After an excellent performance from Igor Shesterkin in Toronto, the New York Rangers prepare to take on the Montreal Canadiens from the Bell Centre in Quebec. It'll be another game where the Rangers need to be at their best to grab the two points, but it is undoubtedly a situation the Rangers can use to nab another victory and continue their successful start to the season. Another win tonight is what is expected of this incredible Blueshirts roster.
In the last three games, individual brilliance has been the key to this roster's success. Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad decided the home-and-home series with the Detroit Red Wings, and Igor Shesterkin was the sparkling netminder who stole the game in Toronto. However, the roster's depth has been on show throughout, with the bottom six putting in great performances in all three games. Good depth is the key to postseason success, so continuing that is vital for the Rangers.
Turning our attention to tonight's opponents, the Canadiens have gotten off to a decent start, especially considering the expectations given the injuries they have sustained to their roster. Without players like Patrik Laine, David Reinbacher, and Kaiden Guhle, the Quebecois team is undermanned. With the expectations low with them healthy, the Rangers must ensure two points come out of the Bell Centre tonight, as that could be the difference between home ice in the conference finals or cup finals and having to take on another monster in round two.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Chris Kreider - Mika Zibanejad - Reilly Smith
Will Cuylle - Filip Chytil - Kaapo Kakko
Adam Edstrom - Sam Carrick - Jonny Brodzinski
K'Andre Miller - Adam Fox
Braden Schneider - Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren - Victor Mancini
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Montreal Canadiens
Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovsky
Alex Newhook - Kirby Dach - Joel Armia
Josh Anderson - Jake Evans - Brendan Gallagher
Emil Heineman - Christian Dvorak - Oliver Kapanen
Mike Matheson - Justin Barron
Lane Hutson - Logan Mailloux
Jayden Struble - David Savard
Samuel Montembeault
Cayden Primeau
Puck Drop
Tonight is the NHL's Frozen Frenzy, meaning that the puck drops across the league and is scattered to allow viewers to flip between games and catch as much of the action as they want. Due to that, it's a 7:15 Eastern start time from Montreal. Please, do not ask me why. I'm still trying to come up with a comprehensive understanding of goaltender interference; this is way above my pay grade.