Urho Vaakanainen drew back into the lineup for the first time since Nov. 26 in Saturday night’s 5-4 overtime win against the Canadiens, after the Finnish blueliner was a healthy scratch in the previous seven games to make it 14 times so far this season.

Sullivan pointed out that with the NHL’s points system, where teams get two points for a win, and one for an overtime or shootout loss, it is difficult to create separation between teams battling for position in the standings. So his message to the team is to just worry about your own games, and not your competition’s.

Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell could return to the English Championship in Janurary, while a Celtic-linked striker has his asking price reduced.

The Rangers took their first high school player in the first round since 2018 last July when they selected shortstop Gavin Fien out of Great Oak High School in Temecula, Calif. The last prep player drafted by Texas was current relief pitcher Cole Winn, a prep pitcher out of Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif.

With a testing run of festive fixtures beginning with the visit of Hibs to Ibrox on Monday, and a squad ravaged by injury, it's now all about trying to claw their way back into the title reckonining for Rohl's Rangers.

THE NEW GARDEN – The Rangers recognized the rebirth that took place during the 1967-91 period, including a new home arena and bringing Rangers hockey to more fans than ever through television. HOME COOKING – New York has earned points in four-straight games at home (2-0-2).

While the New York Rangers' disastrous spell in away games continues, their latest loss against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center has NY head coach Mike Sullivan in a total meltdown.

Rangers' Mohamed Diomande returns from suspension but Bojan Miovski picked up an injury against Ferencvaros and will be assessed while Joe Rothwell and Lyall Cameron did not feature in Hungary. Rangers remain without John Souttar,

If opening day were in early December, the Texas Rangers would start its rotation with Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter.