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Rangers try to regroup after embarrassing loss

Feb 18, 2007 - 2:03 PM Chicago (22-27-9) at NY Rangers (28-25-5) 3:30 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- If the New York Rangers want to make the playoffs, they can't lose to bad clubs.

The Rangers try to bounce back from an embarrassing loss when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

The Rangers have 61 points and are three points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. New York was defeated, 5-3, by the league-worst Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Right wing Brendan Shanahan left the ice on a stretcher after colliding with Philadelphia's Mike Knuble in the third period. Shanahan was taken to a hospital where CT scans were negative.

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist did not return for the third period after injuring his shoulder. New York coach Tom Renney said the netminder should be ready to play against Chicago.

The Blackhawks have an uphill battle to make the playoffs. They have 53 points, 14 out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Chicago is 2-1-2 in its last five, but has suffered two straight shootout losses. The Blackhawks lost, 5-4, to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday and 2-1 to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

Leading scorer Martin Havlat failed in both shootout attempts. The right wing has seven goals and five assists in his last eight games. He had a six-game scoring streak going before getting blanked in his last two games.