NHL Game Preview - Detroit at NY Rangers

Fri Jan 31, 2020 7:00 PM EST

The Detroit Red Wings don't have to wait long to try to avenge a loss to the New York Rangers.

Host New York downed Detroit 4-2 on Friday night in the first game for both clubs since the All-Star break. They will meet again on Saturday night, this time in Detroit.

"We've got a unique opportunity here to go back at them again tomorrow night, and we can show them (a) better (game)," Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard said.

The Rangers can complete a sweep of the three-game season series. They won the first matchup 5-1 on Nov. 6 in New York.

On Friday, neither team scored in the first period. The Rangers erupted for three goals in the second period and added a power-play tally in the third before Detroit scored its goals.

"I don't think we were good enough in the first two periods," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said in a Fox Sports Detroit interview.

"In both periods, we stood still too much in our end and so we defended too much. We were a step late all over the ice, especially on the forechecks. We didn't spend enough time in their end. In the third, we did a better job. We were on top of them more. We created turnovers and played in the offensive zone more," Blashill said.

The Wings will carry a seven-game winless streak into Saturday's game. They had not played since Jan. 22, but New York had an even longer break, having not taken the ice since Jan. 21.

"We were in the same boat, so there's zero excuses from our end," Blashill said. "They had the same layoff, the same day of practice and the same back-to-back. At the end of the day, they outplayed us."

The Rangers were not whistled for a penalty, but Blashill didn't have anything negative to say about the officiating afterward.

"We didn't have the puck enough, and I don't think we were dangerous enough," he said. "You don't draw any penalties if you're not dangerous. You need people to panic and take a penalty."

Detroit first-line center Dylan Larkin went to the locker room during the second period after getting struck by a shot from teammate Tyler Bertuzzi in the back of his leg. He was able to return in the third period and recorded an assist.

Rangers star Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist after missing the last game prior to the All-Star break with an upper body injury. Panarin is the first player who has recorded 70 or more points in his first 48 games with the Rangers in franchise history.

Igor Shesterkin made 23 saves on Friday, but Henrik Lundqvist is expected to start on Saturday. The Rangers are juggling three goalies with Alexandar Georgiev also in the mix.

Lundqvist will be making his first appearance since Jan. 11.

"I look forward to that, getting an opportunity to play," he said. "That's day by day. Big picture, we'll see what happens. Three guys want to play, but we support each other and try to make the best of it right now."

Lundqvist has a 9-10-3 record this season and guarded the net just twice in January.

"You miss the action, you miss being out there," he said. "It's been awhile with the break here and sitting out a few games. I look forward to it. It's a challenge for me to play on top of my game, even though I haven't seen a lot of action over the last few weeks."

--Field Level Media