GAME DAY REPORT: Rangers scratch veterans in crucial elimination game

GAME DAY REPORT: Rangers scratch veterans in crucial elimination game

On the verge of eliminating the Montreal Canadiens from the first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs, it appears that the New York Rangers under direction of head coach Alain Vigneault won’t be making any lineup changes. Despite winning a pivotal game in Montreal on Thursday, the Rangers did look sluggish at times so it was thought that Vigneault may shake up his forward lines or defensive pairing for a fresh look, but that apparently won’t be the case when the Rangers take to the ice at Madison Square Garden this evening.

The status quo means that the Rangers top line of Kevin Hayes, JT Miller and Mats Zuccarello will remain in place, as well as perhaps the team’s most effective trio of Mika Zibanejad, Pavel Buchnevish and Chris Kreider. Derek Stepan, Rick Nash and Jimmy Vesey will also slot in together and the team’s fourth line, perhaps the fastest in all of hockey, will feature Oscar Lindberg, Jesper Fast and Michael Grabner.

On defence the lack of change means that Kevin Klein and Steve Kampfer are once again on the outside looking in. It was rumoured that Nick Holden may be replaced, but apparently that’s not in AV’s gameplan.