Bantering Points: 1/31/17

For the first time in nearly a week, the Rangers are back in action tonight, as they'll take on the Columbus Blue Jackets later today at Madison Square Garden. After enjoying couple of days away from the game to rest and recharge, look for New York to come out of the break flying, as they begin the stretch run of the season. Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks discusses how some of the executive orders recently enacted by President Donald Trump have hit close to home for Mika Zibanejad (NY Post)
• Steve Zipay hears that Alain Vigneault is set to receive an extension and a raise through the 2019-2020 season (Newsday)
• Game Preview: New York will look to send Columbus even further into a tailspin by defending their home ice and earning two points (CBS)
• Dave Shapiro examines Jimmy Vesey and his recent performance before hitting the "NCAA Wall" (Blue Seat Blogs)
• John Williams remembers one of the Rangers' most underrated forwards in recent memory: Sean Avery (Blue Line Station)
• Karly Redpath explains how New York's team speed is both a blessing and a curse (Blue Line Station)
• Brandon Cohen offers his thoughts on Alain Vigneault's contract extension (Blue Line Station)
• Jim Cerny spoke with three of Henrik Lundqvist's former backup goalies to get an idea of why the franchise icon struggled before the break (Puck Daddy)
• Christopher from Full Tilt looks at the team's chances of a Stanley Cup run with Derek Stepan as the top line center (Full Tilt NYR)
• Post Practice Interviews: Alain Vigneault,(6:18) Henrik Lundqvist,(2:26) Rick Nash,(1:01) Jesper Fast,(0:38) and Marc Staal (1:48) (Official Team Site)
• After being acquired at the 2008 trade deadline, he appeared in 26 games for the Rangers before being flipped to Columbus over the following summer. Yesterday's player in the picture was.....Christain Backman (Wikipedia)/

Around the NHL:

• Greg Wyshynski reports that this year's All-Star festivities in Los Angeles saw an uptick in ratings compared to last season's affair in Nashville (Puck Daddy)
• Ken Campbell writes that the new mandatory goalie pants were a mixed bag at All-Star Weekend (The Hockey News)
• Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds, San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau, and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen were named the NHL's Three Stars of the Week (Sportsnet)
• The New York Islanders had a very busy day yesterday, as it was announced that they would be getting kicked out of the Barclays enter by the end of the 2018-2019 season, and the team later agreed to a three year contract extension with starting goaltender Thomas Greiss (Lighthouse Hockey)/