The Rangers play their first game at the new IBS UBS Arena today against a very shorthanded Isles team that has been decimated by COVID. I’m still unsure why this game is going on, as the Isles are clearly a petri dish right now. They postponed the game against Ottawa, and I’ll just assume it had to do with local government and not the NHL.
As for the game, this COVID outbreak has crippled the Isles. They should be better than their 5-8-3 record. They are well coached, have good top end talent, and good goaltending. Right now their blue line is in shambles, and they are dressing most of their Bridgeport lineup at this point. The Rangers should be able to feast on that blue line, but remember this is a Barry Trotz team, they still should defend rather well.
Isles Lines (likely to change, thanks to COVID)
Richard Panik-Mat Barzal-Zach Parise
Anthony Beauvillier-Brock Nelson-Oliver Wahlstrom
Andy Andreoff-JG Pageau-Kyle Palmieri
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck
Zdeno Chara-Noah Dobson
Robin Salo-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Grant Hutton
Semyon Varlamov gets the start
Rangers Lines
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Kaapo Kakko
Artemiy Panarin-Ryan Strome–Dryden Hunt
Alexis Lafreniere-Filip Chytil-Julien Gauthier
Barclay Goodrow–Kevin Rooney–Ryan Reaves
Ryan Lindgren–Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Jacob Trouba
Patrik Nemeth-Nils Lundkvist
PP1: Strome-Zibanejad-Panarin-Kreider-Fox
PP2: Lafreniere-Chytil-Blais-Kakko-Trouba
Igor Shesterkin gets the start.
Scratches/Injuries: Sammy Blais (knee – done for season), Jarred Tinordi (healthy)
Crazy Prediction: A shutout for Shesty.
Game time is 7pm.
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