Short-Handed New York Rangers Take on the Anahiem Ducks

Rangers	NHL Rankings	Ducks
22-8-4	Record	18-11-7
4^th	NHL Standing Rank	11^th
20^th	GF/PG	15^th
5^th	GA/PG	9^th
8^th	PP%	4^th
4^th	PK%	3^rd

Previous Game

The Rangers were defeated 5-1 by the Vegas Golden Knights. It wasn’t pretty and it was a game that the Blueshirts just need to put behind them. Vegas deserved to win and were just the better team throughout the entire game. In addition, the only goal scored by New York from Chris Kreider was a shot that Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner would like to have back. And if things couldn’t get worse, Igor Shesterkin who was slated to start, was unavailable due to officially being placed on the COVID protocol just 30 minutes before the start of the game.

Rangers

There is a lot of uncertainty heading into this game for the Rangers. The Blueshirts will be without Shesterkin, Dryden Hunt, Julien Gauthier, and Patrik Nemeth due to a combination of the COVID protocol, injuries, and personal reasons. In addition, Artemi Panarin also appears unlikely to be available barring a late activation from the protocol.

Alex Georgiev is expected to get the start for the Rangers. Georgiev has been solid since December and has given the Rangers another reliable option in net. The Bulgarian-born goaltender didn’t have his best game in Vegas as he conceded five goals, but at the same time, no one on the Rangers had a good game.

Expect an entirely different bottom pair defensive unit for Saturday night’s game. Libor Hajek and Zac Jones both appear to be out of the lineup with Jones returning to the taxi squad. Nils Lundkvist and Jarred Tinordi will likely round out the bottom pair in Anaheim.

With so much uncertainty and COVID spreading, don’t be surprised if another Blueshirts player is added to the list prior to puck drop. Head coach Gerard Gallant wouldn’t share if anyone else is in the COVID protocol nor did he provide an update on Panarin. Warmups will tell fans all they need to know. Gallant did confirm that Morgan Barron will make his season debut.

Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks are arguably the most surprising team in the NHL. Entering the season, the Ducks didn’t really have any expectations but they find themselves second in the Pacific Division as we near the halfway point. And not only are the Ducks playing good hockey but they are also playing some fun and exciting hockey with some must-see players.

One of these must-see players is Trevor Zegras. Zegras was drafted ninth overall in the 2019 draft and he is starting to take the league by storm. The 20-year-old combined with Sonny Milano to create arguably the goal of the season when Zegras did the Michigan flip from behind the net which was knocked out of mid-air by Milano who was in front of the net.

But their best player has been Troy Terry who is enjoying a breakout season. Terry is coming off a hat trick against the Flyers which put him up to 21 goals and 13 assists on the season. Prior to this season, Terry had played in 127 regular-season games and he recorded just 15 goals in those games. The 24-year-old had a 16-game point streak from mid-October to mid-November

However, like the Rangers, the ducks will also be significantly shorthanded. Already with Max Jones and Adam Henrique on the injured reserve, the Ducks have five players also in the COVID protocol and they all will be unavailable barring a late activation. Players include their captain Ryan Getzlaf, Derek Grant, Josh Mahura, Hampus Lindholm, and starting goaltender John Gibson.

Key to the Game

The key to the game will be both teams’ depth. Much of the Rangers‘ third line will be operated by what is usually most of the Rangers’ fourth line on a regular basis. Both teams are missing key players and their starting goaltenders. The depth of both teams will be tested and could be the difference in winning or losing.