As expected, Jimmy Vesey is not going to return to the lineup any time soon. Per Larry Brooks, Vesey is out week to week with his shoulder issue. With Vesey out, the Rangers, who won Game 2 in overtime, will need to re-tinker their lines again. This likely means Kaapo Kakko is back in the lineup after a one game scratch, and perhaps Matt Rempe will stick in the lineup on the road.

The Rangers also have Blake Wheeler in reserve, but it doesn’t feel like he’s truly an option unless the Rangers get desperate. Wheeler would not be able to fill the same role as Vesey, so the match isn’t really there. The best role-for-role swap is Kakko, and that’s the most likely answer.

I doubt we should expect a major lineup shakeup due to the injury, but we may see one anyway since the Rangers have mustered just two goals in two games. To be fair though, the Panthers have managed the same number of goals when we count the goals they’ve actually scored themselves with a goalie in net.

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