Like the Rangers, with only five days left until the trade deadline, the Blackhawks have to figure out how aggressively they will be sellers by Monday afternoon. Both of their goaltenders will be unrestricted free agents this summer.  Their only skater who is a pending UFA is defenseman Erik Gustafsson.

The Blackhawks have been on the road practically the whole month of February, playing only one home game before tonight.  They are one game above NHL .500 with a record of 26-25-8.

The lineups haven’t been released and there are some questions about the Rangers lineup.  As the trade deadline gets near, it’s possible that there will be some healthy scratches if deals are imminent. Another question is whether newly acquired Julien Gauthier will play.  The right winger was picked up yesterday in a swap with the Carolina Hurricanes for defense prospect Joey Keane.

The status of Igor Shesterkin and Anthony DeAngelo is also up in the air so there will be some questions answered as gametime nears.

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