Preview: Rangers at Stars

RANGERS (20-10-1) AT STARS (12-13-6)
8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, MSG, NHL.TV

Rangers team scope

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will start for the New York Rangers on Thursday for the first time in five games. Backup Antti Raanta started the past four games and allowed three goals during that span. It was the longest stretch of time between starts for Lundqvist when healthy. Lundqvist, 34, is 12-8-1 with a 2.55 goals-against average and .912 save percentage this season. Forward Rick Nash and defenseman Ryan McDonagh will return to the lineup. Nash missed four games because of a groin injury and McDonagh missed one game because of the flu. "I think I'm there. I think if I'm going to come back into the lineup I've got to be able to play to my full ability," Nash said. "With an injury like this it will take a bit to get some confidence on it to where you had it before." McDonagh said he could have played in the Rangers' 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, but staying out was the right choice. "Best to get more juice in the tank and get ready for this one," he said. The Rangers are 9-0-1 this season in games following a loss.

Stars team scope

The Dallas Stars are looking to win back-to-back games for the second time this season after a 6-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. The Stars are 1-7-3 this season in games following a loss and last won back-to-back games on Nov. 10 and 11 against the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. "We've been inconsistent the whole season," defenseman John Klingberg said. "We want to get back in the standings and back into the [Stanley Cup] Playoff spot. We can't keep winning one game and losing another like we have all season. We need to go on a streak here." Goaltender Antti Niemi will start after making 34 saves against the Ducks. Niemi is 6-1-1 this season at American Airlines Center, where he has not allowed more than three goals in nine starts. "We have a lot of confidence in our goalies," forward Adam Cracknell said. "They both work really hard. Behind the scenes, when they aren't playing, like Antti was for the past couple games, they've always been the hardest workers on this team." Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak is eligible to return after completing a two-game suspension, but the Stars are expected to use the same defense pairs they did Tuesday.

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Derek Stepan -- Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner -- Kevin Hayes -- J.T. Miller
Jimmy Vesey -- Brandon Pirri -- Rick Nash
Marek Hrivik -- Oscar Lindberg -- Jesper Fast
Ryan McDonagh -- Dan Girardi
Marc Staal -- Nick Holden
Brady Skjei -- Kevin Klein
Henrik Lundqvist
Antti Raanta
Scratched:Adam Clendening
Injured:Pavel Buchnevich (back), Mika Zibanejad (broken left fibula), Matt Puempel (concussion)

Stars projected lineup

Jamie Benn -- Tyler Seguin -- Jason Spezza
Antoine Roussel -- Radek Faksa -- Brett Ritchie
Lauri Korpikoski -- Cody Eakin -- Patrick Eaves
Jiri Hudler -- Devin Shore -- Adam Cracknell
Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis -- Stephen Johns
Johnny Oduya -- Jordie Benn
Antti Niemi
Kari Lehtonen
Scratched : Patrik Nemeth, Jamie Oleksiak
Injured: Mattias Janmark (knee), Ales Hemsky (hip), Patrick Sharp (concussion-like symptoms), Julius Honka (upper body), Curtis McKenzie (upper body)

Status report

Puempel skated for the first time since being injured Dec. 6. … McKenzie will miss his second consecutive game. He took part in an optional morning skate with Honka and Sharp.

Who's hot

Jamie Benn has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past two home games while playing on a line with Seguin and Spezza. … Kreider has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past seven games.