The New York Rangers(8-4-1)(L1)are 2nd in the Atlantic Divison and 4th in the Eastern Conference.  On Friday they will be taking on the Minnesota Wild(3-9-0) who are in the last place in the Western Conference with only 6 points.  Here are a list of notes and facts for the game...

•  Although The Wild have a 3-9 record they are 3-1 at home and winless(0-8) on the road.  This is obviously ahome game where they play much better.
• Starting Goalie Niklas Backstrom is 3-7 with a 2.70 GAA which is way above his career GAA of 2.27. 
• Niklas has only started 1 game is his career against the Rangers in a losing effort in which he only gave up 2 goals.
• The Rangers are 7th in the NHL on the Power Play(26%) and Minnesota is 12th (23%)
• The Rangers are 5th in the league on the Peanlty Kill (85.2%) and Minnesota is 2nd  (86.7%)
• The Wild are also tied for 1st in short-handed goals against with 3
• Henrik Lundqvist is 2-1 versus Minnesota in his career with a 2.79 GAA
• The one loss however came in his only apperance in Minnesota in which now Ranger forward Marian Gabroik scored 5 goals and Minnesota scored 6.
• Rangers Forward Chris Higgins who is without a goal so far, has not scored in 2 career games against Minnesota.  Did not know this was possible...
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• Rangers forward Vinny Prospal has 3 goals and 4 assists in 12 games versus the Wild.
• Donlad Brshear had missed 4 games this year and Gaborik missed the last game and it is unknown if he will play
• P.A Parenteau would likely be the reserve option since scored his first NHL Goal in his 1st game with the team and sixth overall
• Pierre-Marc Bouchard and former Ranger Kim Johnsson will both miss the game and Derek Boogard will most likely miss the game.
• It is likely that Steve Valiquette might get the nod in goal but unknown
• The Wild have struggled but still have a good young team.. They are playing in a new system and have been slow to change so far which is the opposite of the Rangers so far.
• Brent Burns is last in the league in +/- with a -13 while the rest of the team also fills alot of the bottom of this list.

The New York Rangers are looking to continue the great start to the season against one of the worst teams in the league.  The questionof whether the Rangers can win without Gaborik might not be answered since it is unknown if will play but it is still a BIG question..