It’s the first Sunday of January, and New York sports fans know what the means. Both local football teams are playing out the stretch of another disappointing season, so perhaps a bit of Sunday matinee hockey can help paint a brighter picture of New York sports today.

The Blueshirts and Lightning are completing their home and home set this afternoon. The Rangers earned the bonus point via a shootout victory in Tampa Bay on New Year’s Eve, and the two teams will square off once again today. Another victory would go a long way towards establishing the Rangers among the NHL’s elite, and it’ll take a strong effort to defeat the Lightning two games in a row.

Player to Watch: Libor Hajek

Barclay Goodrow stole the show two nights ago, as the former Lightning forward potted a pair of goals against his former team. As the only other player to be a former member of the Lightning organization, keep an eye on Hajek this afternoon.

Enjoy the game!