When the Rangers battle the Blue Jackets later tonight at The Garden, Henrik Lundqvist will be back in net. He’ll oppose Sergei Bobrovsky. It’ll be a battle of the last two Vezina winners.

For Lundqvist, it’s a chance to redeem himself. Despite another strong performance from rookie Cam Talbot along with everyone else in a 7-1 laugher in Toronto, Alain Vigneault has gone back to the franchise goalie. With the Rangers stepping up in competition Wednesday at the Blackhawks, he’s giving Lundqvist an opportunity to regain his old form. In nine of his last 10 starts, he’s allowed three goals or more. Once unheard of.

It’s been a mental grind all season. Even with his new contract, Hank continues to baffle. Even more confusing is how the team plays in front of him. It’s as if they don’t trust him. For so long, he’s been the backbone of the franchise. However, everyone plays tight when he starts. Perhaps it’s the pressure. Everything is magnified in the Big Apple.

It’s no secret that the Blueshirts aren’t a good home team winning eight of their first 20 (8-10-2). A 13-10-0 road record has kept them afloat in a mediocre division. Aside from first place Pittsburgh, nobody is a playoff certainty. The Caps are currently tied with the Flyers for second with 46 points. Philadelphia holds the ROW tiebreaker with six more regulation and overtime wins (18). By winning again yesterday, Carolina sits fourth with 45. With 39 games remaining, the Rangers are fifth with 44. The Devils are sixth with 42. Columbus is currently seventh with 40. The Islanders are last with 35.

This is a key stretch before the Olympics. The Rangers have 16 games remaining prior to the Olympic break. Eight of the next 10 come at home. Following their brief stay in Chicago, they’ll host the next four against Dallas, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Detroit. Then visit Ottawa 1/18. The Caps, Islanders and Blues all visit preluding the Stadium Series against the Devils and Islanders at Yankee Stadium. The Rangers are the road team in each. On 1/31, they host the Islanders. Colorado and Edmonton visit MSG on Feb. 4 and 6. Then the Rangers finish at Pittsburgh 2/7.

It’s important for them to establish home ice. Eleven of the 16 are at the remodeled Garden. If you count the pair of Stadium Series games at a neutral site with plenty of support from our fans, that’s technically 13 that aren’t in the opponent’s building. They’ll never have a better chance to turn the season around.

In today’s NY Post, Larry Brooks speculates whether they’re better off renting out Dan Girardi and Ryan Callahan. Both can become unrestricted this summer. Brooks believes Girardi can fetch two good prospects and a pick. I’m not so sure a team will pay that. Callahan would definitely be worth it. Girardi is more of a defensive defenseman who won’t put up many points. Much depends on how the Rangers perform prior to the March 5 trade deadline.

As far as the lineup, it stays the same except for Lundqvist. That means newest Blueshirt Dan Carcillo will have to wait before debuting. Might we see him when they visit the Blackhawks? A former team he won a Cup with. I don’t know. J.T. Miller continues to look good. It could depend on what happens tonight. The last time they hosted the Jackets, it was another frustrating loss. Columbus chased Lundqvist with three on 13 shots in a 4-2 win on Dec. 12. Girardi pulled them within 3-2 but Ryan Johansen put it away beating Talbot.

Aside from familiar faces Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and Fedor Tyutin, the Rangers will have to deal with Nathan Horton. A pest in front, the defense must pay attention to him. With Conor Allen sent back to Hartford to clear room for Carcillo, Mike Del Zotto has gotten back in the lineup. His return went well recording a helper and going plus-two. With him wanting out, it’s a showcase for NHL scouts to increase value. He’s better off leaving. Vigneault hasn’t handled him right. If Del Zotto goes, he’s still a Group II this summer unless he isn’t tendered. Justin Falk remains the extra defenseman.