After 9 days off, the NY Rangers are back on the ice tonight for a busy week. They kick things off with Calgary, followed by three games in four nights. Not one opponent is a gimme, even Vancouver and their mess. This starts a stretch for the Rangers where they will figure out who they are, what they need, and what players are part of the playoff run.
One of those players getting a long look, for better or for worse, is Sammy Blais. Expect the Rangers PR machine to be at it tonight with Blais, as he looks to salvage what’s left of his Rangers career. He looked fine in his AHL conditioning stint, but he’s also an NHLer playing against AHLers. The hope is the confidence carries over to help the Rangers create an energy forechecking line for the playoffs.
Vitali Kravtsov is scratched again. Julien Gauthier sits for Blais.
Flames Lines
Dillon Dube-Elias Lindholm-Tyler Toffoli
Jakob Pelletier-Nazem Kadri-Jonathan Huberdeau
Andrew Mangiapane-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Milan Lucic-Adam Ruzicka-Trevor Lewis
Noah Hanifin-Rasmus Andersson
Mackenzie Weegar-Chris Tanev
Nikita Zadorov-Michael Stone
Jacob Markstrom gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Artemi Panarin-Mika Zibanejad-Jimmy Vesey
Chris Kreider-Vincent Trocheck-Barclay Goodrow
Alexis Lafreniere-Filip Chytil-Kaapo Kakko
Sammy Blais-Jake Leschyshyn-Will Cuylle
Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Jacob Trouba
Ben Harpur-Braden Schneider
Jaro Halak gets the start.
Injuries: None
Crazy Prediction: Blais with a Gordie Howe hat trick
Game time is 7:30pm.
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