The NY Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks are starting the NHL schedule for the 2015-16 season at the United Center and the game is on NBC Sports Network and streaming from the NBC Live Extra website. The Rangers come in after playoffs disappointment last season, while the Hawks come in as defending Stanley Cup champs.
The Rangers were the top team in the league last season, but they lost in the east finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning and now Henrik Lundqvist and company will try and get things going again. This is an Original Six matchup and it will have Patrick Kane playing after he has been dealing with a sexual assault investigation back in New York.
The Rangers made some key moves this offseason, including signing Jarret Stoll, trading for Emerson Etem and inking Derek Stepan to an extension and the team is hoping those moves can help put them over the top. The team traded Cam Talbot this offseason after he had an amazing run behind Hank when the goalie was injured last season and now the Rangers are hoping they can get through with the King healthy all season.
Rick Nash had a great year in the regular season for the Rangers, but he did not translate that into the playoffs and that will be the biggest concern for the team moving forward with Nash. Stepan had another strong season despite missing some time with an injury, while the Rangers expect Chris Kreider to take the next step in his development. Alain Vigneault said that the team is prepared to get the season started and players like TJ Miller and Kevin Hayes have shown a lot in the summer and the preseason.
The Rangers come in after a win against the Bruins and they will play against the Columbus Blue Jackets next and that will be on Friday. The team will make their home debut later on and this year the Rangers should be one of the better teams in the east again. The team returns most of their core players from last season and there is a good chance the team makes at least one major trade at the deadline again depending on how the season starts.
The Blackhawks come into the game after winning against the Dallas Stars and they will hit the road and play the Islanders next after this game against the Rangers. Kane comes in after scoring 27 goals last season and recording 64 points and he is a key player for the Hawks. The off the ice situation continues to develop and depending on what happens Kane could face some discipline from the league.
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