Two road games down, a win and a loss in the books. Finally, the most storied setting in sports is the stage for the Rangers to avenge their shortcoming in Columbus. It’s time to look ahead to hockey at the Garden. It’s back as the New York Rangers prepare to take on the Arizona Coyotes. Opening night in the greatest city in the world in the best building in this sport; there is a script for a story here tonight.
For New York, be wary of the youthful Yotes. Arizona won their first game of the season at the Prudential Center against the New Jersey Devils in a shootout, so they have already claimed quite the scalp on their voyage to the East Coast. New York will be looking to avoid the same fate as their Hudson River rivals with the goal of banking two more points in front of the home crowd that will be ravenous for a victory.
Ryan Lindgren will be a game-time decision tonight. He missed the game in Columbus with an upper-body injury and has been a full participant in practice. If he isn’t ready, he shouldn’t play this early in the season, but you know Lindgren wants to play in the home opener, whether it is a good decision or not. If he cannot go, Zac Jones is expected to draw back into the lineup for the Blueshirts.
Igor Shesterkin will get the start, head coach Peter Laviolette confirmed. This was something that raised questions before the season. This has nothing to do with the loss in Columbus but more that it’s the Coyotes. With Jonathan Quick being an experienced backup, perhaps giving him a Western Conference foe in front of his home crowd would have been a good way to ease him into the setup, but it will not be the case.
Projected Lineups
Arizona Coyotes
Clayton Keller – Barrett Hayton – Nick Schmaltz
Jason Zucker – Logan Cooley – Alexander Kerfoot
Matias Macelli – Nick Bjugstad – Lawson Crouse
Liam O’Brien – Jack McBain – Travis Boyd
J.J. Moser – Mathew Dumba
Juuso Valimaki – Travis Dermott
Sean Durzi – Troy Stecher
Connor Ingram
Karel Vejmelka
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Kaapo Kakko
Artemi Panarin – Filip Chytil – Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle – Vincent Trocheck – Blake Wheeler
Barclay Goodrow – Nick Bonino – Tyler Pitlick
Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson – Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Puck Drop
This is a 7 p.m. Eastern puck drop from the Garden. New York will be looking to try and get back to the win column. As the home opener comes around, MSG will be there, ready to bring you the Rangers. ESPN is showing the Coyotes feed since they were dropped by Bally Sports following the Bally Sports financial issues.