After being a healthy scratch four straight games for the first time in his esteemed NHL career, Henrik Lundqvist is ready to return for the Rangers. The team opens up a two-game road trip tonight, beginning in Dallas against the Stars, and the King is more than ready to make his long awaited comeback between the pipes.
Following last Tuesday’s difficult loss to the Islanders, Henrik Lundqvist was benched in favor of backup Antti Raanta. Raanta held down the fort for the team in those four games, going 3-1-0, including two shutouts against the Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils. Raanta is more than ready to hand the reigns back over to the King, and Lundqvist had nothing but praise for his Finnish comrade.
In tonight’s game against Dallas, the team will have to be aware of Jamie Benn, who has six points (two goals and four assists) in his last two home games when playing on the line with Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza. Also, an interesting note on Benn; the Rangers are the ONLY NHL team that he does not have a point against this season. On the New York side, Chris Kreider has seven points (four goals and three assists) in his last seven games, so tonight will definitely be a battle of the forwards.
Rick Nash, who missed the last four games with a groin issue, will return to the New York lineup tonight, with defenseman Adam Clendening being the only healthy scratch. With Lundqvist and Nash both back tonight for the Rangers, Dallas better look out before they start seeing stars.
