Morning Skate Notes: Injuries, Game-Time Decisions, and Brennan Othmann

The New York Rangers are back at it in Raleigh, N.C. as they prepare to take on the Carolina Hurricanes for the second time this season. Following another disheartening shutout loss on Long Island, the Rangers will still be without their captain and top defenseman for yet another game, as J.T. Miller is not currently with the team and Adam Fox will not play tonight despite shedding the no-contact jersey. Additionally, Sam Carrick will be a game-time decision tonight as he continues to battle an illness.

It was an optional skate for the Rangers this morning, therefore we don't know what the line combinations will look like exactly. However, there is early indication that despite Carrick's questionable status, Brennan Othmann could be on the verge of being a healthy scratch.

In his last five games, Othmann has been held pointless and is a -3 on the season in just six games played. However, there were only two games this season in which he saw more than ten minutes of ice time. Prior to Christmas, he saw 7:55 against the Washington Capitals and saw just 5:47 against the New York Islanders over the weekend. A part of that has to do with the surplus of penalties in the last two games—Othmann neither plays on the power play or penalty kill—but a part of that also has to do with the coaching staff's lack of trust and interest in giving him any more chances.

Assuming Othmann does come out of the lineup, Conor Sheary will likely be the one to slot back in. If Carrick is unable to play, Brodzinski could slot back down to center forcing one of Othmann or Sheary into the middle six. On defense, it looks as though things will stay the same, and Igor Shesterkin will get the start in net.

Puck drop will take place at 7 p.m. EST.