8:05 PM EST (NHL) - CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS VS. NEW YORK RANGERS PREVIEW AND FREE PICKS
Time: 08:00 P.M. EST Venue: Madison Square Garden (AP) - If someone said the New York Rangers would be without star goalie Henrik Lundqvist for more than a month during a crucial stretch, their postseason prospects might seem no better than wishful thinking. That might have been the popular opinion, but not one shared by the defending Eastern Conference champions. Cam Talbot looks to stay hot in net while guiding the Rangers to a sixth straight victory when they host the streaking Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Not only are the Rangers (44-17-7) setting themselves up for perhaps another long playoff run, they have vaulted to the top of the NHL standings. Free NHL Hockey Picks. And Talbot is a big reason why. New York is 15-2-3 since Lundqvist was forced out of the lineup by a vascular injury, caused when he was struck in the neck with a shot against Florida on Feb. 2. Talbot has played every game except for two at Buffalo that were started and won by 20-year-old rookie Mackenzie Skapski - including a 2-0 victory on Saturday. Talbot was back in net Sunday against Florida and made a career-high 38 saves in a 2-1 win to extend his winning streak to four. In his last 10 appearances, Talbot is 8-1-1 with a 1.49 goals-against average, a .951 save percentage, and two shutouts. He has allowed one goal or fewer in regulation in each of his last six appearances, and the Rangers have earned at least one point in 15 of his last 16 outings (12-1-3). Lundqvist is moving closer to a return, having been medically cleared Tuesday to resume practicing with the team. No timetable has been set for when he will play in a game. Forward Martin St. Louis, who has 20 goals and 27 assists, suffered a lower-body injury Sunday and will be out 10-14 days. On Jan. 29 - four days before Lundqvist's most recent game - the Rangers were in eighth place in the East. Now, they're tied atop the NHL standings with Montreal, Anaheim and St. Louis and have games in hand on all three clubs." When Hank went down it was a big deal, but we knew what we had in Talbs,'' defenseman Dan Girardi said. ''He is a great goalie. He's a real focused guy and he is a big part of our success.'' Talbot was chosen Monday as the NHL's second star of last week. The 27-year-old goalie is 17-6-4 with a 2.19 GAA and five shutouts in 29 games.'' No one wants to see what happened to Hank happen, but we were excited for (Talbot) to get an opportunity to show what he's got on a consistent basis,'' defenseman Marc Staal said. ''It's his time to shine." Talbot did just that in the first meeting with the Blackhawks on March 8, stopping 29 shots before Derick Brassard's overtime goal gave New York a 1-0 win. That marked the last defeat for Chicago (42-21-6), which has outscored opponents 12-4 during a three-game winning streak after beating the Islanders 4-1 on Tuesday. The Blackhawks improved to 6-1-1 since Patrick Kane suffered a fractured clavicle Feb. 24. Jonathan Toews scored twice in the first period, then assisted on both of Marian Hossa's goals.'' Free Picks and Parlays. Obviously, one player can't step up and start producing and playing like Patrick Kane,'' said Patrick Sharp, who had two assists skating on the top line with Toews and Hossa. ''The team in general has played good hockey. We're moving on and hope he comes back soon and helps us.'' Corey Crawford made 38 saves, leaving the possibility that backup Scott Darling will get the nod to complete the back-to-back set as Chicago begins a four-game road trip. Forward Joakim Nordstrom is eligible to return after serving a two-game suspension, but Andrew Shaw could face disciplinary action after receiving a game misconduct for head-butting Islanders forward Brock Nelson. The Blackhawks have lost the last three meetings.
Time: 08:00 P.M. EST Venue: Madison Square Garden (AP) - If someone said the New York Rangers would be without star goalie Henrik Lundqvist for more than a month during a crucial stretch, their postseason prospects might seem no better than wishful thinking. That might have been the popular opinion, but not one shared by the defending Eastern Conference champions. Cam Talbot looks to stay hot in net while guiding the Rangers to a sixth straight victory when they host the streaking Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Not only are the Rangers (44-17-7) setting themselves up for perhaps another long playoff run, they have vaulted to the top of the NHL standings. Free NHL Hockey Picks. And Talbot is a big reason why. New York is 15-2-3 since Lundqvist was forced out of the lineup by a vascular injury, caused when he was struck in the neck with a shot against Florida on Feb. 2. Talbot has played every game except for two at Buffalo that were started and won by 20-year-old rookie Mackenzie Skapski - including a 2-0 victory on Saturday. Talbot was back in net Sunday against Florida and made a career-high 38 saves in a 2-1 win to extend his winning streak to four. In his last 10 appearances, Talbot is 8-1-1 with a 1.49 goals-against average, a .951 save percentage, and two shutouts. He has allowed one goal or fewer in regulation in each of his last six appearances, and the Rangers have earned at least one point in 15 of his last 16 outings (12-1-3). Lundqvist is moving closer to a return, having been medically cleared Tuesday to resume practicing with the team. No timetable has been set for when he will play in a game. Forward Martin St. Louis, who has 20 goals and 27 assists, suffered a lower-body injury Sunday and will be out 10-14 days. On Jan. 29 - four days before Lundqvist's most recent game - the Rangers were in eighth place in the East. Now, they're tied atop the NHL standings with Montreal, Anaheim and St. Louis and have games in hand on all three clubs." When Hank went down it was a big deal, but we knew what we had in Talbs,'' defenseman Dan Girardi said. ''He is a great goalie. He's a real focused guy and he is a big part of our success.'' Talbot was chosen Monday as the NHL's second star of last week. The 27-year-old goalie is 17-6-4 with a 2.19 GAA and five shutouts in 29 games.'' No one wants to see what happened to Hank happen, but we were excited for (Talbot) to get an opportunity to show what he's got on a consistent basis,'' defenseman Marc Staal said. ''It's his time to shine." Talbot did just that in the first meeting with the Blackhawks on March 8, stopping 29 shots before Derick Brassard's overtime goal gave New York a 1-0 win. That marked the last defeat for Chicago (42-21-6), which has outscored opponents 12-4 during a three-game winning streak after beating the Islanders 4-1 on Tuesday. The Blackhawks improved to 6-1-1 since Patrick Kane suffered a fractured clavicle Feb. 24. Jonathan Toews scored twice in the first period, then assisted on both of Marian Hossa's goals.'' Free Picks and Parlays. Obviously, one player can't step up and start producing and playing like Patrick Kane,'' said Patrick Sharp, who had two assists skating on the top line with Toews and Hossa. ''The team in general has played good hockey. We're moving on and hope he comes back soon and helps us.'' Corey Crawford made 38 saves, leaving the possibility that backup Scott Darling will get the nod to complete the back-to-back set as Chicago begins a four-game road trip. Forward Joakim Nordstrom is eligible to return after serving a two-game suspension, but Andrew Shaw could face disciplinary action after receiving a game misconduct for head-butting Islanders forward Brock Nelson. The Blackhawks have lost the last three meetings.
