Game Preview: New York Rangers look to repeat against the Capitals

The New York Rangers stopped the bleeding

The New York Rangers snapped a four game losing streak Thursday night, their second such losing streak of the season. The shootout victory was the first of the season. The game marked the return to the line-up for Panarin who had the primary assist on the go ahead goal in the third period, hit two posts and converted on his shootout attempt.

The Rangers top six came through with three points on the night and Colin Blackwell added his first ever power play goal. It wasn’t a pretty game, but it was a gut check win for a team that has given up both too many early and late goals and broken once their momentum was lost.

The Rangers had an off day on Friday, so there were no practice lines available to determine any line or roster shuffling, so expectations are that the line up should remain the same. This means that Julien Gauthier looks again to be the odd man out.

Jack Johnson had returned to the line-up, though he will sit if K’Andre Miller is ready. That will be a game day decision. The new look Rangers defense would certainly get a boost from Miller’s return, but take nothing away from the play of Bitetto, Libor Hajek and Brendan Smith. They have been a bright point and will make Coach Quinn’s roster decisions all the more difficult once everyone is healthy.

With Jacob Trouba and Filip Chytil injured and much of the top six struggling to find their game, the team knows it must band together to get wins. That sentiment was summed up by Brendan Smith during the post game Zoom.

Igor Shesterkin will be in net as Coach Quinn goes back to his number one goaltender.