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New York Rangers vs Chicago: Shesterkin in goal, Gauthier to play, join the live conversation!

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers tends net against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers tends net against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Pierre-Luc Dubois #18 of the Columbus Blue Jackets slides into Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Pierre-Luc Dubois #18 of the Columbus Blue Jackets slides into Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

There will be no players scratched from the lineup to prevent a pre-trade injury tonight.  Igor Shesterkin gets the start and Julien Gauthier will make his New York Rangers debut.

It will be a slightly revamped lineup for the New York Rangers.  Igor Shesterkin is recovered from his ankle injury and will be in goal.  Anthony DeAngelo is healthy again and will be in the lineup.  Newest Ranger Julien Gauthier will play right wing on the fourth line with Brett Howden at center and Brendan Lemieux.

The healthy scratches will be Brendan Smith and Greg McKegg, ending the speculation that they would be sitting Jesper Fast due to an imminent deal.

Shesterkin getting the start is a reaffirmation by Coach David Quinn that he is the number one goalie.  While Quinn had said that he would be going with the hottest goalie, he is scratching Alexandar Georgiev although the Bulgarian has allowed only six goals in his last three games with a save percentage of .959.

As good as those numbers are, Shesterkin has a 2.18 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in his seven game in the NHL, of which he has won six games.

He will be opposed by ex-Islander Robin Lehner who was signed by Chicago in the off-season.

Two trades today

Alec Martinez of the Los Angeles Kings was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for two second round draft picks.  New York Ranger fans do not like Alec Martinez very much.

In a minor deal, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up forward Denis Malgin from Florida for forward Mason Marchmant.  Malgin wanted out of Florida and the Maple Leafs could use the depth at forward. Both players will be arbitration eligible restricted free agents this summer.

Projected Startling 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 – 21 Howden – 12 Gauthier

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

31 Shesterkin
30 Lundqvist

Chicago Blackhawks

8 Dominik Kubalik – 19 Jonathan Toews – 91 Drake Caggiuila
20 Brandon Saad – 22 Ryan Carpenter – 88 Patrick Kane
12 Alex DeBrincat – 77 Kirby Dach – 17 Dylan Strome
36 Matthew Highmore – 64 David Kampf – 92 Alex Nylander

2 Duncan Keith – 27 Adam Boqvist
56  Erik Gustafsson – 5 Connor Murphy
68 Slater Koekkoek – 6 Olli Matta

40 Robin Lehner
50 Corey Crawford

About the game

Puck drop is 8pm, but since the game will be nationally televised on NBCSN it will probably get started a little late.  The radio call will be on ESPN 98.7 FM.

For what it’s worth, this is the 11th nationally televised game for the Blueshirts this season.  Their record so far is 5-4-1, much better than last season when they were 4-7-3.

The live thread is open now!

Join the live conversation here at Blue Line Station and talk to your fellow Rangers fans about the game, the trade deadline or anything else that strikes your fancy.

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