The Rangers and Islanders meet for the first time in over 400 days and the first time this season, which is a major NHL scheduling fail. But it comes with the added drama of it being the 2nd leg of the Stadium Series, which probably wasn’t planned but is still nice. This will be the first game the Rangers have without Blake Wheeler, and Jimmy Vesey takes his turn as the 1RW until reinforcements arrive.

Making his NHL debut today at the Stadium Series, the NHL’s first player to make his debut in an outdoor game, is Matt Rempe. He and Adam Edstrom draw in with all the injuries, making the 4th line about 40 feet tall, give or take. Both Rempe and Edstrom are big bodies that can also skate, which means they are more than the standard big guy hit hard mantra you usually see.

The Isles are somewhat good this year, mostly carried by Ilya Sorokin. He’s very good.

Islanders Lines

Anders Lee-Bo Horvat-Mat Barzal
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom-JG Pageau-Oliver Wahlstrom
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Alex Romanov-Noah Dobson
Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly-Scott Mayfield

Ilya Sorokin gets the start

Rangers Lines

Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Jimmy Vesey
Will Cuylle-Jonny Brodzinski-Kaapo Kakko
Matt Rempe-Barclay Goodrow-Adam Edstrom

Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson-Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin gets the start

Injuries: Filip Chytil (concussion), Blake Wheeler (leg)

Crazy Prediction: The game actually starts while the sun is out.

Game time is 3pm? 4pm? 5pm? Who knows?

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