Wednesday marks the first time the Rangers will face former Blueshirts Dan Girardi and J.T. Miller. Girardi was bought out from his contract over the summer, while Miller was involved in last week's deal with the Lightning at the trade deadline that included Ryan McDonagh for Vladsilav Namestnikov, prospects and draft choices.
McDonagh, still recovering from injury, has not played a game yet for the Lightning and is not expected to make his debut against his former club.
The Rangers won the first and only meeting thus far between the two teams back on Nov. 2 in Tampa, with Lundqvist making 27 saves in the victory.
The Lightning come in atop the NHL standings with 96 points. They've won three straight and eight of their last 10, with just one regulation loss during that stretch. Tampa topped the red-hot Panthers, 5-4, Tuesday night.
Hart Trophy candidate Nikita Kucherov leads the club with 33 goals and 86 points in 65 games, followed by Steven Stamkos' 78 in 67. Second-year forward Brayden Point has 57 points, including 27 goals, and rookie Yanni Gourde has 53 points.
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is in the conversation for the Vezina Trophy with a 39-12-3 campaign thus far with a .925 SV% and a 2.44 GAA with seven shutouts.
