The Rangers kick off their season tonight in Buffalo, opening against a Sabres team that shocked many last year with their offense. Most of that team has returned, and now they have Devon Levi in net, a legitimate starter. The Sabres are on the rise, and while they may not be a top team in the NHL, they will likely be in the playoff hunt with that offense.
The Rangers are limping into the regular season after a poor preseason, but it’s just exhibition games. The real Rangers start tonight, and while we are expecting a bumpy ride to start the season, the Blueshirts have enough skill to outscore their adjustment period. There’s also the Igor Shesterkin factor. If he starts hot, then he will mask a bunch of the mistakes as well.
Rangers Lines
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Kaapo Kakko
Artemi Panarin-Filip Chytil-Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle-Vincent Trocheck-Blake Wheeler
Barclay Goodrow-Nick Bonino-Tyler Pitlick
Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson-Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin gets the start.
Sabres Lines
Jeff Skinner-Tage Thompson-Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka-Dylan Cozens-Victor Olofsson
Jordan Greenway-Casey Middlestadt-Zach Benson
Zemgus Girgensons-Peyton Krebs-Kyle Okposo
Mattias Samuelsson-Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power-Henri Jokiharju
Erik Johnson-Connor Clifton
Devon Levi gets the start.
Injuries: None!
Crazy Prediction: Hat trick for Lafreniere.
Game time is 7pm.
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