New York kicks off a pair of road games tomorrow in Dallas. The Blueshirts face Dallas at 2PM eastern Saturday, then fly to Arizona for a match against the Coyotes at 8PM on Sunday. The Rangers enter the contest against the Central leading Stars 0-2-2 in their last four games.
Projected lines: Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere Kravtsov-Goodrow-Gauthier Vesey-Carpenter-Reaves
Filip Chytil, originally slated to miss four games after being injured last Sunday against Columbus, was at practice today. He progressed quicker than expected and went through the initial rushes. Chytil exited practice early as he was not feeling well and rightly will not make the trip with the team. Considering he did not feel well, there has to be some concern of a setback. I would consider Chytil questionable for Tuesday at home against Philly.
Vitali Kravtsov, who left the game against Colorado and missed the loss to the Islanders, practiced today. He is expected to be on the third line. With Chytil out, Barclay Goodrow will center the third line joined by Julian Gauthier, who was called up and skated there Wednesday. Gauthier gets another chance to prove he should remain up with the team and in the active lineup this weekend.
From the reports, based on the line rushes, Sammy Blais looks to be the odd man out Saturday. The three listed above were the first trio on the fourth line and likely will dress. The mixing and matching has to stop eventually, but I project more changes, at least until the team gets healthy. When that happens, move Goodrow down and play him initially with Blais and Jimmy Vesey.
On the blueline, Libor Hajek looks like he will dress for a third straight game. He has been okay, not great, while Zac Jones may be scratched. That though is not set in stone as Jones worked on the second PP, which may mean it will be a game time decision. You wonder if Matthew Robertson will get a shot before too long. Braden Schnedider has not played particularly well, though he looks locked into his spot at the third pair, RH d-man. We get to see how Nils Lundkvist is faring in Dallas up close and personal, though we already know the answer form a far.
Igor Shesterkin will be in net for at least the Dallas game. We have seen that coach Gerard Gallant and/or Benoit Allaire is loath to play him on back-to-back days. But with the team struggling and in need of a little win streak coupled with the lack of offense for Jaroslav Halak and Halak's so-so performances, maybe this is a situation where he plays Igor in both contests.