Game #78: Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Rangers Open Thread

On a slow night with only six of the league's 32 teams in action, the Rangers will be on center stage tonight. In a nationally broadcast rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Final, the Blueshirts will wrap up their season series with the three-time reigning conference champion Lightning at Madison Square Garden.

These teams first clashed in New York on opening night as the Blueshirts kick started their season with a 3-1 victory. The scene shifted to Tampa in late December as the teams played to a draw before the Lightning prevailed in a shootout to earn the second point, and tonight's contest will serve as the rubber match of the season series. The Lightning are already locked into a first round playoff series with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will be the #3 seed in the Atlantic bracket barring something extreme, so the Rangers will hardly be playing a motivated team tonight.

Player to Watch: Barclay Goodrow

A two time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay, Goodrow has become a staple of New York's 4th line down the stretch of the season. Primarily skating alongside Jimmy Vesey and Tyler Motte, look for Goodrow and his linemates to grind it out against a battle-tested team in the Lightning tonight.

Enjoy the game!