Rangers vs Devils: What’s at stake tonight

What to look for tonight

How Gallant will deploy these players over the last two games is still to be determined.  Will they get one last chance to win a job or will he play them in both games?   If the coach’s goal is to see his final lineup in action before the season starts, tonight’s game could be the one that determines who stays and who goes so he can field his starting lineup in the last game against the Islanders.

There are a few other things to keep your eyes on tonight. Look for Chris Kreider to move to the right wing on the Zibanejad line with Alexis Lafrenière back to his normal left side. The Rangers have tried Kreider on the right side before with little success.  If it doesn’t work this year, it is going to be a problem.

Gallant has made it clear that he will be using Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafrenière on special teams.  Adding the two youngsters to the penalty kill will make the team a deeper squad and should get them more involved in each game. If they get more power play time, their scoring should improve and that will help their confidence.

That’s quite a departure from how David Quinn utilized these two players.  Last season, Kakko spent no time on the penalty kill and Lafrenière spent all of 22 seconds shorthanded.  That’s in 56 games.

On the power play, the two averaged under1:20 minutes in ice time per game compared to well over three minutes per game for Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider and Strome.

Ironically, Pavel Buchnevich became one of the team’s top penalty killers under Quinn last season, averaging over two minutes per game. In Quinn’s first two seasons as coach, Buchnevich played all of 1:16 minutes shorthanded total in 122 games. Did Quinn see the light or was it new defensive coach Jacques Martin who recognized Buchnevich’s potential?

One thing is certain, by getting more ice time on the penalty kill and a bigger overall role on the team, it led to Buchnevich’s finest season. If it works for Kakko and Lafrenière  we can call Gallant a genius.

About the game

Gametime is 7pm at Madison Square Garden. It will be televised on the MSG Network and nationally on ESPN+.   As with all of the preseason games, there won’t be any pregame or postgame shows on MSG.

Blue Line Station will have a live conversation during the game tonight and it’s an opportunity for you to weigh and talk about the team, the game or any Ranger topics that strike your fancy.  The live thread will be up just before game time.