After that statement win against the Ottawa Senators on home ice, the New York Rangers return to action tonight with another game against a potential opponent for a playoff spot. The Philadelphia Flyers will be the Rangers' opponent tonight in a game the resurgent Blueshirts must win if they continue this charge for the playoff picture. Points in nine straight has restored the confidence in the room, and the Rangers will return to action tonight looking to build on it.
Igor Shesterkin has sparkled in the most recent two wins of the Rangers. Shutouts against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators have him looking like the highest-paid goaltender in the league again. Shesterkin punching Brady Tkachuk in his last game got the fans in the building rallying behind him, and he'll be looking to carry that into tonight's game. He'll be looking to outduel Samuel Ersson, who will be in net for the Flyers.
New York's defensive stability will be tested tonight. Philadelphia has several lines that can cause trouble for the Rangers. Matvei Michkov's excellent performances this season will make him a marked man for Jon Torterella's team, but the Rangers need to stop him from having quality looks at Igor Shesterkin. Igor will give the Rangers a chance to win, but the Blueshirts insulating their netminder will make this significantly more manageable for the Russian Vezina winner.
Projected Lineups
Philadelphia Flyers
Owen Tippett - Morgan Frost - Travis Konecny
Joel Farabee - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink
Anthony Richard - Rodrigo Abols - Garnet Hathaway
Cam York - Travis Sanheim
Egor Zamula - Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler - Jamie Drysdale
Samuel Ersson
Ivan Fedotov
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Chris Kreider - Filip Chytil - Arthur Kaliyev
Will Cuylle - Mika Zibanejad - Reilly Smith
Adam Edstrom - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren - Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller - Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen - Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Puck Drop
It's a 7 p.m. puck drop tonight from Madison Square Garden. Philadelphia needs a win tonight to jump the Rangers in the standings. Still, if everything goes their way tonight, the Rangers could be just a point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wildcard spot in the East, even after their awful run in November and December. This season is salvageable for the Blueshirts if they do it right.