Today the New York Rangers (35-24-9) host the Boston Bruins (36-25-7). With the playoffs just over a month away, the surging Rangers know they can’t overlook any opponent, especially a Bruins team that shares sixth place in the Eastern Conference with them. The Rangers hope to pull ahead of the Bruins when the teams meet Sunday at Madison Square Garden to conclude their 2007-08 regular-season series. New York has won five of its last six games, and improved to 8-0-3 since Feb. 9 with a 4-1 road victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday. That scrappy play is exactly what the Rangers will need to make their third straight trip to the postseason. New York trails Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey by seven points with 14 games remaining, and is still clearly in the mix for its first division crown since 1993-94, when it last won the Stanley Cup. First, though, the Rangers must defeat Boston (36-25-7), which has won all three meetings this season, two by shootout. New York had taken eight straight from the Bruins from Nov. 20, 2005-March 24, 2007 prior to this skid. Despite New York’s struggles, Lundqvist has been exceptional against Boston, posting a 1.90 GAA and a shutout this season. He is 7-1-2 with a 1.45 GAA and two shutouts in 10 career games versus the Bruins, who last swept the regular-season series in 2003-04. The Rangers have won four of their last five overall at home, but Boston came away with a 3-1 victory at MSG on Jan. 20 in the most recent matchup. The Bruins haven’t won back-to-back contests there since March 13-Dec. 8, 2002. Tim Thomas, who is 2-4-2 with a 3.27 GAA in eight all-time contests against New York, is 3-2-0 with a 3.55 GAA in his last five overall starts. Alex Auld, meanwhile, is 3-1-1 with a 2.81 GAA in his last seven appearances. It is unknown who will start for Boston. For a full preview go to Yahoo! Sports.
...big game with the #6 position at stake. Boston is coming off a late comeback victory yesterday and should have a lot of confidence today.
...Steve Zipay at Blue Notes thinks Thomas will start tonight. In the last two games, Thomas has a GAA of about 10 and a Save % of .750. His confidence must be low so we have to jump on him early.
...Arthur Stapleton at Blue Notes says that Renney is stickign with the same lineup. The only person who has a chance to play right now is Strudwick. And that's only because Backman has been shakey at best since coming to the Rangers. Not sure how Renney is going to get Prucha back into the lineup.
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