New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils: Join the live conversation

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 22: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden on February 22, 2020 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Sharks 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

After the most dramatic and important win of the season, the New York Rangers must not let down when they play the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden.

While the New York Rangers’ overtime win over the Capitals was vital to their playoff hopes and Mika Zibanejad’s five goal outburst was the single greatest regular season performance in franchise history, tonight’s contest with the Devils is no less important.

The Rangers must win tonight if they expect to continue to contend for a playoff position. That means avoiding any emotional letdown after Thursday’s big victory.

The key question is who will be in goal for New York. That was answered late today. It will be Igor Shesterkin who is ready to go after missing just under two weeks with a rib fracture suffered in a car accident. Alexandar Georgiev had given up 12 goals in his last three games.

Kakko vs Hughes

This will also be only the second face-to-face meeting between Kaapo Kakko and Jack Hughes. Injuries have kept them out of the last two games between the two teams. In their only confrontation, the Devils won 5-2 in October and Hughes had one assist while Kakko was scoreless.

On the season, Hughes has seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points. He is a minus 24 and is averaging 15:58 per game. Kakko has eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points. He is a minus 26 and is averaging 14:24 minutes of ice time. This season has been a disappointment for both players considering the hype that accompanied their being drafted numbers one and two in June.

You’d have to say that Kakko is having the better season considering that he is playing on a better team.

Projected starting lineups

New York Rangers
10 Panarin – 16 Strome – 17 Fast
33 Di Giuseppe – 93 Zibanejad – 89 Buchnevich
21 Howden – 72 Chytil– 24 Kakko
48 Lemieux -14 McKegg – 12 Gauthier

42 Smith – 8 Trouba
18 Staal – 77 DeAngelo
55 Lindgren – 23 Fox

31 Shesterkin
30 Lundqvist

New Jersey Devils
44 Miles Wood – 13 Nico Hischier – 21 Kyle Palmieri
86 Jack Hughes – 19 Travis Zajac – 14 Joey Anderson
63 Jesper Bratt – 37 Pavel Zacha – 97 Nikita Gusev
16 Kevin Rooney – 41 Michael McLeod – 15 John Hayden

25 Mirco Mueller – 76 P.K. Subban
32 Dakota Mermis – 28 Damon Severson
5 Connor Carrick – 33 Fredrik Claesson (GTD)

35 Cory Schneider
29 MacKenzie Blackwood

About the game

Gametime is 7pm and it will be televised on the MSG Network. The radiocast will be on ESPN Radio 98.7FM.

The live thread is open now!

Join your fellow Ranger fans to talk about the game, Mika Zibanejad’s greatness or how awful the Devils are this season.

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