A strong start to 2025 has the Rangers fanbase feeling okay. 2-1-1 coming off an overtime loss to the Dallas Stars will see the Rangers going into todays game with more confidence. The Hudson River Rivalry renewal is on tap as the New York Rangers prepare to play the New Jersey Devils. There will be a lot of changes to this group from the team that fell short at home against the Dallas Stars, so let's have a look.
Matt Rempe has served all eight games of his suspension and will return to the lineup tonight. Rempe had an excellent game before his ejection in Dallas, and the following suspension stopped him from building upon the momentum that the game would have given him. Now, he has to start again. He's returning to this lineup to provide more physicality and be the force that the Rangers need him to be.
In goal, it's the return of Igor Shesterkin. Igor had been out for the last week with an upper-body injury, but he's ready to get back under the lights and show us all why he is the best goaltender in the NHL. With the improved team in front of him, all eyes will be on the results of the Russian. If he can keep the Rangers in the game, he'll make the Rangers competitive for the remainder of the season.
Tonight will be the debut of the newest New York Ranger, and the kid who grew up partly on Staten Island will get into this game: Arthur Kaliyev. He was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and will join a very short list of players born in non-Russian former USSR countries to play for the Rangers. Kaliyev's shot will be something to watch out for tonight, as the Blueshirts newest forward could be essential on the powerplay.
Projected Lineups
New Jersey Devils
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Stefan Noesen
Ondrej Palat - Jack Hughes - Jesper Bratt
Paul Cotter - Justin Dowling - Dawson Mercer
Tomas Tatar - Curtis Lazar - Nathan Bastian
Brenden Dillon - Dougie Hamilton
Jonas Siegenthaler - Jonathan Kovacevic
Luke Hughes - Brett Pesce
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle - Mika Zibanejad - Reilly Smith
Brett Berard - Jonny Brodzinski - Arthur Kaliyev
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 as these two long-time rivals renew their hostilities. New York will be without both Filip Chytil and Chris Kreider through injury, but there will be plenty of excitement with those coming into the lineup tonight. It's a litmus test for the Blueshirts to see if they can compete with the teams at the top of the Metropolitan Division in their fight to get back into the playoff places. It will make for an exciting game with plenty of storylines.