In a Rangers’ version of an October surprise, there will be several sudden lineup changes Sunday night when the Blueshirts host Arizona.
Henrik Lundqvist will start in back-to-back games for the first time since last season. Given coach Alain Vigneault’s history, it was expected that backup Antti Raanta would be in the net against a Western Conference team in the second game of a back-to-back.
And Oscar Lindberg, out since having hip surgery in May, will make his season debut.
Lindberg is coming off injured reserve a bit early — it was stated that he would return in November — because Chris Kreider, who leads the team in scoring with seven points, came in at noon with neck spasms, coach Alain Vigneault said in his pregame briefing.