Yes. You heard right. On an NFL Sunday in the middle of December, the good ‘ole NHL decided to schedule an early dinner game. But it’s not just one either.

While we head out to see the Rangers do battle with the Coyotes at MSG with a 5 PM start, the Devils will be battling the Flyers a path ride away in Newark.

I have never really understood why the league or whoever the schedule makers are would put the game of hockey against football. It doesn’t seem to make any sense.

Maybe it has to do with how busy facilities such as the Garden and new Prudential Center are. I guess we’ll never really know why.

The Rangers enter having dropped four of five and are coming off a bad 5-4 OT loss in the nation’s cap blowing an early two-goal lead and playing very sloppy. They really do need a win over Wayne Gretzky’s hard working Coyotes in the worst way. Henrik Lundqvist is battling the flu but expected to start and Jaromir Jagr should be a go despite a stiff back.

Meanwhile, with the offense continuing to struggle, the Blueshirts recalled both Nigel Dawes and Greg Moore from Hartford. They’ll both be in the lineup as Marcel Hossa (flu) and Ryan Callahan (conditioning assignment) are out.

We’ll see if the pair of rookies can provide a spark for a club that’s underachieving despite adding Scott Gomez and Chris Drury to a solid lineup. Paging No.68.