(Sports Network) - After yielding 10 goals over a two-game span last week, the New York Rangers used a strong defensive showing Saturday night to avoid a third straight loss. The Rangers hope to carry that effort into tonight's game when they host the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers had lost back-to-back games heading into Saturday's test against the Toronto Maple Leafs, butHenrik Lundqvist stopped 36 shots to record his 25th career shutout in New York's 2-0 win at Air Canada Centre.
Ryan Callahan and Brian Boyle scored for the Rangers, who also blocked 35 shots in the win over their Original Six rival.
"It was just a great team effort," Lundqvist said. "I think we played really well in our own end."
With the shutout, Lundqvist passed Mike Richter, Chuck Rayner and Lorne Worsley for fourth on the Rangers' all-time regular season shutouts list. It was the Swede's first blanking since April 2 against Tampa Bay.
Callahan has been hot on the offensive side of things, posting four goals and five assists during a six-game point streak. He is currently leading New York with 11 points on the season.
The Rangers will try to get something going on home ice tonight. The Blueshirts are 4-1-0 on the road this year, but the club is just 1-3-1 at MSG.
The Blackhawks, another Original Six rival, have also played their best hockey this year on the road as Joel Quenneville's team is 3-1-1 away from the Windy City. Chicago's most recent test was in Minnesota on Saturday night and the Blackhawks were able to record a 3-1 victory over the Wild.
Marty Turco made 25 saves to bounce back from a poor performance in his previous start. Turco, who is 6-2-1 on the season, was pulled from Friday's game against Edmonton after allowing four goals in the first period.
Troy Brouwer and Duncan Keith both scored their first goal of the season in Saturday's win over the Wild. Keith added an assist, while Patrick Kane assisted on two goals in the win.
"The coaches are making sure that I'm staying physical, and every once in awhile I can get complacent and get away from that," Brouwer said. "Like I said last year, every game I've been at my best I've had four, five or six hits, and I'm creating space for myself and my other linemates."
Jake Dowell also added an empty-net goal for his third score of the season.
Tonight's game could mark the return of Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell, who has missed the entire season so far with a sprained knee. Campbell had 38 points (7 goals, 31 assists) in 68 games for the Blackhawks last year.
While Campbell could skate tonight, fellow defenseman Dave Bolland will likely miss his second straight game after suffering a rib injury in Friday's loss to the Oilers. Winger Marian Hossa is also still out with an upper-body injury.
The Blackhawks posted an overtime win over the Rangers last year in Chicago, ending a three-game winning streak by New York in the series. Chicago has still lost two straight and three of its last four tests in the Big Apple.