The New York Rangers are 3-0-1 to start the season, with three very strong games at even strength. They seem to be the bizarro Rangers to start the season, or perhaps having a healthy Filip Chytil really was the X-factor for the Blueshirts. But now they face their first true test, as the Toronto Maple Leafs are 3-1 and, like the Rangers, essentially just playing the games until the playoffs come.
The Leafs are a strong 5v5 possession team, so this will be the first litmus test for this team at 5v5. Are they simply feasting on bad teams like Pittsburgh and Detroit? Or are they actually improved in this area? One game isn’t a story, but it’s a chapter. Are the Rangers truly improved at 5v5?
Leafs Lines
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Bobby McCann-Max Domi-William Nylander
Pontus Holmberg-John Tavares-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves
Morgan Reilly-Chris Tanev
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Jake McCabe
Simon Benoit-Connor Timmins
Anthony Stolarz gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Reilly Smith
Will Cuylle-Filip Chytil-Kaapo Kakko
Adam Edstrom-Sam Carrick-Jonny Brodzinski
K’Andre Miller-Adam Fox
Braden Schneider-Jacob Trouba
Zac Jones-Victor Mancini
Igor Shesterkin gets the start.
Crazy Prediction: Shesterkin gets a 50 save shutout and Stan Fischler doesn’t tweet something xenophobic about it. Seriously, did his account get hacked?
Game time is 7pm.
