COLUMBUS, Ohio – Rangers coach Gerard Gallant has said many times he doesn’t mind it when his team plays back-to-back games. But this one was a little different because after the Rangers got done playing the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday, they were coming home to play perhaps their most anticipated home game of the season Friday at Madison Square Garden against the Minnesota Wild.
Friday will be Henrik Lundqvist Night, when the former goaltender’s No. 30 is retired to the Garden rafters before the game.
Gallant, though, didn’t expect his players might be caught looking past Columbus and toward the ceremony Friday.