For the third time in two weeks, the Rangers see the Lightning. So far, they’re 0-for-2 versus the Tampa Blueshirts. Of course, I’m referring to the trio of Ryan Callahan, Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman. All have fit in seamlessly on a first place team led by top scorer Steven Stamkos. There’s a lot to like about the Bolts who bring a 16-6-2 record into MSG. They boast strong supporting cast featuring Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Nikita Kucherov, Valtteri Filppula, Alex Killorn, Victor Hedman, Jason Harrison and Ben Bishop. Rookie Jonathan Drouin has been in and out of the lineup.

Talent wise, the Rangers can’t match the Lightning. However, they got a pair of aces in Rick Nash and Marty St. Louis along with crown prince Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan McDonagh. Derek Stepan has been money since returning forming a solid 1-2 center tandem with Derick Brassard. They come in winners of two straight and four of their last five with the only loss to Tampa 4-3 on Nov. 26. Three of those victories were shutouts. It helps that they played the Flyers three times. They’re hideous. You have to beat who’s on your schedule. A 5-0 win over Montreal on 11/23 was probably their best effort.

There is one change to the lineup. With Chris Kreider returning following the death of his grandfather, Anthony Duclair is a healthy scratch. That means J.T. Miller stays in following a good showing. He’ll remain on the fourth line with Dominic Moore and Jesper Fast. Hagelin goes back to the third line with Kevin Hayes and Lee Stempniak, who scored the empty netter in a 5-2 win over the Flyers Saturday. On the blueline, Dan Boyle will miss a second consecutive game due to “flu-like symptoms.” That means John Moore stays in and will pair up with McDonagh. Hopefully, that’s all it is for Boyle especially with Tanner Glass suffering from the mumps. It’s an odd time indeed.

Lundqvist gets a second straight start. He took the loss last time against Tampa allowing four goals on 25 shots. He’s given up nine goals on 59 shots against the Lightning so far. Four came off the stick of Callahan, who hasn’t been knocked down once by our defensemen. Hopefully, that changes now that McDonagh is back. Meanwhile, Bishop is a perfect 7-0-0 with a 1.26 goals-against-average in his career versus the Rangers. But they did get three on him last time. Maybe they’re finally due.

Here are the Rangers projected lines:

Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello

Kreider-Stepan-St. Louis

Hagelin-Hayes-Stempniak

Miller-D. Moore-Fast

J. Moore-McDonagh

Staal-Girardi

Hunwick-Klein

Lundqvist

Talbot