When: Friday, September 30, 1:00 p.m.

Opponent: @Frolunda Indians (5-0-0-1)

TV: MSG

UPDATE: Though Mike Sauer skated today, the news isn’t so good for Marc Staal.  Staal was on the ice with the CT Whale this morning, but he says he’s not in game shape, hasn’t been cleared for contact and doesn’t know if he would be able to play on Friday.  Staal will skate with the Whale again tomorrow if his headaches don’t return and if he’s really feeling great, he might try to plan a flight to Europe.  Staal says his headaches are definitely a result of his concussion from last February and he’s had a cortisone shot to relieve neck soreness. (11:48 a.m.)

UPDATE: Today's lineup:

Forwards: Wojtek Wolski, Erik Christensen, Mats Zuccarello, Mike Rupp, Brian Boyle, Brandon Prust, Sean Avery, John Mitchell, Dale Weise, Ryan Bourque, Kris Newbury, Carl Hagelin 

Defensemen: Brendan Bell, Blake Parlett, Michael Del Zotto, Dylan McIlrath, Tim Erixon, Stu Bickel 

Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Scott Stajcer

UPDATE: Sauer said his goal is to play in one of the final two preseason games but is unsure if he'll be able to. (10:00 a.m.)

UPDATE: New York will dress a very weak lineup today.  Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports that Artem Anisimov, Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan, Ruslan Fedotenko, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Mike Sauer and Steve Eminger will all be scratches.  The good news is that Sauer was back on the ice this morning. (9.11 a.m.)

EARLIER: The Rangers are right back in action again tomorrow afternoon in the highly anticipated return of Henrik Lundqvist to Gothenburg, Sweden against his former team, Frolunda HC, of the Swedish Elite League.

In the first leg of their European excursion the Blueshirts bested HC Sparta Prague 2-0 as Lundqvist’s backup, Martin Biron, delivered a shutout.  But tomorrow the story will be all about Hank, who played for the Indians from 2000-2005 and led the team to league titles in 2003 and 2005.  In his final season with the club Lundqvist was named Best Goaltender, Best Swedish Player and he was voted MVP by the Swedish Elite League’s players. 

Lundqvist, originally drafted by the Rangers in the seventh round of the 2000 draft, has been excited about this matchup since the European trip was first announced.

"It's hard not to think about it," Lundqvist told NHL.com’s Dan Rosen.  "The last few days it feels like 80 percent of the time I think about going back home and playing there."

Coach John Tortorella gave Biron the start on Thursday so that Lundqvist could get play against his old team, which features ex-Ranger Christian Backman and Lundqvist’s brother, Joel, who serves as Frolunda’s captain.  Long-time Boston Bruin P.J. Axelsson and former Philadelphia Flyer Mika Pyörälä are also members of the Rangers’ opponent.

It should be a slightly better test for New York, which started off slowly today against its Czech Extraliga opponent but was able to pick up a victory anyway off of second period goals by Artem Anisimov and Ruslan Fedotenko.

Michael Del Zotto and Tim Erixon are expected to be back in the lineup as the Rangers take every opportunity to evaluate the young defenders still battling for the last blueline jobs.  The rest of the lineup has yet to be revealed, but since the Rangers dressed 11 of the probable 12 forwards that will be on the opening night roster for Thursday’s game, it’s safe to say that some of the fringe players will play tomorrow.

The Blueshirts will next visit Bratislava, Slovakia to take on HC Slovan on Sunday morning and then Zug, Switzerland to play EV Zug on Monday before opening the season a week from tomorrow against the Los Angeles Kings in Stockholm.

For more from training camp:

Training Camp Roster And 6 Battles To Watch >

Training Camp Opens With "The Test" >

Staal Injury Overshadows Encouraging First Scrimmage >

Scrimmage Lines Provide Strong Clues To John Tortorella's Thinking >

Staal's Condition Growing Worrisome: Is A Veteran Defenseman Acquisition Coming? >

Rangers Contact Paul Mara's Agent As Concern Over Staal Grows >

Preseason Game #1 Preview: This Team Isn't Messing Around >

September 21 Training Camp Quick Hits >

Rangers Fall 2-1 In Underwhelming Preseason Opener > (9/21/11)

Dale Weise May Be Ready, But Is There Room For Him? >

Practice Lines May Reveal Where Everyone Currently Stands > (9/22/11)

Preseason Game #2 Preview: Debut Of The Big Guns > (9/23/11)

Rangers Outlast Devils 4-3 As Offense Gets Warmed Up > (9/24/11)

Rangers Announce First Round Of Cuts > (9/24/11)

Don't Fret If Youngsters Don't Make The Team > (9/25/11)  

Preseason Game #3 Preview: Leaving On A Jet Plane > (9/26/11)

Sauer And Avery Hurt In Loss To Flyers > (9/26/11)

Preseason Game #4 Preview: Back In Action Overseas > (9/28/11)

Avery To The AHL Makes Sense > (9/29/11)

Preseason Game #5 Preivew: Return Of The King > (9/29/11)

Click here for our full Summer 2011 Archive >

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