Nashville Predators (21-31-7, 49 pts) at New York Rangers (29-26-4, 62 pts)
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Date: Sunday, March 2
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+ / FDSS / MSG
Radio:
Nashville Predators – The Game 102.5 FM
New York Rangers – WEPN-FM 98.7 ESPN New York
DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Nashville Predators +1.5 ML +145
New York Rangers -1.5 ML -170
O/U 6.5
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Nashville Predators News & Notes:
Nashville began selling off pieces yesterday as they traded Gustav Nyquist to the Minnesota Wild for a 2026 2nd-round pick. It has been a disappointing season for the Predators as they spent big in free agency for Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei but Nashville was never able to put it together. The Predators come into the game tonight ahead of only Chicago in the Central Division and are one of only three teams with less than 50 points this season. This is the second and final meeting between these teams this season with the Predators getting the win in the first meeting with a 2-0 victory on December 17 in Nashville.
New York Rangers News & Notes:
New York traded Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche for Jusso Parssinen, Calvin de Haan, and a conditional 2nd & conditional 4th-round draft pick to begin reshaping their roster for the future. The Rangers were a preseason Stanley Cup favorite but had a down year and are now on the outside of a playoff position. The playoffs are not out of the question for the Rangers, but many things need to break their way for New York to make it. Reilly Smith is being held out of tonight’s game for Trade Deadline purposes.
Nashville Predators Projected Lines:
Forsberg-Stamkos-Marchessault
Sissons-O’Reilly-Smith
Bellows-Novak-Evangelista
Lucchini-McCarron-Svechkov
Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Schenn
Englund-Barron
Annunen
Saros
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New York Rangers Projected Lineup:
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Cuylle-Miller-Zibanejad
Othmann-Parssinen-Brodzinski
Berard-Carrick-Rempe
K Miller-Borgen
Jones-de Haan
Schneider-Vaakanainen
Quick
Shesterkin
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Players To Watch:
Nashville Predators
Steven Stamkos has had a disappointing season for Nashville, after scoring 40 goals a year ago, he is on pace for 24 this season. The 35-year-old Center had 19 powerplay goals a year ago and has only nine this season. The Predators expect Stamkos to bounce back next season after dealing with transitioning to a new organization for the first time this year, Stamkos should be over the initial shock and ready to perform next season. In the first meeting against New York this season, Stamkos assisted on both goals in the Predators victory.
New York Rangers
Alexis Lafreniere was expected to follow up last year’s breakout campaign with another jump in production, but it hasn’t happened for the 23-year-old winger. After a career-high in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57) a year ago, Lafreniere has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations. The Saint-Eustache, Quebec native is on pace for 19 goals and 44 points this season. Lafreniere is pointless in five straight games and had only two points in nine games in February. The Rangers hope as the calendar turns to March that he can put the past behind him and return to the form he showed a year ago.
Injury Report:
Nashville Predators
D Jeremy Lauzon – IR
RW Zachary L’Heureux – IR
D Roman Josi – Day To Day
C Mark Jankowski – Day To Day
New York Rangers
D Adam Fox – IR
LW Chris Kreider – IR
LW Adam Edstrom – OUT
D K’Andre Miller – Day To Day
Next Game:
Nashville Predators – March 4 at Boston Bruins
New York Rangers – March 3 vs. New York Islanders
Season 4. Episode 24. Franchise Altering Deadline – Bruins Benders Podcast
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