The Rangers play their first game since March 11 on Wednesday against the Islanders. Granted, it's an exhibition contest, but it will be the first time the team matches up against an opposition jersey since play was halted. If Tuesday's games were any indication, expect a little bit of a ragged start with the execution and intensity to increase as the game continues.

A few post-practice interviews from Tuesday. Quickie and Foxy. Plus coach David Quinn.

"Playoffs are the most fun time of the year. It's a special opportunity here, and we've got to grab it."

Jesper Fast + @foxyclean check in from Toronto. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ICxqgAT8yd

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 29, 2020

"You could sense the energy and the excitement in our practice today - guys are looking forward to playing an opponent who's not on their own team." - Coach Quinn pic.twitter.com/ecMaFmE3nn

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 28, 2020

The Scotiabank Arena, for those who didn't see the games yesterday, has been set up to minimize the feel of being wide open. The fun part is that the boards are changing each game to reflect the local flavor. We should see a full bore of New York, New York ads.

See you tomorrow. 😏 pic.twitter.com/jzTzsqNxNs

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 28, 2020

NHL Senior EVP and Chief Content Officer Steve Mayer gives a behind-the-scenes account of the Rogers Place design process. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/4Dc8Tsw5T5

— NHL (@NHL) July 28, 2020

Further evidence of just how young the team is. Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal are the elder statesmen skewing the age a bit, which gives you a sense based on the team's placement below, how young the rest of the team is. Bodes well hopefully for future success.

Here's the average age of the 24 NHL teams involved in the restart: pic.twitter.com/H2ywugfSxS

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 28, 2020

Mika Magic, for real:

Really enjoyable interview here w/Mika Zibanejad, as he talks about his new meaning to “Mika Magic,” why his 5-goal flurry is “blurry” memory, biggest challenge of playing bubble hockey, what it means to be adopted New Yorker & much more. Hope you like it! https://t.co/aELVCzHJHT

— John Giannone (@jaygeemsg) July 28, 2020

For both the Rangers and Islanders, it's a contest to scrape off the rust of the past four months and start to build momentum for the play-in round. The Blueshirts face the sixth ranked Hurricanes in the first game of the second season on August 1 at 12 noon. The Islanders play at 4pm on the same date, taking on the 10th ranked Panthers. If you are a hockey junkie, you will get your fill of pucks the next two weeks or so with contests starting at 12 noon eastern and ending around 1:30am thanks to games both at Scotiabank Arena and the Rogers Place.

I am not really looking for anything specific from the Blueshirts in the game. First and foremost is scraping off the rust and getting ready for the play-in round. Second may be seeing the growth in Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko on the ice. To me though, that's more of a focus versus Carolina and beyond, if the team advances, rather than in the exhibition game, Before the series against the 'Canes, I will have a few more areas that I will be watching closely.

#NYR Preview - July 29 vs. NY Islanders pic.twitter.com/UiX6IonqCe

— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) July 29, 2020

New York Rangers:

Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Artemiy Panarin-Ryan Strome-Jesper Fast
Phil Di Giuseppe-Filip Chytil-Kappo Kakko
Brett Howden-Greg McKegg-Julien Gauthier

Brendan Smith-Jacob Trouba
Adam Fox-Ryan Lindgren,
Marc Staal-Anthony DeAngelo

Quinn has announced the two goalies, but I expect they will be Igor Sheshterkin and Henrik Lundqvist. Look for them to split the contest, like we have seen in the other games. Igor probably will open the game with Hank coming in midway.

Extras: Brendan Lemeiux (two-game suspension) and Libor Hajek

New York Islanders:
Lee - Barzal - Eberle
Beavillier - Nelson - Bailey
Komarov - Pageau - Brassard
Martin - Cizikas - Clutterbuck

Pelech - Pulock
Toews - Mayfield
Leddy - Boychuk

Varlamov
Greiss

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