5 Facts to Know: Rangers vs. Wild

In their last meeting back on Feb. 13, the Rangers couldn’t overcome an early three-goal deficit and fell to the Wild, 3-2, in St. Paul.

This time around, the Rangers hope for better results on their home ice, where they are 18-11-3. The Wild are 13-15-1 on the road.

The Rangers will be without their leading goal-scorer after dealing Michael Grabner to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Yegor Rykov and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

With Grabner gone and the NHL Trade Deadline just days away (Feb. 26), expect to see new faces continue to get more ice time, players like Neil Pionk, Rob O’Gara, and John Gilmour, who netted his first NHL goal in New York’s last test with Minnesota.

AV adds @ChrisKreider has been cleared medically but will not travel with the team to Montreal. He said he could play Friday or Sunday. AV also adds @shattdeuces, McDonagh and Pavelec have all been skating. #NYR

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 21, 2018

After being cleared to play by the team on Wednesday, the Chris Kreider watch is officially on

Kreider last played against the Washington Capitals on Dec. 27 where he left with swelling in his arm. Later on Jan. 7, the winger underwent rib resection surgery in order to treat a blood clot.

Fan-favorite Mats Zuccarello is pacing the club with 43 points, netting 10 goals and a team-leading 33 assists on the season.