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(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Rangers hope to avoid a third straight loss on Monday night when they play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third matchup this season between the Metropolitan Division rivals. The Rangers have lost 11 of their last 15 meetings with the Penguins, splitting a pair of encounters this season. Henrik Lundqvist posted a 33-save shutout in a 5-0 home victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 11, but the Penguins answered back with their own home win over the Rangers four days later. That came via a 3-2 shootout decision. Lundqvist, who is expected to start tonight, has allowed only two goals on 71 shots versus the Penguins this season. Backup Cam Talbot got the start in net for New York on Saturday versus Detroit after posting shutout wins in his previous two starts. He was looking solid again versus the Red Wings, but ended up allowing three goals on 34 shots in a 3-2 loss. With the Rangers up 2-0 thanks to goals from Kevin Klein and Rick Nash, Talbot yielded a pair of tallies 61 seconds apart late in the second period, then was beaten for the winner 7:40 into the third period. We were playing a pretty solid game. They got a couple odd-man rushes at the end of the (second) period that cost us, said Rangers defenseman Marc Staal. New York will try to avoid posting a season high-tying third straight loss for the third time this season and Nash could lead the charge tonight. The forward has 17 goals, tied for second in the NHL, and has posted five tallies and three assists over a seven-game point streak. Pittsburgh has won five of its last seven and bounced back from a 3-0 loss versus Vancouver with a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. An unmarked Christian Ehrhoff scored with 1:50 left in regulation, getting a cross-ice pass from Sidney Crosby before blasting a shot into the upper right corner of the net. Usually when you have that much time you think too much, said Ehrhoff. But I just knew where I wanted to put it and this time, it went right where I wanted it. Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Sutter also scored for the Penguins, who won two of three on their homestand. It was important to have a (good) rebound game, said Penguins coach Mike Johnston. Following that game (versus Vancouver), I think everybody was anxious to (go). And we didnt feel that the Vancouver game was a good game for us as a team. Craig Adams appeared in his 314th straight game for the Penguins, breaking the franchise record held by Ron Schock. He had an assist in the win. Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves, including two in the closing moments, in the victory for the Pens. He has allowed seven goals on 66 shots in the two games versus the Rangers this season. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Gelson-Martins-Jersey/ .Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Lucas-Hernandez-Jersey/ .C. - Goodyear has warned teams that increased speeds at Charlotte Motor Speedway will put a heavy emphasis on the right front tires in Saturday nights race a€” a potentially key development for drivers trying to advance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Diego-Godin-Jersey/ .J. - Trying to learn and absorb the new West Coast offence being installed by new offensive co-ordinator Ben McAdoo, the New York Giants wrapped their final organized team activity Thursday before a three-day mini-camp next week. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Diego-Costa-Jersey/ . -- Former NHL star Jeremy Roenick shot a second-round 69 to take the lead after 36 holes and former LPGA great Annika Sorenstam and Chad Pfeifer, who lost his left leg above the knee serving in Iraq, are among several players in contention in the American Century Championship tournament on Saturday. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Thomas-Lemar-Jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla.NEW YORK - As the Knicks were on their way to an embarrassing 29-point Christmas Day defeat, the Madison Square Garden faithful chanted the name of their saviour, who just so happens to be the Raptors starting point guard. Their 9-19 record remains identical to the crosstown rivals in Brooklyn and trails both Toronto and Boston in the Atlantic Division. Raymond Felton, their declining point guard, is back on the sideline nursing his third injury of the season. Their owner James Dolan has reassured his team that no one is being traded or fired, at least for the time being. Still, some Knicks fans are holding out hope that help is on the way. "Thats very humbling," Kyle Lowry said, flattered by the thought of Knicks fans chanting his name. "Thats humbling, I appreciate it. Its kind of one of those things where you just dont know what to say, you just are like, wow thats pretty cool but at the end of the day, I play for the Raptors." Exactly two weeks ago, Lowry stood in front of the Toronto media and addressed multiple reports that had surfaced the day prior, connecting him to trade talks with the Knicks. The rumour mill has dried up since then, for the most part, but the Raptors guard found himself answering the same questions prior to Fridays game at MSG, the first in a home-and-home set with the Knicks. Catch both contests against the division-rival Knicks - Friday at 7:30pm et and Saturday at 7pm et - live on TSN2 and listen to Saturdays rematch on TSN 1050 Radio. "That wasnt in my mind," Lowry said, asked about the possibility of playing in New York. "My mind [said] to keep playing and be a competitor and play hard, try to win as many games for the Raptors. If something happens, then it happens, until that day Im a Raptor and I play hard for the Raptors." Reconvening in New York following a brief two-day break for the holidays, the Raptors are feeling good about their place in the putrid Atlantic Division. Despite the trade of Rudy Gay earlier in the month and ongoing speculation that Lowry and/or others could be moved next, no one is panicking. Quite the opposite in fact. The team is as harmonious as ever and thats a credit to their flood general, who hasnt been shaken by the off-court noise and is playing the best basketball of his career. Lowry is avveraging 15.dddddddddddd2 points and 7.0 assists this season, both career-highs. He has recorded six or more assists in a career-best 18 consecutive games, obliterating his previous high, which was eight straight contests. The Raptors sit atop the division, a half game ahead of the Celtics and three games in front of the Knicks and Nets. Although theyve won five of eight since the trade of Gay - including two of three during an exceptionally difficult Western Conference road trip - the Knicks are closing in. New York has won six of its last 12 and has Tyson Chandler, the heart of its defence, back in the lineup. With two straight games against the Knicks and four of the next 11 against Atlantic Division opponents, this stretch could go a long way in mapping out the Raptors next step, as well as the future of Lowry and his expiring contract. "We all want to win, we all want to make the playoffs, we all want to be a better team and continue to get better," said Lowry. "I think guys are just out here, were having fun, were taking advantage of every time we can step on the floor together and just trying to win games." "I just want to keep playing. No matter what, I want to try to win games. I made a commitment to the city of Toronto, to myself and to the fans to get the Raptors to the playoffs so thats what Im here to do." Much-needed rest for DeRozan For the second straight season, DeMar DeRozan is among the league-leaders in minutes played. The Raptors guard has logged 38.5 minutes per night through the teams first 26 games with only the Knicks Carmelo Anthony and Rockets guard James Harden averaging more playing time. The two-day break couldnt have come at a better time for Torontos best player. "I think we just needed that," he said following shootaround at Baruch College in New York Friday afternoon. "Just to have two days to relax, get your mind off things, I think it was definitely needed for us, especially with this push were trying to make to stay on top of the division and win the next couple games." Raptors coach Dwane Casey said he is planning to monitor DeRozans minutes closely and could deploy John Salmons or the sparingly used Landry Fields and Steve Novak to spell him more as the season goes on. 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