The Rangers are in Las Vegas this evening to kick off a five-game road trip against the Knights. Following tonight's game, New York takes on Anaheim on Saturday - though that game could be in donut since the Ducks-Red Wings contest tonight was postponed - followed by contests Monday against LA and Thursday at San Jose before wrapping the trip up in Philly on January 15. The Blueshirts enter the game having won three straight.

It's a homecoming for Gerald Gallant, the original coach of, and Ryan Reaves, who played for the Knights. Each should get nice ovations from the crowd. Lots of transplanted New Yorkers and others on vacation should be in attendance.

The lineup tonight should be the same as versus the Oilers, save for Igor shesterkin between the pipes. Artemi Panarin (COVID protocols) is not with the team, but is expected to join the Rangers later in the trip. Similar for Patrik Nemeth, who is sidelined due to personal reasons. Maybe Nils Lunklvist gets back in for Libor Hajek or Zac Jones, but I put the odds as somewhat unlikely.

Kreider - Zib - Kakko
Laf - Strome - Goodrow
Hunt - Chytil - Gauthier
Rooney - McKegg - Reaves

Lindgren - Fox
Miller - Trouba
Hajek - Jones

Lots of Twitter chatter on possible trades. Nick Kypreos mentioned Edmonton's search for a #1 netminder and possibility that Alexandar Georgiev could be an option. This will be a topic du jour, but to me over the summer not during the year where Georgiev is the better option to back up Shesterkin rather than Keith Kinkaid.

Dealing Ryan Lindgren was the next contestant on the price is right. Lindgren's name was mentioned in conjunction with Jakob Chychrun, who I would love, but who is alsm making $4.6 mil, meaning salary might need to be assumed by Arizona, raising his price tag. I have seen permutations where K'Andre Miller was one of the main acquisitions for Arizona. I guess the silly season has started early.

I would love Chychrun, as he fills lots of needs, but dealing Lindgren to get Chychrun improves you incrementally but the goal is to improve a weaker blueliner not Lindgren. Obtaining a top-none forward is likely more of a focus right now, but doing so does not preclude bolstering the back line, if the organization views that also needs to be a target.

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