Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola make their NY Rangers debuts tonight against the Seattle Kraken. The blockbuster trade went down yesterday, with the Rangers sacrificing nothing of value (aside from the 1st rounder) to land both players. The starting lineup is almost exactly how you would think it should play out, but with Vitali Kravtsov back in the top six and with a fourth line that isn’t just spare parts. Perhaps Gerard Gallant was simply waiting for Tarasenko to come home.
Another big change is on the powerplay. Filip Chytil gets bumped to the bumper on PP1, with Vincent Trocheck sliding down to PP2 with Tarasenko, Lafreniere, Kakko, and Trouba. It truly is a wonderful time to be a Ranger fan. We saw the addition of two key pieces, the jettisoning of two net negatives, and the ideal lineup.
Truly a good time to be a Rangers fan.
Kraken Lines
Jared McCann-Matty Beniers-Jordan Eberle
Jaden Schwartz-Alex Wennberg-Ryan Donato
Eeli Tolvanen-Yanni Gourde-Oliver Bjorkstrand
Brandon Tanev-Morgan Geekie-Daniel Sprong
Vince Dunn-Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak-Will Borgen
Carson Soucy-Justin Schultz
Martin Jones gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Artemi Panarin-Mika Zibanejad-Vladimir Tarasenko
Chris Kreider-Vincent Trocheck-Vitali Kravtsov
Alexis Lafreniere-Filip Chytil-Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey-Barclay Goodrow-Julien Gauthier
Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola-Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin gets the start.
Injuries: None
Crazy Prediction: Goals for Tarasenko and Mikkola
Game time is 7pm.
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