The New York Rangers have announced Vitali Kravtsov will make his debut tonight. Phil Di Giuseppe is the scratch. The 21 year-old right wing is expected to start on a third line with Alexis Lafrenière and Filip Chytil.
Rangers: 17-15-4 (38 pts)
Sabres: 7-23-6 (20 pts)
(7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG 2, Radio: ESPN 1050 AM)
Rangers vs Sabres: Vital Kravtsov debuts
Blueshirts fans long wait is over as the 9th overall selection in the 2018 draft will make his NHL debut. Here’s what I think we can expect from Kravtsov – a mature and ready to contribute player. The best thing that happened was him exercising his European out clause last season. He wasn’t happy about not making the team and found out the hard way the grass isn’t always greener. This year the Rangers wanted him to play and not just struggle on a third line; so they agreed to let him play out most of the year in the KHL.
This season for Traktor he became a complete player and learned to be responsible in his own zone. His work ethic was noticed and applauded by his teammates and coaches. Now he’s here and I believe ready to make an impact.
Rangers will ride Igor Shesterkin
The Blueshirts beat the Sabres Thursday in OT thanks to Mika Zibanejad’s great shot. Although not overworked Igor Shesterkin was run into a few times and had to stretch his groin muscles after a collision with Steven Fogarty. He picked up the win by making 21 saves for his ninth of the year. Since coming back from injury, Shesterkin is 3-1-0 with a 2.22 GAA and a sparkling .934 SV%. The Czar of New York is 19-10-1 in his young NHL career.
Pre Game Notes
- All-Time vs Sabres: 81-79-25-5 (45-31-15-3 at home; 36-48-10-2 on the road)
- The Rangers have posted a plus-22 goal differential over the last 11 games (47 goals for, 25 goals against). New York has posted a plus-19 goal differential this season, which is the third-best among teams in the MassMutual NHL East Division.
- The Rangers have four players who have tallied 30 or more points this season (Strome, Panarin, Buchnevich, Fox). The Blueshirts are one of three NHL teams that have four players who have recorded at least 30 points in 2020-21 (Tampa Bay and Winnipeg).
- The Blueshirts have allowed 28.5 shots on goal against per game this season, which is the 10th-fewest in the NHL.
- The Rangers were 1-for-1 (2:00) on Apr. 1 at Buffalo.
- The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 22 of their last 29 games (78-for-88; 88.6%), including 16 of the last 22 games (56-for-65; 86.2%).
Notes courtesy NYR
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