Rangers are in Edmonton for a must-watch game with the Oilers

This is going to be the most difficult test of this road trip. In Edmonton, there is a forward core that seems to be able to score at will. If the New York Rangers want a true test of their abilities, there will be no more difficult opponent than the greatest player in the league and that group of terrifying forwards. It’s not been smooth sailing for the Oilers and the Rangers will be getting themselves into a game with a strong opponent.

It’ll be Igor Shesterkin making his fourth start in five games tonight as the reigning Vezina Trophy winner will go against this strong Oilers roster. Shesterkin has been spectacular and with the Rangers’ all-star ready to go again, the hope is he can continue to be great as he has shown himself to be in the last 18 months. A strong netminder performance tonight could go a long way to taking two points back home.

There will be no other changes to the lineup, meaning both Vitali Kravtsov and Ben Harpur will continue to sit. Harpur not being reinstated is not a surprise given how well Niko Mikkola has played after he slotted into that third-pairing position. Vitali Kravtsov sitting again is a little surprising. If the rumors are true and the Russian winger wants out, it makes more sense to play him and up his value. However, that is not being done.

New York Rangers

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

Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola – Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin
Jaroslav Halak

Edmonton Oilers

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Connor McDavid – Zach Hyman
Evander Kane – Leon Draisaitl – Kailer Yamamoto
Mattias Janmark – Ryan McLeod – Warren Foegele
Klim Kostin – Derek Ryan – Jesse Puljujarvi

Darnell Nurse – Cody Ceci
Brett Kulak – Tyson Barrie
Philip Broberg – Evan Bouchard

Jack Campbell
Stuart Skinner

Puck drop time and where to watch

This will be a 9 PM Eastern puck drop. MSG will have the Ranger feed. Sportsnet will have the Oilers feed for those in Canada. This is going to be a game you will not want to miss. There’s a lot of talent on display tonight with some of the best players in the NHL ready to show their stuff at the highest level tonight. New York will need to be at their best if they are going to capture the two points to keep pace with the vaunted Eastern Conference.