The New York Rangers have had a busy few days as they prepare to host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals Wednesday night at MSG.
New York Rangers: 8-8-2, 18 Pts. 6th Place- Metro. Division
Washington Capitals: 16-3-4, 36 Pts. 1st Place – Metro. Division
Television: NBCSN
Venue: Madison Square Garden
The New York Rangers will play their 10th consecutive game without star center Mika Zibanejad on Wednesday night.
On Monday, Rangers coach David Quinn announced Zibanejad would again be scratched, this time when the team welcomes in the Washington Capitals. Mika did skate at practice on Tuesday, wearing a red non-contact jersey.
Kaapo Kakko, who missed both games last weekend (two losses) due to the flu, participated in practice. His availability for Wednesday night’s game is still unknown.
The Rangers did make some roster moves after their loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Micheal Haley was waived on Sunday. Haley cleared waivers on Monday afternoon, but for the time being, he is remaining up with the club.
On Tuesday Haley centered a line of Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich, as Chytil had the day off.
Center Lias Anderson was assigned to the AHL Hartford Wold Pack with Tim Gettinger getting a call up to the team. He is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday night.
Gettinger appeared in four games for the Blueshirts last season.
The demotion of Andersson was no surprise. The fourth line center was averaging around the eight-minute mark for most of the season to go along with just one goal in 16 games.
The lineup at practice on Monday;
Panarin-Strome-Fast
Kreider-Chytil-Buch
Lemieux-Howden-Kakko
Gettinger-McKegg-Smith
Trouba- Hajek
Skjei- DeAngelo
Fox- Lindgren
Henrik Lundqvist was the first goalie off the ice and is the presumed starter for Wednesday’s game.
Congratulations Sergei Zubov
Former Rangers defenseman and Stanley Cup champion Sergei Zubov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Monday night.
Zubov played in the NHL for 16 years, three of them with New York, one with Pittsburgh and 12 years as a member of the Dallas Stars.