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Rangers look to spoil Wild home opener tonight in Minnesota |
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The Rangers play the front end of a road back to back tonight in Minnesota. It’s the Wild’s home opener while the Blueshirts come in off a 3-1 on Tuesday against the Lightning. Tomorrow, New York is in Winnipeg to take on the Jets.
For the Rangers, Vitali Kravtsov, injured on Victor Hedman’s check in the opener, did not make the trip. He is out these two days but officially listed as day to day. It’s possible he suits up Monday against the Ducks but I think he has a better chance of dressing Thursday at home vs. the Sharks.
Dryden Hunt, a healthy scratch Tuesday, will dress in Kravtsov’s place. Alexis Lafreniere, moved up to the second line right wing spot after Kravtsov left Tuesday’s game, will skate again in that spot tonight. Barclay Goodrow replaced Laf on the third line against the Lightning and will do so again tonight.
Sammy Blais, who made the trip with the team, will not play tonight but could go tomorrow. If Laf plays well again tonight, look for him to remain with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. That means if Blais plays, he likely would dress on the fourth line in place of Hunt, though Ryan Reaves, Ryan Carpenter or Jimmy Veseh are also candidates to sit.
Kreider - Zib - Kakko
Panarin - Trocheck - Laf
Vesey - Chytil - Goodrow
Hunt - Carpenter - Reaves
Igor Shesterkin in goal tonight while Jaroslav Halak makes his Rangers debut tomorrow. Shesterkin will have three full days off between games. Plus, with the way schedule comes out, he gets two more days off before the team takes on San Jose, then another two days prior to the game October 23 versus Columbus without Patrik Laine.
As a reminder, I am out of pocket Sunday through Tuesday night for the final Jewish holiday of the season.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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