NHL Matchup - January 2, 2008

New York Rangers at Calgary Flames

The New York Rangers will be in Calgary to face the Flames Wednesday night, the first time the Broadway Blueshirts have visited the Alberta city in more than five years.

The Rangers hold a 6-4 advantage over the past 10 meetings. Calgary hasn't hosted the Rangers since a 2-1 loss on Nov. 14, 2002. The clubs have played twice in New York since, splitting those meetings – a 4-2 Rangers win on Jan. 10, 2006, and a 5-0 Calgary win on Jan. 5, 2004.

Overall, the Rangers have won five of the last seven meetings and two straight in Calgary after going winless in 13 games there.

New York (20-15-4 SU) has won three straight, including a 4-3 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens as a -145 home favorite on Sunday.

Calgary (19-14-7 SU) beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Monday, as -155 home favorites.

The total has gone Over in five of the Rangers’ past five on the road, and in five of their past six overall, but has gone Under in four of the Flames’ past six at home.

Calgary is 8-3 SU in its past 11, but just 3-6 SU in its past nine at home.

The Rangers will start Henrik Lundqvist in goal, while the Flames will go with Miikka Kiprusoff.

A slight majority (53 per cent) of bettors are backing a New York win, according to online sportsbooks.

Betting Line: Calgary is a 145-moneyline favorite at Bet Jamaica. The line opened Wednesday morning at -130. The over/under is 5.