When the Rangers take on the Red Wings for a special 8 PM start on Rivalry Night, they’ll get two players back. After missing Monday’s game, both Kevin Klein and Mats Zuccarello will return. Klein replaces Dylan McIlrath, who was sent down to Hartford. Zuccarello is back in for Ryan Malone, whose days might be numbered.

Conor Allen remains with the club and is in for a second straight game. How Alain Vigneault constructs the pairings remains to be seen. On Monday, he had Matt Hunwick with Dan Girardi and Michael Kostka with Marc Staal. Klein is better than Kostka, who can slide down to the third pair with Allen. But does Vigneault trust them together?

As for McIlrath, it appears he’ll never get a chance as long as Vigneault is coaching. AV simply has no use for a big, physical defenseman who has trouble skating. McIlrath was selected in the first round of 2010. There’s no question he struggled against St. Louis getting victimized by Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored again in a win over the Devils. However, you have to be willing to let young players learn from mistakes. The Rangers have zero toughness. That’s the one element McIlrath brings battling Blues enforcer Ryan Reaves in an entertaining scrap.

It’s hard to say what his future is. Maybe he’ll have to go elsewhere. Is he fully ready? How can we know when the organization has zero faith. Look at the way they treated J.T. Miller and Jesper Fast. Granted, neither distinguished themselves. Miller was brutal before getting sent down. That’s another first round pick who might need a change of scenery. Vigneault seems more than happy with his guy Tanner Glass, who’ll continue to play in a limited role despite minimal value. Even more, he was on for the Blues tying goal.

It is what it is. Henrik Lundqvist is back in net. Detroit is playing the second of a back-to-back. It remains to be seen if Jimmy Howard will oppose him. But they should be tired after losing at Ottawa last night. These are the games the Rangers must take advantage of.

As for Tomas Kaberle, I could care less. It is ridiculous that Vigneault would rather have him over one of our prospects. But also speaks to the dire straits the club is in.