The Rangers welcome in the Oilers and welcome back their coach, Kris Knoblauch, to MSG today. Edmonton started the month hot, winning four in a row to extend their overall victory streak to eight games. After losing three in a row and being up 2-0 early yesterday to New Jersey, the Oilers fell behind before turning on the heat to score four in the third to win 6-3 on the road.
Lines:
Kreider – Zibanejad – Wheeler Panarin – Trocheck– Lafreniere Cuylle – Bonino – Brodzinski Vesey – Goodrow – Pitlick
Lindgren – Fox Miller – Trouba Gustafsson – Schneider
Shesterkin Quick
New York has won three in a row, four out of five and seven out of their last ten contests. The Blueshirts are still making a habit out of falling behind in games, relying on their comeback ability. They lead the league with 11 wins where they don’t have a lead initially, though that is not a sustainable strategy. It looks great, but not an optimal plan moving forward, especially down the road in the postseason.
Following tonight’s game, the Blueshirts play another back-to-back, which has become a recent theme, taking on the Sabres on Saturday. Buffalo is struggling but hit the records books this by being the first time since 1983 to give up nine goals in a game, then score nine goals in their next contest. The Sabres put a nine-spot on the Maple Leafs on Thursday, this coming after the Rangers scored five on them Tuesday.
I suspect we see Igor Shesterkin, who has righted the ship the last two games, between the pipes tonight with Jonathan Quick in net tomorrow. New York will have their hands full stopping Connor McDavid, who scored a ridiculous goal last night, showering remarkable patience before hitting the open net, and Leon Draisaitl. Coach Peter Laviolette could match strength with strength, putting the first or second line out to face McDavid, rather than the fourth line. Though seeing how well the final trio has played, don’t be surprised if we see that unit on against Edmonton’s top line.