NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Apparently, the Rangers missed Jesper Fast more than anyone realized.
The Swedish winger, known more for his defense than his offense, returned to the Rangers lineup after missing the previous five games with an upper body injury and scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner early in the third period, and the Rangers kicked off their two-game Southern trip with a 4-3 win over the struggling Nashville Predators on Saturday night. The trip concludes with a New Year’s Eve matchup against the St. Louis Blues.
The victory lifted the Rangers’ record to 16-14-7 (39 points) on the season, though the regulation win was only their 10th of the season (the fewest in the league) and their first on the road.