Per Peter Baugh, both Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil are set to return tonight in Denver as the Rangers shake up the lines a bit. Kreider will not return alongside Mika Zibanejad, and instead will form a new third line with Chytil and newly acquired Arthur Kaliyev. The Will Cuylle-Zibanejad-Reilly Smith line remains intact and has been looking pretty good too.
It may be mildly misleading to say the Rangers are shaking up their lines, especially since only one line is seeing a change with both players returning. But to be fair, all of us expected Kreider and Zibanejad to be reunited. Given how well Zibanejad has played since the new year, going back to what didn’t work for 3 months this season would have been folly.
Matt Rempe, who looks good when he isn’t used as a side show and keeps his elbow(s) down, will stay in the lineup after a few strong games in a row. Minus that one bad hit on Miro Heiskanen, of course. The kid can play and it’s clear the team loves him. Let’s hope he sticks and is actually given a bit more ice time to grow.
The defense pairs remain unchanged.
