Theme game
The Rangers have clearly been the better team so far, but now the series turns to MSG with the Devils in desperation mode. The demons know that if they lose here, they’re done. The Rangers know this too, and we’ll see what kind of killing instinct this team has. The downfall of Rangers teams in the past has been the inability to finish a series in fewer than 7 games. This Rangers team is different, but we won’t know until we see how they turn out tonight.
The Blueshirts will likely once again need to weather an early storm from a desperate Devils team. They did in Game 2, allowing one goal on the powerplay before scoring five consecutive goals. Another game like that would be a good thing, of course. But we shouldn’t expect the demons to roll over and quit. They’ll be fighting for their playoff lives, and the Rangers should expect no less than the best the Devils can throw at them.
Devils lines
Ondrej Palat-Nico Hischier-Jesper Bratt
Eric Haula, Jack Hughes, Thomas Tatar
Timo Meyer, Michael McLeod, Dawson-Mercer
Igor Sharangovich Curtis Lazar Nathan Bastian
Jonas Seigenthaler Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves – John Marino
Kevin Bahl Damon Severson
Akira Schmid begins.
Rangers Lines
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Patrick Kane
Artemy Panarin-Vincent Troshek-Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexis Lafrenière Philippe Shetel Second Capo
Tyler Mott, Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey
Ryan Lindgren, Adam Fox
Candy Miller Jacob Trueba
Nico Mikkola Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin starts at the start.
Crazy expectation: Another 5-1 win?
Play time is 8 p.m.
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Classified: Theme Game