The Rangers look to build off their dramatic Winter Classic win at MSG tonight against the Blackhawks. It’s an Original Six matchup and NBCSN game, which means starting time is at 8pm. Chicago is without Corey Crawford and Artem Anisimov but still have Kane and Toews and Keith and Seabrook, those not have produced as in the past.
Coach Alain Vigneault shook up the forward lines a bit at practice yesterday. J.T. Miller, fresh off his game winner, was moved up to the top line while Rick Nash slides down a line. The main goal with the sketch is to try and get Zibanejad going. He hasn’t been right since coming back from his concussion, which is similar to what happened last year when he returned from his injury. A hot start to the season, followed by an injury, after which he was unable to recapture that prior form. Miller gets rewarded for his better play of late and now gets chance on the top line with Chris Kreider out to hopefully help Zib. I guess Hayes has two players who are willing to shoot the puck, though one in Nash who is snake bit. The remaining forward trios remain the same as does the defense. Vinni Lettieri will stick around as an extra forward, but with Jesper Fast back, the 12 who played Monday and will play tonight should remain the same, barring injury.
Miller-Zibanejad-Zuccarello Grabner-Hayes-Nash Vesey-Desharnais-Buchnevich Carey-Nieves-Fast
I want to see Staal with McD again, as Staal has played better this year and McD is scuffling, which may be do to his pair mate. That may not be the ideal first line choice, but it could be worth exploring. If not, try Smith or maybe Shattenkirk to see if that helps McDonagh.
McDonagh-Holden Skjei-Staal Smith-Shattenkirk
With Kreider out, removing that net-front presence, Miller, who scored on the 4-on-3 in overtime Monday, was moved up yesterday to the first power play unit with Shattenkirk, Buchnevich, Zibanejad and Zuccarello. Second unit now is Nash, McDonagh, Skjei, Vesey and Desharnais. That means that Hayes is off the PP and Grabner still doesn’t get a look. The latter is shocking one. I know Grabner is a stalwart on the PK but why not see if he can spark the PP. He has 18 goals, many of which are empty-netters, but he also has shown he is willing to go to the dirty areas and as seen in his blast that beat Frederik Andersen, despite it getting overturned on challenge, he can blast the puck.
Today’s contest is the first of three games leading up to the Rangers’ ‘bye-week.’ Following the game against Chicago, New York heads Southwest Thursday for practice Friday and a game Saturday against Arizona. Derek Stepan received a video tribute when the Coyotes were in town to face New York. Following that game, it’s a quick flight to Las Vegas for a game Sunday against the surprising Golden Knights. New York meets Las Vegas for the first time at the Knights’ arena in the back-end of a back-to-back.
Henrik Lundqvist is likely between the pipes tonight for his 34th start in the first 40 games. He must get more rest the remainder of the season despite how tight the East and Metro Division are. I expect Ondrej Pavelec to start against Arizona with Hank starting the next night against Las Vegas.
After Sunday’s game, the Blueshirts go right into their five-day bye week. But the next seven weeks will be extremely busy. Eight more games the remainder of January and 14 in February, including a pair of back-to-backs in the latter month. As noted in the NY Post, included within that stretch is a four-game, week-long road trip to Denver and California, the latter of which is the annual LA, Ana and SJ component of the schedule. The completion of the game against the Sharks segues right into the All-Star break, leaving the Rangers without a game from Jan. 26 until a Garden match Feb. 1 against the Maple Leafs. What that means is from bye-week to bye-week, New York plays eight games in 12 days starting January 13 versus the Islanders (followed by a game the next night against the Penguins, 16th on road at the Flyers and 18th against the Sabres) and ending the 25th against the Sharks.
In the WJC, Liss Andersson, despite a suspected shoulder injury suffered on a check in the prior game, suited up yesterday in Sweden's win over Slovakia. His minutes were limited, especially in the third, when he saw just 53 seconds of action. Sweden’s coach Tomas Monten said he expected Andersson to go in the semi-finals Thursday against the US. Filip Chytil, who really is becoming a human pià±ata, took an inadvertent elbow to the face in the third period of the Czech’s 4-3 win over Finland. Despite the injury and everal other bumps and bruises, look for him to play against Canada in the other semi-final.