This is it for the New York Rangers. If they are to have any hope of walking away from this series with a sense of accomplishment, they must win tonight. They return to Madison Square Garden with the hope that a passionate fan base will lift them to a win that will keep their hopes alive.
The big question is whether Ryan Lindgren will return to the lineup. He is going to be a gametime decision and if he plays, it’s likely that the Rangers will go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Other than Lindgren, there should be no change in the lineups for either team though the NHL.com lineups has Dryden Hunt back in for Jonny Brodzinski.
One interesting thing to watch will be Louis Domingue in net. According the Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, Tristan Jarry made a big leap forward in his return from a lower body injury. If Domingue falters tonight, could we see Jarry in a Game Six? It sets up to be a goalie controversy for the Penguins.
But that’s putting the cart before the horse. The Rangers have to win tonight.
Projected starting lineups
NEW YORK RANGERS
20 Kreider – 93 Zibanejad – 77 Vatrano
10 Panarin – 16 Strome – 18 Copp
13 Lafreniere -72 Chytil – 24 Kakko
29 Hunt – 17 Rooney – 75 Reaves
55 Lindgren or 61 Justin Braun -23 Fox
79 Miller -8 Trouba
12 Nemeth -54 Schneider
31 Shesterkin
40 Georgiev
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
59 Jake Guentzel – 87 Sidney Crosby – 17 Bryan Rust
43 Danton Heinen – 71- Evgeni Malkin – 42 Kasperi Kapanen
16 Jason Zucker – 77 Jeff Carter – 23 Brock McGinn
11 Brian Boyle – 53 Teddy Blueger – 9 Evan Rodrigues
5 Mike Matheson – 58 Kris Letang
28 Marcus Pettersson – 6 John Marino
52 Mark Friedman – 2 Chad Ruhwedel
70 Louis Domingue
33 Alex D’Orio
How to watch and the live conversation
Game time is 7pm and it will televised locally on the MSG Network and nationally on ESPN. The live stream will be on ESPN+.
We don’t want so say it, but could this be the last live thread of what has been a special year? Nah…..
So join into the conversation in the comments section below and use all of your good vibes to help send some luck to our heroes at Madison Square Garden!