The Rangers are back in action, but look a little different due to injuries. Most of the blue line is either injured or pending a trade at this point. So now Libor Hajek, the ninth defenseman used this season, will get his shot. He needs to play well to stick and to show the Rangers didn’t make a mistake when making him the focal point of the Ryan McDonagh trade. I think he knows this.
The Rangers, despire the drama, have taken five of six points in their last three games. That’s something they can build from. They just need to keep moving forward, and hopefully can continue to do so. The Caps are good, though not as good as prior years. Their forward depth can be exploited.
Caps Lines
Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana-TJ Oshie-Richard Panik
Carl Hagelin-Nic Dowd-Garnet Hathaway
Daniel Carr-Michael Sgarbossa-Daniel Sprong
Zdeno Chara-John Carlson
Brendan Dillon-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Dmitry Orlov-Nick Jensen
PP1: Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie-Ovechkin-Carlson
PP2: Sprong-Panik-Sgarbossa-Wilson-Chara
Vitek Vanecek gets the start.
Rangers Lines (projected)
Alexis Lafreniere-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Artemi Panarin–Ryan Strome–Kaapo Kakko
Chris Kreider–Brett Howden–Phil Di Giuseppe
Brendan Lemieux–Kevin Rooney-Julien Gauthier
K’Andre Miller–Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren–Adam Fox
Libor Hajek–Anthony Bitetto
PP1: Panarin-Zibanejad-Buchnevich-Lafreniere-Fox
PP2: Strome-Kreider-Kakko-Miller-Trouba
PK Forwards: Kreider, Strome, Howden, Zibanejad
PK Defense: Trouba, Smith, Lindgren, Fox
Igor Shesterkin gets the start.
Scratches/Injuries: Filip Chytil (upper body), Jack Johnson (lower body), Colin Blackwell (upper body), Brendan Smith (upper body)
Crazy Prediction: Hajek with a two point night.
Game time is 7pm.
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