After falling to the Washington Capitals two nights ago, the Blueshirts are back in action this afternoon, as they’ll take on the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver is on the second half of a back to back set, having been shutout by the New Jersey Devils yesterday. Predicted by pundits around the league to continue their struggles of seasons past, the Canucks have gotten off to a respectable 4-3-0 start to the season.

If the Rangers want to snap their three game losing streak, they’ll need to bring their A-game against a Vancouver team looking to wash the taste of yesterday’s defeat out of their mouths. Today’s game also feature’s J.T. Miller’s return to Madison Square Garden. After signing a five year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning last summer, the pesky forward was moved to Vancouver in exchange for a 1st round selection in a cap clearing move.

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start in goal, and the line combinations are as follows:

So this is what the Rangers have posted near the press box. Again, I think individual play is going to dictate movement today. We’ll see how the lines look in the first period, but this is the starting point (or close to it). #NYR pic.twitter.com/nxokg5jvx7

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) October 20, 2019

Player to Watch: Lias Andersson

In spite of some questionable lineup decisions early in the season, Lias Andersson has found a way to draw into the lineup in each of New York’s first five games. With noted good hockey player Micheal Haley skating on his left wing, and defenseman Brendan Smith skating on his right wing, look for another strong effort out of Andersson today as he does everything in his power to remain out of the press box for the forseeable future.

Enjoy the game!