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Game Preview: New York Rangers look to get back on track in Pittsburgh

By Chris Hanold

New York Rangers left wing Brendan Lemieux Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
New York Rangers left wing Brendan Lemieux Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: The New York Rangers celebrate a power-play goal by Chris Kreider #20 at 2:50 of the second period against Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: The New York Rangers celebrate a power-play goal by Chris Kreider #20 at 2:50 of the second period against Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

About the Rangers

The Rangers have always been a notoriously slow-starting team, so it’s not time to hit the panic button just yet.  However, Blueshirt fans have not been shy holding back when it comes to their wide criticism of head coach David Quinn.  Many fans and critics point to the major misuse of Kaapo Kakko and rookie Alexis Lafrenière, the benching on Tony DeAngelo, and the overuse of Jack Johnson as a reason to vent their frustrations with the team.

Tony DeAngelo will be back in the lineup, after he was listed as a healthy scratch in each of the Rangers’ last two games.  DeAngelo will probably be paired with Jack Johnson.  David Quinn also said in a media session on Thursday that he would be changing the forward lines around, in order to try and generate some more chemistry from his team.  Quinn confirmed that his new top two lines will consist of Alexis Lafrenière on the left wing, Chris Kreider on the right wing, and Mika Zibanejad at center.  Pavel Buchnevich will play right wing with Ryan Strome and Artemi Panarin.

Some good news for Rangers’ fans was that  Mika Zibanejad and Brendan Lemieux were on the ice during practice on Thursday, and should be good to go against Pittsburgh.  Zibanejad took a hard crash into the boards against New Jersey in the final minutes of the game on Tuesday night.  MSG Network cameras caught Zibanejad on the bench, flush with pain.

Lemieux was questionable after the game against New Jersey as well, after he blocked not one, but two massive shots from the always powerful P.K. Subban.  In a video that has since gone viral, Lemieux can be seen blocking the first shot then immediately falling to his knees, playing through the pain only to take another puck to his left thigh.  Lemieux wasn’t able to get to his feet, and had to scurry to the bench on his knees in obvious pain.

Igor Shesterkin will make his first career start against the Penguins.

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