Lightning at Rangers preview

LIGHTNING (51-22-4) at RANGERS (33-35-9)
7p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, SN, MSG, FS-F, NHL.TV

The Lightning, looking to avoid their fourth straight defeat, which would mark their longest losing streak this season, trail the Boston Bruins by one point and have played one more game. Boston defeated Tampa Bay 4-2 on Thursday.
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller will play the Rangers in New York for the first time since they were traded to the Lightning on Feb. 26.
McDonagh, who was the captain of the Rangers, spent eight seasons with New York. He has three points (two goals, one assist) in nine games since the trade. Miller, who spent six seasons with the Rangers, has 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 14 games since the trade.
Defenseman Dan Girardi, who was bought out by the Rangers following last season and signed a two-year contract with the Lightning on July 1 and played 11 seasons in New York, also returns for the first time.
The Rangers, 3-5-3 in their past 11 games, have been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.

Players to watch

Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in his past 12 games.
Rangers center Mika Zibanejad has 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in his past nine games.

They said it

"It doesn't matter who we play, we have to play with the same mentality every game. ... we've got to bring it every night." -- Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman
"Obviously sad to see your friends leave and be on other teams. It for sure [stinks[ to see all of them have a chance to win the Stanley Cup." -- Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello on facing defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller of the Lightning

Lightning projected lineup

J.T. Miller -- Steven Stamkos -- Nikita Kucherov
Yanni Gourde -- Brayden Point -- Tyler Johnson
Alex Killorn -- Anthony Cirelli -- Ondrej Palat
Chris Kunitz -- Cedric Paquette -- Cory Conacher
Victor Hedman -- Anton Stralman
Ryan McDonagh -- Dan Girardi
Braydon Coburn -- Mikhail Sergachev
Louis Domingue
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Scratched: Slater Koekkoek, Jake Dotchin
Injured: Adam Erne (lower body), Ryan Callahan (upper body)

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jesper Fast
Kevin Hayes -- Filip Chytil -- Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey -- Lias Andersson -- Ryan Spooner
Cody McLeod -- Vladislav Namestnikov -- Pavel Buchnevich
Marc Staal -- Neal Pionk
Brady Skjei -- Ryan Sproul
John Gilmour -- Rob O'Gara
Ondrej Pavelec
Henrik Lundqvist
Scratched: David Desharnais, Paul Carey, Peter Holland
Injured: Tony DeAngelo (ankle), Kevin Shattenkirk (knee surgery), Steven Kampfer (fractured hand)

Status report

Pavelec will make his second start in three games. ... Domingue likely will start the second game of the back-to-back after Vasilevskiy played Thursday.

Stat pack

The Lightning can tie their record for most points in a season with a win (108, set in 2014-15). ... Lightning coach Jon Cooper has 239 wins, one from passing John Tortorella for most in Tampa Bay history. ... Rangers coach Alain Vigneault (647 wins) is one from tying Ron Wilson for 10th place on the NHL's all-time list.