The New York Rangers who are already missing key pieces due to injuries and Covid protocol will go into tonight's Wednesday Night Rivalry matchup without their star player, Artemi Panarin. Questionable allegations regarding a seemingly false event from about a decade ago broke the internet on Monday resulting in the Breadman taking a leave from the team to go home to Russia.
All of us in the New York Rangers community as well as the NHL community wish nothing but the best for Artemi and hope this situation gets resolved quickly.
As tragic a situation this is for Panarin, his family and the New York Rangers, the indefinite hiatus hurts them on the ice just as much as off. Prior to tonight's matchup David Quinn finally shook up the lines in hopes to get Mika Zibanejad out of his slump and rookie Alexis Lafreniere scoring again by putting them on a line with Panarin. To no one's surprise, it worked. Both Mika and Alexis left our nation's capital with a goal each. Despite Mika's coming from an empty net, this was still a pivotal move in getting the two going again which is what this team needs to be successful.
As we head into tonight's matchup without Panarin, Kakko, Chytil, and Trouba, expect a different look and yes, more line juggling from David Quinn who has already made it clear he will more likely than not change things up during the game. Following yesterday's practice it is looking like we will start the night off with:
Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Buchnevich
Kreider - Strome - Blackwell
Lemieux - Howden - Gauthier
Di Giuseppe - Rooney - Brodzinski
Defensive pairs expected to stay the same as they have been since Trouba's injury and Miller's return. Quinn had mentioned he was close to keeping Buchnevich with Strome and Kreider which more likely than not would result in Colin Blackwell on the first line. Wouldn't be surprised to see that switch at some point during the game, however there is another switch the Rangers should consider.
Julien Gauthier has been in and out of the line up this season, when he's been good, he's been good but when he hasn't, he's taken penalties and just kind of existed on the fourth line. Gauthier has a history of scoring goals and being a talented power forward. David Quinn needs to give him more of a chance and while moving him up a line is certainly promising, he should get a look on the top line with Mika and Lafreniere. By doing so, DQ can keep Buchnevich with Strome and Kreider and has more options with the bottom six when Blackwell is included.
Jonny Brodzinski made his NYR debut a few weeks ago against Pittsburgh and didn't look too bad aside from a hooking penalty in the first period. It will be interesting to see how Quinn uses him in a game where the lines are expected to change. He saw about seven and a half minutes of ice in his debut and I'd expect around the same if not less for him tonight.
Igor Shesterkin will man the net tonight as expected after a sharp performance against Washington over the weekend. This team has certainly been through a lot already in the early half of this shortened season, a win tonight following the setback of the Panarin situation on top of the other missing pieces will be huge for this young team. Tonight will surely be a test to this team's character and resilience.
Chris Feldman
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