New York Rangers vs Winnipeg Jets: Join the live conversation!
There are story lines galore in the game tonight as the New York Rangers take on the Winnipeg Jets in the opener of a four game road trip.
There are a lot of story lines to follow tonight as the New York Rangers begin a crucial stretch of road games. It’s Igor Shesterkin’s first road start. It’s the first game of a stretch of eight out of ten games on the road that will make or break the hopes for the playoffs. It’s less than two weeks to the trade deadline and there are nothing but question marks swirling around this team.
On a personal level it is the first time back in Winnipeg for Jacob Trouba after six seasons as a Jet. It was a stormy relationship and look forward to some catcalls whenever he touches the puck.
It’s the second edition of Trouba vs Pionk, this time in front of Pionk’s new home crowd. So far, it’s Trouba 1, Pionk 0.
For Brendan Lemieux, he’s back in Winnipeg since his trade to New York a year ago. He spent three years in the Jets system, but in this one year he has already played more games as a Ranger than he did as a Jet.
It’s a real homecoming for Brett Howden, who grew up in Oakbank, Manitoba, a suburb of Winnipeg. He’ll be playing in front of a gaggle of relatives.
Similarities
Although the Jets are clinging to the first wild card spot in the Western Conference and the Rangers are 11 points out of a playoff spot, they are very similar.
The Rangers have 58 points in 54 games. The Jets have 63 points in three more games. The Blueshirts win all three and they have a better record. The Rangers score more goals than the Jets, but allow more as well. The Rangers are better on the power play and the penalty kill. Both teams are top heavy with most of their scoring coming from their top two lines.
Of course, twice as many people live in the Bronx as live in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It’s just a thought, but swap the Rangers and Jets and the whole conversation about this season for the Blueshirts could be completely different. So it goes.
Projected lineups
New York Rangers
20 Kreider – 93 Zibanejad – 89 Buchnevich
10 Panarin – 16 Strome – 17 Fast
33 Di Giuseppe – 72 Chytil – 24 Kakko
48 Lemieux – 14 McKegg – 21 Howden
76 Skjei – 8 Trouba
55 Lindgren – 23 Fox
18 Staal – 77 DeAngelo
31 Shesterkin
30 Lundqvist
Winnipeg Jets
81 Kyle Connor – 55 Mark Scheifele – 29 Patrik Laine
27 Nikolaj Ehlers – 26 Blake Wheeler – 82 Mason Appleton
58 Jansen Harkins – 9 Andrew Copp – 28 Jack Roslovic
57 Gabriel Bourque – 21 Nicholas Shore – Logan 38 Shaw
44 Josh Morrissey – 4 Neal Pionk
7 Dimitry Kulikov – 8 Sami Niku
2 Anthony Bitetto – 88 Nathan Beaulieu
37 Connor Hellebuyck
30 Laurent Brossoit
About the game
Gametime is 8pm EST. Television will be on the MSG Network with the radio call is ESPN Radio 98.7 FM.
The live thread is open now.
Join in and talk about the game with your fellow Ranger fans.