New York Rangers forward Jesper Fast will return after missing seven games because of an upper-body injury sustained in the third period of a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Feb. 28. "Happy to be in there," Fast said. "I haven't played a game in a while but I've been working hard the last couple of days to get back, so should be good." The Rangers, who hold the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference and are five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division, expect a desperate Panthers team. "We have to be sure to match their first 10 [minutes] or better it," defenseman Brendan Smith said. "Sometimes the hardest teams to play are the ones that are most desperate. We want to amp it up going into the playoffs. We're testing ourselves tonight." The Rangers have failed recent tests at home, where they have lost five straight games and been outscored 19-8. They are 19-15-2 at Madison Square Garden this season and an NHL best 25-9-0 on the road. "Same ice surface, 200 by 85 [feet]," coach Alain Vigneault said. "Whether you're playing in Philly, Washington or New York the ice is the same and there is no difference. There is a difference right now, obviously, in our home record and our road record. We need our top players to lead and play the way they're supposed to, and they're supposed to do that at home."
