Preseason Game #4: New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders Open Thread

After another blown lead in their last game against the New York Islanders, the two play again tonight at UBS Arena. In their last matchup, the Rangers brought a lineup that consisted of more veterans than their first two preseason games. Tonight, the Rangers will once again showcase some of their younger players and prospects. Joining the young guys will be Igor Shesterkin battling between the pipes.

Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, Noah Laba, and Scott Morrow have played in all three of the Blueshirts' previous preseason games and will once again take the ice today. Perreault and Laba have been two of the team's top preseason performers and have certainly made assigning them to the AHL a harder choice than most anticipated. Morrow continues to showcase his abilities as a puck-moving defenseman. On the other side, the Islanders will be suiting up some of their top players, including Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Kyle Palmieri, and Matthew Schaefer.

Player to watch: Brennan Othmann

As Joe mentioned, time is ticking for Brennan Othmann. With numerous prospects outshining him, it just makes it that much harder for him to find a way to crack the team's roster. Othmann was very disappointing in the Rangers' first two preseason games but looked better in the last game. Against the Islanders, he netted a power-play goal and improved his game away from the puck. Hopefully, tonight could be another step in the right direction for the 22-year-old. As we get closer to the start of the regular season, the opening night lineup becomes clearer, and if Othmann doesn't show something soon, it might be another year where he starts with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Enjoy the Game!