Opponent: Toronto Maple Leafs

Leading Scorer: Phil Kessel (9-6-15)

Goaltender: Jonas Gustavsson (4.86 GAA, .860 SV%)

Rangers Lines:

Ruslan Fedotenko-Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan
Wojtek Wolski-Brian Boyle-Brandon Prust
Erik Christensen-Artem Anisimov-Kris Newbury

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Tim Erixon-Mike Sauer
Michael Del Zotto-Steve Eminger

Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron

Scratches: Marc Staal (concussion symptoms), Mike Rupp (knee)

Preview: If you were to tell me that the Rangers would have eight points out of a possible 14 points following a seven game road trip that included two games in Sweden, a pit stop in Long Island, and then a four game Western Canada swing, all without Marc Staal and Mike Sauer, I would have told you to lay off the pipe. However, that is as good of a start to the season as anyone could have hoped for. Sauer is back in the lineup, and not a moment too soon with a red hot Leafs team coming to town. The key to this game is containing Phil Kessel, who has 15 points. Only three of those have come on the powerplay, so it’s going to be up to the McDonagh-Girardi combination to shut him down. Shut him down, and the Rangers win the game. Don’t, and this could be a long night.

Crazy Thought: Del Zotto gets two powerplay points.

Opponent’s Blog: Pension Plan Puppets

Prediction: Their first home game of the year, I think the Rangers come out and make this a statement game against a weak goaltender. Rangers 5, Leafs 2.

Today’s game is on at 7:00pm on MSG, AM970, and XM214.

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