For the first time this season, the Rangers and Islanders are set to square off this season. They will also meet on Thursday and then again next Tuesday. Seems odd to have one of the best rivalries meet in January for the first time and then basically have the season series over with by the following week. But what do I know?
The Isles are good – they get good goaltending and great coaching from Barry Trotz. This team is headed to the playoffs barring a significant collapse. The Blueshirts have been playing better of late, but St. Louis did knock them down to size over the weekend.
As for the lineup, Pavel Buchnevich is a game time decision with the flu. Marc Staal is also a game time decision, so the lineup is the best guess based on the last game. Alex Georgiev gets the start, while Igor Shesterkin will be in the press box.
Isles Lines
Anthony Beauvillier-Mat Barzal-Josh Bailey
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Jordan Eberle
Michael Dal Colle-Derick Brassard-Tom Kuhnackl
Ross Johnston-Leo Komarov-Matt Martin
Nick Leddy-Ryan Pulock
Devon Toews-Scott Mayfield
Noah Dobson-Johnny Boychuk
PP1: Lee-Barzal-Bailey-Toews-Beauvillier
PP2: Brassard-Nelson-Eberle-Dobson-Pulock
Semyon Varlamov gets the start.
Rangers Lines (best guess)
Chris Kreider–Mika Zibanejad–Pavel Buchnevich
Artemi Panarin–Ryan Strome–Jesper Fast
Brett Howden–Filip Chytil–Kaapo Kakko
Brendan Smith–Greg McKegg–Steven Fogarty
Brady Skjei–Jacob Trouba
Marc Staal–Tony DeAngelo
Ryan Lindgren–Adam Fox
PP1: Panarin-Zibanejad-Strome-Kreider-DeAngelo
PP2: Kakko-Buchnevich-Lemieux/Chytil-Trouba-Fox
PK Forwards: Fast, Kreider, Strome, Howden, Lemieux, McKegg
PK Defense: Skjei, Trouba, Staal, Smith, Lindgren
Alex Georgiev gets the start.
Scratches: Micheal Haley (healthy), Igor Shesterkin (healthy), Libor Hajek (knee)
Crazy Prediction: A shutout for Hank. He’s due.
Game time is 8pm.
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