The Islanders visit the Rangers in preseason action (7 p.m., MSGSN)
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (0-1-1) AT NEW YORK RANGERS (1-0-1)
7 PM | MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
WATCH: MSGSN, MSG
The New York Islanders look for their first preseason win on Thursday when they take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
The Islanders are coming off a 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and fell 3-2 in a shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Thursday’s game kicks off a back-to-back set for the Islanders, who will host New Jersey on Friday.
Heineman – Ritchie – Palmieri
MacLean – Pageau – Holmstrom
Terry – Highmore – Jefferies
Veremyev – Berg – Maggio
Pelech – Pulock
George – Boqvist
Mitchell – Day
*McWard will be a healthy scracth but travel with the team as a seventh defenseman
Rittich
Hogberg
*Henrik Tikkanen will travel with the team as the third goalie
*Lines are subject to change
Snapshots from the New York Islanders morning skate ahead of the team’s preseason game against the New York Rangers. Photos by Sam Johnston/New York Islanders.
– Anthony Duclair is out day to day with an upper-body injury, unrelated to the groin injury that he came back from.
– Daylan Kuefler (upper body) is out after absorbing a hit in Tuesday’s preseason game against the Devils and there will be a clearer timeline when the swelling reduces, per the team.
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– Anders Lee is expected to miss Thursday’s game as he’s out one-to-two weeks with an upper-body injury, which he suffered on Sunday. Max Tsyplakov is also considered day-to-day after missing Wednesday’s skate for maintenance.
– Kashawn Aitcheson was returned to his junior team, the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, on Wednesday after playing a pair of preseason games.
– Calum Ritchie will play in his second consecutive preseason game on Thursday night. Ritchie recorded a two-point game (1PPG, 1A), took a team-high four shots on goal in 17:50 TOI against the Devils on Tuesday, but what stood out to Head Coach Patrick Roy the most was the 20-year-old’s ability to match up against NHL vets such. Roy wants to see him build off his first game.
“I thought he was really good, played against their top line,” Roy said. “Probably the same today. I want to see him keep playing that way and how confident he can be when things don’t go his way, how he’s going to react.”
Ritchie is vying to make a roster spot. Ritchie played in seven games for the Colorado Avalanche last season after making their opening night roster.
“I don’t think he came here just to make an impression, I think he wants to make the team,” Roy said. “You cannot ask for a better scenerio.”
– Roy is planning to have David Rittich start and play two periods and bring in Marcus Hogberg for the third period.
Perreault – Miller – Zibanejad
Lafrenière – Trocheck – Othmann
Berard – Laba – Sheary
Edstrom – Roobroeck – Rempe
Soucy – Fox
Robertson – Rempe
Pouliot – Morrow
Quick
Garand
*Lines are subject to change
The Rangers are coming off a 5-4 OT loss to Boston on Tuesday. Noah Laba, the Rangers 2022 fourth-round pick, leads the team with three points (all assists) through two preseason games, while Gabe Perreault, the Rangers’ 2023 first-round pick, leads the team with two preseason goals. See above for their projected lineup.
Buy a ticket plan by Sept. 26 and BBQ with the full Isles team, including: Anders Lee, Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock.
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