RANGERS at WILD, 8 p.m.MSG, 98.7 FM
ST. PAUL -- If Neal Pionk had played in just three fewer games last season, he would be considered a rookie this year. But if he had been called up to play in the Rangers' last 25 games of 2017-18 instead of their last 28, then Pionk would have missed out on the Rangers' visit last season to Minnesota.
The blueliner was playing just the third game of his NHL life when the Rangers traveled back to his home state last Feb. 13 to face off against the team Pionk grew up rooting for. But given that the then 22-year-old was busy living out his dream, and doing his best to get off on the right foot at the top level of his sport, how big a deal was a trip back home anyway?
"I think I was way more nervous for that game than I was for my debut," Pionk said.
Playing in front of several rows' worth of family and friends, as he may be on Saturday night, Pionk picked up his first NHL point that evening, an assist on a second-period power-play goal by Kevin Hayes.
"They had a lot of the same guys that played when I was growing up watching it," he said of the Wild, "so to get out there on the same ice against them, and that rink, was really cool. Hopefully this time I can settle the nerves a little quicker. Hopefully."
Saturday night's matchup in Minny will be, this time around, the 91st game of Pionk's NHL career, and the finale of a four-games-in-six-nights road trip for the Rangers. It concludes a back-to-back set and will face off less than 24 hours after the Rangers dropped the puck on their game with the Flames in Vancouver.