Blueshirts Return to Original lines in Home Matchup Against San Jose – Pregame Notes

After a tough 6-3 defeat against the juggernaut Winnipeg Jets, the Blueshirts are back in action as they take on the San Jose Sharks (7:00 PM on MSG).

Pregame Notes

• Head Coach Peter Laviolette has opted to revert back to the original lines that he had to open the season
  • He also told the media that the Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, and Will Cuylle line have earned more minutes
  • K’Andre Miller will play with Adam Fox, whereas Ryan Lindgren will play with Jacob Trouba
• Zac Jones has won the 6th defenseman job for the foreseeable future
  • Vincent Mancini was competing with Jones to open the season, but was sent to Hartford on Wednesday as he will get more playing time
  • Chad Ruhwedel was recalled and will serve as the team’s seventh defenseman
• Igor Shesterkin will be back in goal as he is looking for a “get right game.” Shesterkin has allowed at least five goals in each of his previous two starts. 
• The Sharks selected first overall in the previous draft and they drafted Macklin Celebrini from Boston University.
  • Celebrini has four points in five games played this season
• Mikael Granlund leads the Sharks in points with 18 points in 17 games. Granlund recorded 60 points last year with the Sharks, and he is on pace to beat his career high of 69 set with the Wild in the 2016-2017 season. 
• Barclay Goodrow will make his return to Madison Square Garden.
  • Goodrow played three seasons for the Rangers and he was a vital piece in last season’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference Final. 
  • Goodrow was ultimately placed on waivers and picked up by the team that he started his career with. The Blueshirts simply could not afford Goodrow’s cap hit. 
  • This is a revenge game for Goodrow as he was not happy with how things transpired and he will be wanting to stick it to Rangers General Manager Chris Drury. 
  • Goodrow is still friends with many current Rangers including Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin as they ate dinner together on Wednesday night. 
  • MacKenzie Blackwood will be in goal for San Jose.
    • Blackwood spent five seasons with the Devils and he will be familiar with many players from the Rangers organization.
    • Blackwood is 3-4-2 with a .910 save percentage.
  • Alex Wennberg was acquired from the Blueshirts at the trade deadline last season.
    • Wennberg signed with San Jose this past offseason and he currently has seven points in 17 games.