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New York Rangers vs Colorado Avalanche: Join the live conversation!

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers skates in warm-ups prior to the game against prior to playing in his first NHL game against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden on January 07, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers skates in warm-ups prior to the game against prior to playing in his first NHL game against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden on January 07, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save on Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save on Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

It’s Igor Shesterkin time!  The long awaited debut of the top New York Rangers goalie prospect is tonight and that storyline will dominate the conversation.

There will be no surprises tonight as the New York Rangers take on the Avalanche.  It will be quite a test for the rookie goalie as he is going up against one of the best offenses in the NHL.  He will be nervous, but has to stand tall as the Avalanche will look to score after a 1-0 shutout to the Islanders last night.

It’s worth noting the to defensive pair for the Avalanche. Outstanding rookie Cale Makar is paired with former Ranger prospect Ryan Graves who continues to lead the league in plus/minus with a +30 mark.  He has shown some offensive prowess with six goals and nine assists.

The big question is whether the Blueshirts will continue with the defensively responsible play they showed in their loss to Vancouver and it is absolutely vital for the big duo of Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad to get on the scoreboard after being shut out for two straight games.  Panarin has not had a scoreless streak longer than two games this season.

Henrik Lundqvist will back up Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev will be watching in street clothes.

Projected lineups

New York Rangers
10 Panarin – 16 Strome – 17 Fast
20 Kreider – 93 Zibanejad – 89 Buchnevich
21 Howden – 72 Chytil – 24 Kakko
42 Smith – 14 McKegg – 29 Fogarty

76 Skjei – 8 Trouba
55 Lindgren – 23 Fox
18 Staal – 77 DeAngelo

31 Shesterkin
30 Lundqvist

Colorado Avalanche
92 Gabriel Landeskog – 29 Nathan MacKinnon – 72 Joonas Donskoi
95 Andre Burakovsky – 37 J.T. Compher – 96 Mikko Rantanen
11 Matt Calvert – 91 Nazem Kadri – 13 Valeri Nichushkin
17 Tyson Jost – 41 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – 83 Matt Nieto

27 Ryan Graves – 8 Cale Makar
49 Samuel Girard – 6 Erik Johnson
28 Ian Cole – 16 Nikita Zadorov

31 Philipp Grubauer
39 Pavel Francouz

Join the live conversation!

Hmm…..wonder what the big topic of conversation will be?  Obviously the new goaltender.  At any rate, lots to talk about.

The live thread is open now!

Gametime is 730pm and it will be televised nationally on NBCSN.  Radiocast will be on ESPN 1050AM.

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