After the rebound performance against the Anaheim Ducks, the New York Rangers want to continue their positive momentum against the Washington Capitals. Washington has been one of the upstart teams of the young season, boasting an impressive 5-2 record. They're 3 points behind the Rangers in the young year with a game in hand. It's early, and this isn't important for the standings, but it is a clash of two teams that started the season very well.
New York needs to be mindful of the Capitals new-look offense. Players like Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, and Taylor Raddysh give them scoring threats throughout the lineup. New York requires a solid defensive game tonight. They can't leave their netminder alone to defend Grade-A chances like they can against some others. Igor Shesterkin cannot be the one to bail them out of this one.
We recalled Matt Rempe, and against a physical team like the Washington Capitals, we're likely to see the 6'8, Calgary, Alberta native slide back into the lineup alongside Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom. Washington likes to play a physical game, and if Peter Laviolette wants to pick up a win against his former employers, he's going to need to adjust his roster and pick a team that can compete physically.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Reilly Smith
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafrenière
Will Cuylle – Filip Chytil – Kaapo Kakko
Adam Edstrom – Sam Carrick – Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Victor Mancini – Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin - Dylan Strome - Aliaksei Protas
Tom Wilson - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Connor McMichael
Taylor Raddysh - Nic Dowd - Brandon Duhaime
Jakub Vrana - Hendrix Lapierre - Andrew Mangiapane
Jakob Chychrun - John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary - Dylan McIlrath
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
Puck Drop
Tonight's game is a 7:30 start from the nation's capitol. Can the Rangers continue their sparkling start to the season, or will the Capitals close the gap to the reigning Presidents Trophy winners? We're in for a great game tonight between two teams that need the points, and two teams with playoff aspirations as this Metropolitan Showdown sees these two old foes renew hostilities.