Flames at Rangers preview

FLAMES (28-18-8) at RANGERS (25-24-5)
7 p.m. ET; MSG, SNW, NHL.TV

The Flames, tied for second place in the Pacific Division with the San Jose Sharks, have won the first two games of their six-game road trip, including a 3-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. They have points in seven consecutive road games (6-0-1).
The Rangers look to avoid their fifth straight loss, which would be their longest losing streak this season. They are 3-10-0 in their past 13 games and three points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Players to watch

Flames center Sean Monahan has scored the game-winning goal in three consecutive games, and has scored at least one goal in four straight games.
Rangers forward Rick Nash has one goal in his past five games after having seven points (six goals, one assist) in his previous five games. He is three points shy of 800 in the NHL.

They said it

"I think we seem more free, scoring-wise, on the road. We don't feel the pressure to score. … It seems like we squeeze a little bit more at home than we do on the road. It's like we generate less offense but we score more." -- Flames coach Glen Gulutzan
"We have a job to do. We need to win some games. We're a couple points out of a playoff spot. We can turn things around. We can still make the playoffs. I think everyone in here believes in that." -- Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello

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Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett -- Mark Jankowski -- Curtis Lazar
Ryan Lomberg -- Matt Stajan -- Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie -- Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak -- Michael Stone
Mike Smith
David Rittich
Scratched: Matt Bartkowski, Marek Hrivik
Injured: Kris Versteeg (hip), Troy Brouwer (facial fracture)

Rangers projected lineup

Rick Nash -- Mika Zibanejad -- Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner -- Kevin Hayes --
Vinni Lettieri
J.T. Miller -- David Desharnais -- Jesper Fast
Cody McLeod -- Peter Holland -- Paul Carey
Ryan McDonagh --
Neal Pionk
Brady Skjei -- Steven Kampfer
Nick Holden -- Tony DeAngelo
Henrik Lundqvist
Ondrej Pavelec
Scratched:John Gilmour
Injured:Chris Kreider (blood clot, right arm), Kevin Shattenkirk (knee surgery), Pavel Buchnevich (concussion symptoms), Marc Staal (cervical strain), Jimmy Vesey (concussion)

Status report

Brouwer is week to week because of his injury, which he sustained Thursday. ... Pionk is expected to make his NHL debut after being recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Thursday. He has 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 48 games with Hartford. Gilmour, a defenseman, was recalled from Hartford on Friday; he has 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 44 AHL games. The Rangers assigned defenseman Brendan Smith to Hartford on Friday. He had been placed on waivers Thursday.

Stat pack

Monahan's game-winning goal against the Devils was his 10th this season, tying him with Jarome Iginla for third on the Flames all-time list for most game-winning goals in a season. He needs two more to tie Joe Mullen for the franchise record.