The Rangers are now in their post-deadline days, and with the trades of Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes, and Adam McQuaid, have entered full tank mode. The trade deadline saw the removal of two of their best four forwards, and the only NHL body that comes to the Rangers is Brendan Lemieux. Suffice it to say, that’s a significant downgrade on the current on ice product.
Helping matters along is the Tampa Bay Lightning coming to town. The clear cream of the crop, the Bolts are basically Stanley Cup or bust this season. For the Rangers, this bodes well as a Cup means they get Tampa’s 1st rounder (31st) instead of their 2nd rounder (likely 58-61). That’s a big jump.
Bolts Lines
Ondrej Palat-Steven Stamkos-JT Miller
Tyler Johnson-Brayden Point-Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn-Anthony Cerelli-Yanni Gourde
Adam Erne-Cedric Paquette-Ryan Callahan
Victor Hedman-Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh-Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev-Anton Stralman
PP1: Kucherov-Point-Stamkos-Gourde-Hedman
PP2: Miller-Killorn-Johnson-Palat-Sergachev
Andrei Vasilevsky gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Chris Kreider–Mika Zibanejad–Jimmy Vesey
Brendan Lemieux–Lias Andersson-Pavel Buchnevich
Vlad Namestnikov–Ryan Strome–Jesper Fast
Brendan Smith–Boo Nieves–Connor Brickley
Brady Skjei–Neal Pionk
Marc Staal–Tony DeAngelo
Fredrik Claesson-Kevin Shattenkirk
PP1: Zibanejad-Kreider-Buchnevich-Strome-Namestnikov
PP2: ??-??-??-Pionk-Shattenkirk
Alex Georgiev gets the start.
Scratches/Injuries: Brett Howden (knee), Filip Chytil (healthy)
Crazy Prediction: Lemieux scores in his first game.
Game time is 7:30pm.
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