After three days off, the Rangers return to the ice to battle the Capitals at Verizon Center. The game doesn’t begin until 8 EST due to it being televised nationally on NBC Sports Network. It’s the first meeting of the season between classic Patrick rivals. As history has shown, they’ve battled four of the last five years in the playoffs splitting each series. Expect the action to heat up.

Perhaps that’s what the Rangers need. Their early struggles have been well documented. So far, they’ve been outscored 25-9 suffering humiliations at the hands of the Sharks and Ducks. After dropping a third straight to the Blues, the organization put Arron Asham and Marty Biron on waivers. In their place will be J.T. Miller and Cam Talbot. Miller will start on the fourth line playing left wing. He scored four times with Hartford. Talbot will backup Henrik Lundqvist.

With Rick Nash moved to injured reserve and still minus Carl Hagelin, it’s up to the rest of the team to step up. Alain Vigneault finally criticized some of the non-producers. Though he didn’t mention them by name, Benoit Pouliot, Mats Zuccarello and Taylor Pyatt are off to bad starts. With Brad Richards doing most of the scoring, it’s up to the supporting cast to contribute. Derick Brassard and Ryan Callahan produced last game. So, the top line got the job done. When you consider they scored three without Nash, that’s a good sign. They need it from everyone.

Whenever the Rangers see the Caps, that usually means Ryan McDonagh against Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin is off to a fast start ranking second in the NHL with six goals and tied for fifth with nine points. Assuming Vigneault reunites McDonagh with Dan Girardi, that would put a familiar match-up in place for the rivalry renewal. They blanketed him during a first round seven-game win holding Ovechkin to one goal. None over the final six. During a Rivalry Special that aired on NBCSN last night, he admitted to how frustrating it was. They likely will repeat it prior to the game. Very interesting dialogue from both sides including McDonagh, who took a hard Ovechkin hit that cut him. A classic battle wound with him noting he’d take that hit every time to win. If Vigneault sticks with Marc Staal, he’ll be asked to limit Ovechkin’s time and space.

McDonagh was paired up with Anton Stralman Saturday. Stralman has been their most steady D thus far. He isn’t flashy. But gets the job done. A player who no doubt improved under Tort. As for the third pair, it’ll have a different element with Justin Falk in for flu-ridden Mike Del Zotto. Falk gets the assignment with John Moore, who must raise his level. He’ll get the opportunity to replace Del Zotto on the power play. An area he was used last Spring with mixed results. Certainly a good enough skater with a booming shot, it should be interesting to see how he does. As for Falk, Vigneault stressed that he wants him to play physical but also must stay out of the penalty box. He took two minors in the St. Louis loss. If he wants to stick, the ex-Wild blueliner must be more disciplined.

With the club finally East for the final four of a lengthy nine-game road trip, let’s see if they can come together as a group. They finally had time to practice and look at video. They aren’t as busy over the next week with two more days off before a visit to the Devils. Then four days to prepare for the Flyers. This is a golden opportunity for them to turn it around. All three are winnable.