A win over the high-flying Vegas Golden Knights has the New York Rangers in the right place to stop the rot. Suddenly heating up, the Rangers are in the Mile High City to take on the Colorado Avalanche. With the Avalanche discovering a new lease after their own struggles earlier in the year, this game is challenging for the Blueshirts. Still, they're moving in the right direction to make this season matter for the franchise, and a win would continue that trend.
Filip Chytil and Chris Kreider both missed the win over the Vegas Golden Knights but were on the ice for practice yesterday on a line with the organization's newest member, Arthur Kaliyev. While this is not an indication that either the Czech center or the longest-tenured New York Ranger will play, it's a sign that they are both getting closer to being back on the ice and getting this organization back to its best.
Igor Shesterkin backstopped the win in Vegas, and there is no reason to expect a change to Jonathan Quick tonight. The resurging Rangers will need their best lineup to return to where they want to be and make something of this season. If the Blueshirts can make the playoffs, they've got the roster to make a deep run and challenge the top teams in the East. They just need to continue accruing points until the season's end to be in that position.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle - Mika Zibanejad - Reilly smith
Chris Kreider - Filip Chytil - 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
Colorado Avalanche
Jonathan Drouin - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen
Artturi Lehkonen - Casey Middelstadt - Ross Colton
Joel Kiviranta - Parker Kelly - Logan O'Connor
Jere Innala - Juuso Parssinen - Jason Polin
Devon Toews - Cale Makar
Calvin de Haan - Josh Manson
Keaton Middleton - Sam Malinski
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Puck Drop
It'll be a 9 p.m. puck drop from Denver as the Rangers continue to look to collect points. Colorado is another dangerous team that can break the momentum the Rangers have built up. Red-hot goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will be the key Avalanche member to overcome. If the Rangers get Igor some goal support, they'll give themselves a chance at the win tonight.