The set-up: Excellent matchup tonight at Madison Square Garden as the 18-8-4 Chicago Blackhawks take on the 20-9-1- NY Rangers, just a few days removed from the Rangers beating the Blackhawks 1-0 (OT) in Chicago. Adding an interesting twist is the fact that both teams are facing some genuine goaltending issues.

Chicago: The Blackhawks are missing a pair marquee players in captain Jonathan Toews (back), who has been out for the past nine games, plus defenseman Brent Seabrook (upper body), who has missed the past two contests and will not play here. Getting back to the goaltending situation, the Blackhawks have been riding backup goaltender Scott Darling with Corey Crawford out two to three weeks after an appendectomy. In five starts since taking over for Crawford, Darling is 2-2-1 and has allowed just seven goals. He has given up two goals on 83 shots in his past three starts.

NY Rangers: The Rangers have a goaltending controversy for the first time in more than a decade. With Henrik Lundqvist struggling, head coach Alain Vigneault handed the reins to backup Antti Raanta for three consecutive starts. Raanta rewarded his coach's faith by going 3-0-0 with two shutouts, including one in Chicago on Friday, 1-0 (OT). Raanta then made 19 saves in a 5-0 home win against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, to became the first Rangers goaltender since 2003 to record back-to-back shutouts.

The pick: We can't be sure which goalie Vigneault will choose but don't expect another 1-0 outcome. While the Rangers have cooled off some, they remain the league's highest scoring team (3.50 GPG) and Sunday's five-goal outburst is more like it. The Over is a 10* play.