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Slumping Rangers look to rebound vs. Blues

Mar 3, 2007 - 3:01 PM St Louis (28-27-9) at NY Rangers (30-27-7) 1:00 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- If the New York Rangers don't make the playoffs, a poor home record will be one major reason.

The Rangers try to right themselves at home when they host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

New York is 11th in the Eastern Conference, five points out of the final playoff spot. The Rangers are 3-5-2 in their last 10 homes games after a 4-3 home shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Jaromir Jagr scored for the Rangers, who are 1-1-2 on their six-game homestand. New York has scored just 11 goals in that span and is 13-14-5 at home this season.

Jagr has 77 points, tied for ninth in the NHL. He has scored in three straight games, and has five goals and nine assists in his last 11 contests.

The Blues, 11th in the West and 12 points out of the final playoff spot, were active at the trade deadline.

They acquired left wing Ville Nieminen, prospect Jay Barriball and New Jersey's first-round pick (acquired last season) from the San Jose Sharks for right wing Bill Guerin.

St. Louis shipped left wing Keith Tkachuk to the Atlanta Thrashers for center Glen Metropolit, first and third-round picks in 2007 and a second-round pick in 2008. It also acquired right wing Brad Boyes from the Boston Bruins for defenseman Dennis Wideman.

The Blues improved to 6-1-0 in their last seven after a 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday. Lee Stempniak netted the winner in overtime.

Stempniak, who has 20 goals and 20 assists, has three goals and six assists in his last seven games.