The Rangers will open the strike-shortened season against two of the top teams in the league. They make their debut Jan. 19 against the rival Bruins, a source confirmed with The Post, and their home opener is tentatively set for the following night against the Penguins.
The opener will mark Rick Nash’s debut for the Blueshirts, who will face high expectations following a season when they finished with the most points in the Eastern Conference and added the Blue Jackets star in an offseason trade.
Rangers players have begun informal practices at the team’s Westchester facility and a brief training camp is expected to open Sunday if the players ratify the new CBA today and tomorrow.
The season is expected to be cut to 48 games because of the lockout.
The Islanders will also open the season Jan. 19, at home against the Devils, a league source told The Post.
It is slated to be the Islanders’ third-to-last home opener at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, before the team moves to Barclays Center in Brooklyn starting in 2015.
bcyrgalis@nypost.com