Despite being inactive yesterday, the New York Rangers managed to move into the playoff places. They sit in the second wild card spot and look to follow up a sensational back-to-back with a game against the division leaders. Nashville and the Islanders were soundly defeated 4-0 by the rampant Rangers, but this test is like no other. The Washington Capitals will be the opponent for the Rangers tonight. Those back-to-back wins put the Rangers in playoff position; now they must hold it with two points tonight.
Washington is currently the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They're running away with the Metropolitan Division title and focused on one storyline: Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin is closing in on the all-time goal record, and the Capitals are trying everything in their power to help their Russian marksman reach the number he needs to pass former Ranger Wayne Gretzky. New York will be looking to help defend the honor of their former forward and keep the Great Eight quiet tonight.
Reilly Smith is continuing to be held out for trade protection purposes. Calvin de Haan and Juuso Parssinen are continuing to adjust to life in New York, and the youth has taken over the forward core. Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann, Will Cuylle, Alexis Lafreniere, and Arthur Kaliyev will look to continue their recent success and get the two points tonight in a critical game for the Rangers. New York's depth will be vital in a testing game like tonight.
Projected Lineups
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin - Dylan Strome - Aliaksei Protas
Connor McMichael - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Tom Wilson
Andrew Mangiapane - Lars Eller - Ethen Frank
Brandon Duhaime - Nic Dowd - Taylor Raddysh
Rasmus Sandin - John Carlson
Martin Fehervary - Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle - J.T. Miller - Mika Zibanejad
Brennan Othmann - Juuso Parssinen - Jonny Brodzinski
Brett Berard - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
K'Andre Miller - Will Borgen
Zac Jones - Calvin de Haan
Braden Schneider - Urho Vaakanainen
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Puck Drop
Tonight's game will begin at 7:30, as TNT has the rights to this one. New York can cement itself in the postseason places if it defeats the Capitals and gets a little help from the Blackhawks on the out-of-town scoreboard. It is improbable, but the Rangers are fighting for their lives. If they can beat a Capitals team that may have taken its foot off the pedal, they will do a world of good for their chances to make the playoffs.