Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, the Chicago Blackhawks (42-21-6, 90 points) and New York Rangers (44-17-7, 95 points) face-off for the second and final time this season live from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Chicago has won three straight games and opens up a four-match road trip while New York has won five consecutive contests and closes out a two-game home stand.
The Rangers are tied atop the NHL, Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division standings and have a two-point lead over the second place New York Islanders.
The Blackhawks own the third and final automatic playoff spot in the Central Division, five points clear of the third place Minnesota Wild (85) and four points behind the second place Nashville Predators (94).
The first time these two teams met this season, New York topped Chicago 1-0 in overtime on Mar. 8.
This matchup is part of the Wednesday Night Rivalry and can be live streamed for free by clicking here.
The Blackhawks enter the second game of a back-to-back after topping the New York Islanders 4-1 on Tuesday.
With Patrick Kane (clavicle) out, captain Jonathan Toews has paced Chicago with 59 points off of 23 goals and 36 assists while Marian Hossa has found the back of the net 21 times and added 32 helpers for 53 points.
Blackhawks forward Brad Richards (10-24--34) returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time since being bought out by the Blueshirts following their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring.
The Rangers come into play on the heels of a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday and will look for their sixth straight win.
Rick Nash has guided New York this season with 62 points and is tied for second in the NHL with 39 goals. Derick Brassard is second on the team with 52 points off of 14 tallies and 38 helpers and scored the overtime game-winner for the Rangers last time these teams played.
Henrik Lundqvist is working his way back from injury and was cleared to practice with the team, but New York will turn to Cam Talbot tonight. Talbot is 17-6-4 with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.
Chicago is set to counter with Corey Crawford in the crease and he is 29-14-5 while ranking tied for third in the NHL with a .929 save percentage and in sole possession of sixth in the league with a 2.18 GAA.
Two Original Six rivals go head-to-head when the puck drops on the Blackhawks and Rangers live tonight from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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