New York Rangers Host the High Flying Winnipeg Jets in the Biggest Game of the Season
Two titans of the National Hockey League will clash tonight under the bright lights on Broadway. As the New York Rangers take on the Winnipeg Jets, we will see the most iconic arena in the sporting world host the best-ever starting team in the history of the NHL. These Winnipeg Jets are no joke, and the Rangers will look to become only the second team this season to defeat them. They're 14-1 on the year, with that only loss coming to Toronto.
For the Rangers to win tonight, Igor Shesterkin has to win the goaltending duel. Connor Hellebuyck, on the other end, is going to give the Jets a chance to steal this game. Shesterkin has to match that. He cannot play like he did against Buffalo, or he'll ensure the Jets run away tonight. They are a dangerous offensive team, and the Rangers need their netminder to excel tonight.
New York has to pin this Jets team on their end. They're very dangerous when they get free reign to come forward, but they can be shaky. A team with a heavy forecheck that can turn the Jets around will cause them problems since they are not blessed with a sensational defense. New York has to get the Jets facing Hellebuyck instead of Shesterkin, make them come 200 feet, and not give them simple chances to convert.
Projected Lineups
Winnipeg Jets
Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Gabriel Vilardi
Cole Perfetti - Vladislav Namestnikov - Nikolaj Ehlers
Nino Niederreiter - Adam Lowry - Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron - Rasmus Kupari - Alex Iafallo
Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg - Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury - Colin Miller
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin - Mika Zibanejad - Alexis Lafreniere
Chris Kreider - Vincent Trocheck - Reilly Smith
Will Cuylle - Filip Chytil - Kaapo Kakko
Adam Edstrom - Sam Carrick - Jimmy Vesey
Ryan Lindgren - Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller - Jacob Trouba
Zac Jones - Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Puck Drop
A 7 p.m. puck drop from Madison Square Garden will see the Rangers face their most challenging opponent of the young season. Can the Rangers take a step to dispel narratives about their inability to succeed against the best of the best? Defeats to Florida and Washington have built this reputation, so there's a shot here to amend that and prove they are a true challenger for the Cup.