RANGERS VS PREDATORS GAME DAY PREVIEW 10/4

QUINN ERA BEGINS AS RANGERS "REBUILD" GETS UNDERWAY

New York Rangers (0-0-0) vs Nashville Predators (0-0-0)

Madison Square Garden, NYC

TV: NBS Sports, MSG Network RADIO: ESPN-NY 98.7 FM

Tonight the Rangers will hit the ice under a new coach for the first time since the 2013-2014 season, then under Alain Vigneault. Instead they will take the ice against the Nashville Predators under the tutelage of rookie head coach David Quinn. It will be the first time the Rangers have started the season under a new head coach with no NHL experience since Herb Brooks in 1981,

With a mixture of veteran's such as Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Spooner and Mark Staal, younger vets, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes, rookies the likes of Filip Chytil, Brett Howden and Vinni Lettieri will get their chance to "Shine on Broadway".

With the announcement yesterday that Staal will wear the full time "A" while Zibanejad and Zuccarello will wear the "A" on Home ice and Kreider and Jesper Fast get the Honors on the road it's evident that the Rangers will start the season without a full time Captain until Quinn feels that someone has stepped up and earned the honor.

The Rangers though will be once again led onto the ice by veteran number one goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, a spot he has held with the Rangers since the start of the 2005-2006 season.

Facing a Nashville Predators team that is hailed as having "one of the deepest teams in the league" will be a good test for the young Rangers first game.

As the season starts questions still surround the Rangers as they have not been shy about the fact that they are rebuilding and that will continue through this season. It is thought that it would not be surprising to see the team shed more players for picks and prospects.

The Predators' top line Kyle Turris seems to get better each season, Victor Arvidsson has stepped up to be a pure goal scorer and Calle Jarnkrok adds a smart two way player. Eeli Tolvanen is one exciting prospect, Nick Bonino has experience and Craig Smith can get hot at any given time and a fourth line of Colton Sissons, Frederick Gaudreau and Ryan Hartman is among one of the best in the league.

Defensively, Roman Jose and Ryan Ellis are easily a top 5 pairing, Mattias Ekholm and P.K. Subban are a great pairing in terms of positioning and scoring. Matt Irwin and Yannick Weber might just be the only serious weakness on this team. In net the tandem of Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros both posted sub 2.5 GAA’s and Sv% .925 and up.

Rangers Projected Opening Lineup:
Forwards:
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey-Kevin Hayes-Mats Zuccarello
Ryan Spooner-Filip Chytil-Jesper Fast
Vlad Namestnikov-Brett Howden-Vinni Lettieri

Defense:
Brady Skjei-Adam McQuaid
Marc Staal-Neal Pionk
Brendan Smith-Kevin Shattenkirk

Starter:
Henrik Lundqvist

Backup:
Alexandar Georgiev

Scratches:
Fredrick Claesso, Tony DeAngelo, Cody McLeod

Injuries:
Matt Beleskey (Shoulder), Boo Nieves (Concussion Protocol)