Igor Shesterkin will start for New York, after making 27 saves in a 5-2 win at the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The Rangers trail the Columbus Blue Jackets by five points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Aaron Dell will start for San Jose, which has lost two straight after winning four of its previous five. Dell (12-12-2, 2.89 goals-against average, .909 save percentage) has started 12 of the past 16 games for the Sharks. Forward Evander Kane will return to the lineup for San Jose after serving a three-game suspension.
Players to watch
Sharks forward Timo Meier has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past seven games. Rangers forward Chris Kreider has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past six games.
They said it
"Their goalies have been good. I think that they have some weapons there. … If you give (Artemi) Panarin and (Chris) Kreider and (Mika) Zibanejad time and space in the D-zone, I think they are going to make plays, and they are real good at east-west play."-- Sharks coach Bob Boughner "Every game is a big game, especially this time of year. ... Every game has to matter to us that much." -- Rangers forward Chris Kreider following the win against the Hurricanes on Friday
Melker Karlsson, a forward, is day-to-day and will be replaced by Kane in the lineup. … Couture, a forward, skated but is not ready to return. … The Rangers did not hold a morning skate. … Chytil left the game Friday with an upper-body injury in the third period. If he can't play, he would be replaced by McKegg.
Stat pack
The Rangers lead the all-time series 28-10-3 with one tie. … Panarin has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in an eight-game point streak. … New York is 6-3-0 in the second game of a back-to-back this season. … Marleau needs one goal to pass Mike Modano (561) for 25th place in NHL history.
