The Rangers are back at it at the Garden following the teams return from their four game road trip, where they broke even with a pair of wins and losses. Tonight, they’ll host the Anaheim Ducks and perhaps one of the biggest headlines going into this one is Rangers management will have a front row seat at scouting out Ducks forward Rickard Rakell. Rakell, who is one of the bigger names on the block at this year's deadline, has been linked to the Rangers as a potential landing spot. While any potential moves are still likely days away, you have to think this will be a great opportunity for the Rangers to decide just how interested they are in this player.
The Ducks have made a couple splashes throughout the season but have since fallen down in the standings. With the Western Conference race being a little on the close side, they aren’t totally out of the playoff picture but it seems as though they are leaning towards being sellers at the deadline. Especially with their recent stretch, having gone 3-6-1 in their last ten which include a four game losing streak. With that in mind, don’t be surprised if the Ducks play with some fire tonight in hopes to snap out of it. Similar to the Rangers, they have some exciting young talent that will certainly be players to keep an eye on tonight.
For the Rangers, the front half of this week will certainly be the lighter workload where they have Anaheim tonight and the Islanders on Thursday before going back to back on the road in Carolina and Tampa this weekend. You have to think a realistic goal for this team should be to go 3-1 over this four game stretch leading up to the trade deadline. They’re coming off a big win in Dallas on Saturday night and will look to carry that momentum into the Garden tonight in what should be a very winnable game.
As far as lines go, this is what the Rangers practiced with yesterday:
Kreider - Zibanejad - Lafreniere
Panarin - Strome - Hunt
Barron - Chytil - Brodzinski
Gauthier - McKegg - Reaves
Lindgren - Fox
Miller - Trouba
Nemeth - Schneider
Barclay Goodrow, who took a maintenance day will likely replace either Morgan Barron or Julien Gauthier. With Gauthier being placed on his off hand, it could mean that he was the placeholder for Goodrow and we may actually get to see Morgan Barron get back in the mix tonight. Unless the Rangers continue to hold Ryan Reaves, who was a healthy scratch in Dallas on Saturday, out of the mix and put Gauthier on his strong side on the fourth line. In net, I would expect Igor Shesterkin to get the next two starts but you can’t rule out the idea of getting Georgiev in a rhythm leading up to the trade deadline. With this weekend's back to back, I would almost guarantee the Rangers have Georgiev take Tampa on Saturday and let Shesterkin, who didn’t play them the first time around, play in Carolina. If they go with that mentality, it could make sense for Georgiev to get a start before them, perhaps against the Islanders who historically he plays pretty well against.
All in all, it should be a good one tonight and I’m sure Alexis Lafreniere vs. Trevos Zegras will be another one of the major headlines. Zegras, who was drafted third overall, two picks after Lafreniere, is a New York native who grew up a Rangers fan. It’s safe to assume that he’s looking forward to skating at the World’s Most Famous Arena and wouldn’t be surprised if he has himself a big night. For the Rangers, look for Artemi Panarin to keep his hot streak going as he has nine points in his last five games. Can’t rely on special teams tonight as the Ducks have a strong penalty kill and power play. Focus on getting off to a good start and get as many pucks on net as possible.
Chris Feldman
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