Quinn Makes Lineup Changes Prior to Home Game vs San Jose
New York Rangers (0-3-0) vs San Jose Sharks (2-2-0)
Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: MSG Radio: ESPN-NY 98.7 FM
Looking for a winning combination and holding players accountable for their own play coach David Quinn is holding steadfast. During practices this week he has slowly made moves including both defenseman, veteran Kevin Shattenkirk and rookie Neal Pionk heading to "ride the pine" at least for tonight's home matchup against the San Jose Sharks.
Quinn has also made adjustments to the forward lines moving rookie Brett Howden up to the starting line between Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello. Pavel Buchnevich will stay alongside center Mika Zibanejad while Jesper Fast moves up. Zuccarello's spot is taken over by Ryan Spooner with Jimmy Vesey and Kevin Hayes. While the 4th line remains Filip Chytil centering Vlad Namestnikov and Vinni Lettieri
The defense is where you will see the major changes. Brady Skjei and Adam McQuaid stay together while Tony DeAngelo who impressed the coach in Sunday's loss to Carolina and skated as a 7th defenseman moves to the second pairing with Marc Staal. Freddy Claesson gets his first start of the season on the third pairing with Brendan Smith who has been solid in his first three games after a horrible 2017-2018.
Henrik Lundqvist is slated to get the start in net after backup Alexandar Georgiev gave up 8 goals on Sunday finishing a back to back weekend for New York.
Chris Kreider and Jimmy Vesey both broke scoring droughts on Sunday each picking up 2 goals in the Rangers 8-5 loss to the Hurricanes.
San Jose, 2-2-0 comes in having picked up their first regulation win with an 8-2 victory over the Flyers on Tuesday, This will be their third East Coast road trip game having lost to the Islanders on Monday 4-0. Martin Jones is slated to get the start for the Sharks.
This is the first of two meetings this season between the Rangers and Sharks, the next coming on the 30th of this month.
The Rangers are 5-3-1 in the last nine meetings with San Jose. Last season, the Sharks posted a 4-1 victory in New York on Oct. 23, while the Rangers recorded a 6-5 win in San Jose on Jan. 25.
Rangers Projected Lineup vs San Jose:
Forwards:
Chris Kreider, Brett Howden, Mats Zuccarello
Pavel Buchnevich, Mika Zibanejad, Jesper Fast
Jimmy Vesey, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Spooner
Vlad Namestnikov, Filip Chytil, Vinni Lettieri
Defense:
Brady Skjei - Adam McQuaid
Marc Staal - Tony DeAngelo
Freddy Claesson - Brendan Smith
Starter:
Henrik Lundqvist
Back Up:
Alexandar Georgiev
Power Play Units:
1st: Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Pavel Buchnevich and Tony DeAngelo
2nd: Kevin Hayes, Brett Howden, Ryan Spooner, Brady Skjei and Filip Chytil
Scratches:
Kevin Shattenkirk, Neal Pionk, Cody McLeod
Injuries:
Matt Beleskey (Shoulder), Boo Nieves (Concussion Protocol)
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