NEW YORK — Greetings from the Big Apple, where the Jets will attempt to snap their nasty 0-for-7 streak in the second half of back-to-backs against the Rangers.
If you’re sick of hearing about Winnipeg’s struggles in back-to-backs, you’re not alone. The players are sick of answering questions about it, and we’re sick of asking them about it.
The Jets need to find a way to come out with energy. They simply haven’t in other second halves of back-to-backs. The Rangers are going to jump all over them, and the Jets need to find a way to respond.
A few notes …
• The Jets recalled forward Aaron Gagnon from St. John’s today, presumably because someone is hurt. Then again, the way the Jets are struggling, it wouldn’t be crazy if they popped someone fresh into the lineup.
• The Jets could be five points out of a playoff spot after tonight if everything goes badly for them. Then again, they could be only one out if they can win. That makes it seem like a pretty big game.
• Rangers defenceman Ryan McDonagh, who was slammed into the boards by Andrew Ference on the weekend, is expected to play tonight.
• Pretty much everyone has an opinion on what Tim Thomas did Monday, blowing off Boston’s trip to the White House because he doesn’t like the way the U.S. governments are doing business these days. Hey, if nothing else, he put hockey on the map a little more.
• I saw an actor walking down the street today who was very familiar, but I don’t know his name and I don’t know what movies he’s been in. If only there was an app that could help me identify him.
• Here are tonight’s projected line combinations, although the Aaron Gagnon recall leaves things up in the air for the Jets …
JETS
Forwards
Alex Burmistrov, Bryan Little, Blake Wheeler
Andrew Ladd, Nik Antropov, Kyle Wellwood
Tanner Glass, Jim Slater, Chris Thorburn
Eric Fehr, Patrice Cormier, Antti Miettinen
Defence
Toby Enstrom, Ron Hainsey
Johnny Oduya, Zach Bogosian
Mark Stuart, Randy Jones
Goalies
Ondrej Pavelec
Chris Mason
RANGERS
Forwards
Cal Hagelin, Derek Stepan, Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky, Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan
Ruslan Fedotenko, Brad Richards, Brandon Prust
Michael Rupp, Artem Anisimov, John Mitchell
Defence
Ryan McDonagh, Daniel Girardi
Michael Del Zotto, Anton Stralman
Marc Staal, Stu Bickel
Goalies
Henrik Lundqvist
Chad Johnson
• Finally, here are a couple of pictures from Manhattan and a link to a preview video for tonight’s game.
Times Square, looking north.
The scene of tonight’s battle between Jets and Rangers.
They’re not lying when they say NYC hotel rooms are tiny.