Los Angeles @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 10, 2019 ) NY Rangers 1, Los Angeles 3

The New York Rangers continue to employ three goaltenders, which makes it hard on the odd man out wearing street clothes. Alexandar Georgiev won't don any equipment Sunday when New York hosts the Los Angeles Kings as coach David Quinn announced that rookie Igor Shesterkin will start with veteran Henrik Lundqvist serving as the backup.

“It’s tough,'' Georgiev told the New York Post. "You don’t want to be sitting in the lounge watching the guys play. It’s not a fun part of hockey.” The Rangers were reportedly trying to trade Georgiev by the Feb. 24 deadline but apparently have made a 180 and have "no desire" to deal the 23-year-old, who has played 68 NHL games. Los Angeles has lost four straight after a 3-0 setback at New Jersey on Saturday left the Western Conference's worst team 2-11-1 in its last 14 contests. The Kings prevailed 3-1 on Dec. 10 for its fourth straight victory over New York behind a goal and an assist from Tyler Toffoli and 29 saves by Jonathan Quick.

TIME: 6 p.m. ET. TV: FS West, MSG Plus

ABOUT THE KINGS (19-32-5): Quick, who was born some 65 miles from Madison Square Garden in Milford, Conn., is expected in goal Sunday after Cal Petersen made 31 saves versus New Jersey in his season debut. Petersen, considered the heir apparent to Quick, was recalled Wednesday from AHL Ontario and is expected to assume the back-up role after Jack Campbell was traded to Toronto. Trevor Moore, acquired in the Campbell trade, had two hits in 12 minutes, 36 seconds of his club debut.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (26-23-4): Shesterkin has made a splash by going 4-1-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in his first five career games, and has outplayed his teammates albeit in a small sample. Artemi Panarin paces the club with 27 goals and 72 points but has slowed down lately with two assists in his last four contests. Chris Kreider, also the subject of trade talk, has four goals and seven points in his last six games and has reached 20 goals for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

OVERTIME

1. New York C Mika Zibanejad has recorded a goal and assist in each of his last two games, and boasts four goals and 10 points in his last six contests, giving him 22 tallies and 47 points in 40 games.

2. Los Angeles has killed 10-of-11 penalties in its last six games after allowing one to New Jersey.

3. The Rangers are 8-for-17 on the power play in their last six games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Kings 2