San Jose @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 12, 2019 ) NY Rangers 6, San Jose 3

The New York Rangers have won six of their last seven games - a run that has them thinking playoffs - as they host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. New York defeated Metropolitan rival Carolina 5-2 on Friday behind hot rookie goaltender Igor Shesterkin and is five points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but has three teams to pass.

The Rangers signed Artemi Panarin to a seven-year $81.5 million contract during the offseason and the left wing continues to pay dividends as he had a goal and an assist Friday, giving him 401 points in 381 career games. San Jose began its four-game trip through the Northeast corridor with a 2-1 loss to New Jersey on Thursday as it played without Logan Couture (ankle), Erik Karlsson (thumb), Tomas Hertl (knee) and Evander Kane (suspension). "Those are the games where you sort of see the lack of offense, that lack of skill that is out of our lineup," Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner told reporters. "You can get by some nights with it, get a power play goal or get a couple of bounces and you get some puck luck." New York has won four straight meetings after a 6-3 victory at San Jose on Dec. 12 behind Panarin's third career hat trick and two goals from Mika Zibanejad.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NHL Network, NBCS California, MSG

ABOUT THE SHARKS (26-30-4): Kane (team-high 21 goals) is eligible to return Saturday after serving a three-game suspension for elbowing Winnipeg's Neal Pionk on Feb. 14. Brent Burns had two goals and six assists during a six-game point streak before being kept off the scoresheet Thursday. Timo Meier (20 goals) has scored in every other game over the last six contests after not tallying versus New Jersey.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (32-24-4): Zibanejad had a goal and two assists Friday, giving him seven goals and nine assists in his last nine games and 27 and 59 on the season. Ryan Strome recorded a goal and an assist versus Carolina and has four of his 16 goals and nine of his 53 points during a seven-game point streak. Panarin, who has recorded 50 assists in three straight seasons, paces the club with 31 goals and 81 points.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose RW Melker Karlsson left Thursday's game and departed the arena in a walking boot.

2. Shesterkin is 8-1-0 with a 2.25 goals-against average and .938 save percentage since making his NHL debut Jan. 7.

3. The Sharks boast the No. 1 penalty-killing unit in the league at 85.8 percent after extinguishing 12-of-13 in their last three games.

PREDICTION: Sharks 3, Rangers 2