The New York Rangers are looking for revenge against the New York Islanders. They’ll have to do it without Henrik Lundqvist, as Alexander Georgiev gets the start in goal.
Henrik Lundqvist will not get the start when the New York Rangers face the New York Islanders Wednesday night.
Instead, Alexandar Georgiev will get the call as the Blueshirts look to win their first game against their cross-town rival since Oct. 13, 2016.
Monday, the Rangers began a stretch of four games in six nights including a back-to-back Friday and Saturday. Head coach David Quinn made it clear the plan was to get Georgiev at least one game to rest the 36-year-old Lundqvist.
Going with Georgiev is an interesting decision considering most coaches do not rest their number one goaltender with a day off in between and a back-to-back coming up. But, perhaps Quinn is giving Lundqvist a breather against a team who has had his and the Rangers number over the last few seasons.
According to Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post, in his last 10 games against the Islanders, Lundqvist has posted 3.24 goals against average, a .894 save percentage, and has been pulled on three occasions.
Georgiev has made just one appearance against the Isles and it came in relief of Lundqvist in the Blueshirts’ 7-5 loss last Thursday. In that game, Georgiev made five saves on six shot attempts.
In other Rangers news, the expectation is for Mats Zuccarello to miss his third game in a row with a groin injury. Zuccarello has not appeared in a game for the Blueshirts since Nov. 15 and has appeared in just four games this month.
David Quinn hinted at Brady Skjei returning to the lineup after being a healthy scratch against Florida and Dallas. Who will come out has yet to be determined.
Ryan Strome will be playing his first game against the Islanders as a member of the Rangers. The Isles drafted Strome with the fifth overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft back in 2011.