The Rangers kick off their three-game Western Canada trip tonight in Vancouver. New York should be well-rested, having been off since Saturday's win over the Hurricanes. Tonight's contest is the first of three in a four-day stretch, as the Blueshirts take on the Oilers on Friday and Flames on Saturday before heading home to face the Jets on Monday.
The lines tonight will be the same as in practice yesterday. Vitali Kravtsov, as expected, will be the healthy scratch. Barring any injury, this should remain the case until/if he is dealt. If Kravtsov remains, the press box will be his home until the off-season. We have hashed and rehashed this situation. Unless something radical changes, no reason really exists to keep discussing the matter.
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Shesterkin Halak
Igor Shesterkin gets the nod tonight. Jaroslav Halak will play one of the back-to-backs. My guess is he will face the Flames with New York flying home and playing Monday. This allows Igor to get an extra day of rest before the Jets game. Following the Winnipeg contest, New York has a pair of back-to-backs in an eight-game span beginning with their match against Detroit next Thursday.
They face Washington on the road on Feb. 25 and LA at home the following day. Then, it's Philly on the road March 1 and Ottawa at home March 2 before taking on Boston on the road on March 4. Igor and Halak will likely split those four games in the back-to-backs, In the final 21 games, beginning with the March 4 contest against the Bruins, the Rangers only have one more back-to-back, so it will be interesting to see how goaltending coach Benoit Allaire and coach Gerald Gallant deploy the two goalies.
As we saw last week, Vancouver - despite trading Bo Horvat - can still put the puck in the net. Their issues are on defense. On paper, Edmonton could be the roughest game of the trip while we got a good look at Calgary last week as well. to have those three games and then have to fly cross-country and face a good Jets team the next night will not be easy. This week will be a good test to see where the Rangers are as a contender and if any holes do exist. Follow @airjan23