Vegas meets Broadway as the Rangers and Golden Knights clash

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas supposedly, but the Rangers will be looking to bring the same energy tonight that they had when they faced this vaunted Golden Knights roster back in December. With the Rangers having a chance to make up some ground on the New Jersey Devils after their defeat last night in Nashville, and if they can win tonight, they will be able to close the gap for home ice in round one.

There will be no lineup changes for the Rangers meaning that Vitali Kravtsov is going to sit out again. Whether that is considered a good thing or not will depend on how you feel about the Russian winger. He’s played admirably but hasn’t gotten the production needed to justify his place in the top nine so Gallant is looking for a combination that will provide a spark in the top six. There’s a lot to like but the final pieces on both lines are still missing.

With a stubborn opponent in town like Vegas, it is to Igor Shesterkin the Rangers hand the reigns. With the Russian netminder in the crease, the Rangers have emerged as one of the best teams in the NHL. If the Blueshirts are going to get anything from this game, Shesterkin is going to need to be up to his brilliant best with this vicious offense that the Vegas Golden Knights get to ice. It’s not an easy team to play against.

Vegas Golden Knights

Reilly Smith – William Karlsson – Jonathan Marchessault
Paul Cotter – Jack Eichel – Michael Amadio
William Carrier – Chandler Stephenson – Phil Kessel
Brett Howden – Nicolas Roy – Keegan Kolesar

Alec Martinez – Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague – Ben Hutton

Adin Hill
Logan Thompson

New York Rangers

Artemi Panarin – Mika Zibanejad – Jimmy Vesey
Chris Kreider – Vincent Trocheck – Barclay Goodrow
Alexis Lafreniere – Filip Chytil – Kaapo Kakko
Will Cuylle – Jake Leschyshyn – Julien Gauthier

Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Ben Harpur – Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin
Jaroslav Halak

Puck drop time and where to watch

This is a 7 PM Eastern puck drop from the Garden will be a game you cannot miss. These are two of the most exciting teams in the NHL and the Rangers will be looking to convert another game into two points. With a victory, New York can pull within 4 points of the Devils for home ice in round one. It’ll make the lives of the players easier in the playoffs if they are able to steal home ice out from under the Devils.