Is this a big game? Can the 11th game of the season be a big game? Well, if the Rangers can win tonight the will be in a playoff spot for the first time this season. That’s big.
David Quinn wouldn’t talk about who would be in goal for the New York Rangers as they take on the Islanders in a renewal of the best rivalry in New York sports. The question was answered via Twitter. It will be Igor Shesterkin.
Same lineup tonight as Feb. 4.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 8, 2021
In net: Igor Shesterkin. pic.twitter.com/5jelfzCS2U
It will be the third straight start for Shesterkin who is riding a three game winning streak. It means Alexandar Georgiev will be idle for over a week since his last start in the infamous loss to the Penguins that resulted in fisticuffs and the exile of Tony DeAngelo.
Quinn refused to say who would be in net in media availabilities over the weekend and today, but he did acknowledge that the decision had been made on Sunday and it was a close. It was, as he put it “51-49.” Georgiev has a great record against the Islanders and it would have made sense for him to start considering that would have meant that Quinn could use Shesterkin against the Bruins on Wednesday. However, with the postponement of Saturdays game against the Devils, it would also have meant that Shesterkin would have been idle for five days. Now, it will be Geeorgiev who hasn’t seen a game for at least nine days before his next possible start.
Quinn’s refusal to talk about the decision is puzzling. He probably regrets declaring that he was going to a rotation, alternating his two goalie every game. That plan lasted about two days.
As for the rest of the lineup, it will be identical to the one who took the ice against the Caps on Thursday night.
As for the Islanders, Semyon Varlamov will get the start. He shut out the Rangers in the opener, but was hit by a puck in the warmups for the second game and couldn’t play.
Projected lineups
New York Rangers
20 Kreider– 93 Zibanejad – 89 Buchnevich
10 Panarin – 16 Strome – 24 Kakko
13 Lafrenière – 14 Howden– 33 Di Giuseppe
48 Lemieux – 17 Rooney– 12 Gauthier
55 Lindgren – 23 Fox
79 Miller – 8 Trouba
25 Hajek – 22 Bittto
31 Shesterkin
40 Georgiev
New York Islanders
27 Anders Lee – 13 Mathew Barzal –12 Josh Bailey
28 Michael Dal Colle – 29 Brock Nelson – 7 Jordan Eberle
47 Leo Komarov – 44 J.G. Pageau – 26 Oliver Wahlstrom
17 Matt Martin – 53 Casey Cizikas – 15 Cal Clutterbuck
3 Adam Pelech – 6 Ryan Pulock
2 Nick Leddy – 24 Scott Mayfield
4 Andy Greene – 8 Noah Dobson
40 Semyon Varlamov
30 llya Sorokin
East Division
Sunday resultsStandings
1. Boston 11 GP 8-1-2 18 points
2. Philadelphia 13 GP 8-3-2 18 points
3. Washington 12 GP 6-3-3 15 points
4. Pittsburgh 11 GP 5-5-1 11 points
5. New Jersey 9 GP 4-3-2 10 points
6. Rangers 10 GP 4-4-2 10 points
—Islanders 10 GP 4-4-2 10 points
—Buffalo 10 GP 4-4-2 10 points
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