The New York Rangers suffered two bitterly disappointing defeats this weekend to the Ottawa Senators and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Their playoff hopes took a massive hit after those results, and the Rangers now have to pick themselves back up. They travel to Manitoba to take on the Winnipeg Jets, who currently sit 2nd in the NHL standings, trying to compete for the Presidents Trophy. New York cannot afford to endure more defeats in their chase for the postseason.
New York needs to rise to a fight tonight in Winnipeg, and the Blueshirts acquired someone specifically to drag them into battle. J.T. Miller needs to be the one to galvanize this team because one of his major selling points when the Rangers re-acquired him from Vancouver. Right now, the Rangers are reeling, and this is when they need the kind of player who can lead with the puck by dropping the gloves and getting himself into the thick of the action.
Jonathan Quick was subjected to all seven goals the Blue Jackets scored so that the Rangers will pivot back to Igor Shesterkin. Against Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets, the Russian shot-stopper must win the goaltending duel. The Rangers will fall to their fourth straight defeat if he cannot. When this game starts in Manitoba, the Blueshirts need Igor to sparkle if they will get the two points.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle - J.T. Miller - Mika Zibanejad
Chris Kreider - Sam Carrick - Brett Berard
Brennan Othmann - Jonny Brodzinski - Matt Rempe
K'Andre Miller - Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen - Braden Schneider
Carson Soucy - Zac Jones
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Winnipeg Jets
Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Gabriel Vilardi
Nikolaj Ehlers - Vladislav Namestnikov - Cole Perfetti
Nino Niederreiter - Adam Lowry - Mason Appleton
Brandon Tanev - Morgan Barron - Alex Iafallo
Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg - Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley - Colin Miller
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
Puck Drop
Tonight's game starts at 8 p.m. Eastern, and the Rangers visit Winnipeg's tundras. They need to win, as the gap in the East is opening up. If the Rangers lose tonight, there might not be enough time in the season to correct their trajectory. They need to start turning the tide tonight against Winnipeg, and the leaders need to be the ones to step up tonight.