Nash trade piece set to debut

PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Lindgren, the promising 20year-old defenseman whose rights the Rangers obtained from Boston as part of the Rick Nash deal, is expected to make his pro debut with the AHL Wolf Pack on Saturday.

Lindgren, who opted to leave the University of Minnesota following is sophomore season, will play under an ATO (amateur tryout) before his threeyear entry level deal kicks in next season. The Wolf Pack, who have 10 games remaining, play a home-and-home this weekend against the Hershey Bears that kicks off Saturday afternoon in Hartford.

The 6-foot, 198-pounder — the 49th-overall selection in the 2016 draft — is known for his leadership ability and eagerness to step up for his teammates.

“I talked to Gorts and he spoke very highly of his competitive nature,” coach Alain Vigneault said, referring to general manager Jeff Gorton. “He comes to play, and he plays hard. He’s a real character young man.”

Jesper Fast, who scored twice in Thursday’s 4-3 defeat to the Flyers, has recorded eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in six games since he was elevated to the first line with Mika Zi

banejad and Chris Kreider. Fast, who has scored a careerhigh 13 goals, has a seven-game point scoring streak in which he has posted nine points (3-6).

The Rangers appeared to have tied the game 4-4 at 10:09 of the third period on a Kreider power-play goal, but the play was whistled offside on an apparently incorrect call.

Blueshirts’ tragic number for elimination dipped to seven points.

Henrik Lundqvist did not make the trip, still feeling the effects of his collision on Tuesday with the Blue Jackets’ Matt Calvert.

“Hank is feeling a little better,” Vigneault said. “But he still has some neck issues.”

Alexandar Georgiev allowed four goals on 33 shots while Ondrej Pavelec served as the backup, dressing for the first time since sustaining a knee injury Feb. 9.