The New York Rangers need a miracle to make the postseason. The gap is six points, and the Rangers have a game in hand, but that is later tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blueshirts need the two points from the Bolts. With injuries looming and returns to the forward core, the Blueshirts will have decisions to make heading into this vital game against Tampa Bay, and Peter Laviolette's team needs the points to keep hope alive this year.
Matt Rempe has been out since fighting Tanner Jeannot back in Los Angeles, and he will return to the Rangers lineup tonight. Brett Berard will make way for the towering Calgarian, and there will be many fans this upsets. Berard is still a young player who must consistently play in the Rangers lineup for his development and the team's benefit. It made more sense to sit a veteran like Chris Kreider, who is enduring a tough year.
New York will continue to turn to Igor Shesterkin as the Russian netminder tries to keep the season alive for New York. He'll be facing a Lightning roster that still hopes to win the Atlantic Division, so they have a goal to play for. If the Blueshirts start slowly and expose their goaltender to the might of this contending Bolts roster, this game will be over quickly. Shesterkin needs help from his teammates tonight.
Projected Lineups
Tampa Bay Lightning
Jake Guentzel - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Nick Paul
Oliver Bjorkstrand - Yanni Gourde - Gage Goncalves
Zemgus Girgensons - Luke Glendening - Darren Raddysh
Victor Hedman - J.J. Moser
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg - Nick Perbix
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Brennan Othmann
Gabe Perreault - J.T. Miller - Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle - Mika Zibanejad - Jonny Brodzinski
Chris Kreider - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
K'Andre Miller - Will Borgen
Carson Soucy - Adam Fox
Urho Vaakanainen - Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Puck Drop
Tonight's game will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern as the Rangers look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. It's a tall order from here for the Blueshirts to make the dance, but all they can do is win tonight. If that isn't the case, then at least signs of life from young forwards like Othmann and Perreault would be small victories for a fanbase that endured a season of struggle.