The Rangers continue their season-long, six-game homestand when it hosts the reigning Western Conference champion Nashville Predators.
New York is looking to snap out of a five-game winless streak (0-3-2) that has seen the Blueshirts drop back-to-back decisions in extra time, including a 4-3 shootout loss Thursday after erasing a two-goal deficit in the third period against the Islanders.
Despite the lack of results, coach Alain Vigneault and his players continue to stay positive with the feeling that things have begun to turn in their direction. The biggest problem in their minds has been the team's starts, which they believe can be remedied by playing simpler, smarter hockey off the hop.
There aren't any expected lineup changes from Thursday's match against the Islanders, as the team practiced the same four lines and three defensive pairs Friday at practice. Henrik Lundqvist is also expected to get the start.
The Predators arrive for its one and only meeting at The Garden playing red-hot hockey, picking up nine of a possible 10 points over their last five games, with a pair of wins of the Flyers and a victory over Colorado.
Nashville is clicking on both sides of the puck during this current streak, with 16 goals for and just nine against.
It's been scoring by commission thus far for the Predators. Filip Forsberg leads the way with five goals and nine points in seven games, followed by defenseman P.K. Subban's seven points in seven games. After that, though, just Viktor Arvidsson has more than five points, while all but four players with at least four games played have one point or more.
Unsurprisingly, Pekka Rinne has gotten the bulk of the work early between the pipes. The 34-year-old is 4-1-1 with a 2.01 GAA and a .932 SV% with one shutout in six starts.
