Well, it's finally here. It's been a long summer for the organization and its fans, but now the New York Rangers can finally close the 2022-23 curtain as they embark on a new journey to capture Lord Stanley.
Well, it's finally here. It's been a long summer for the organization and its fans, but now the New York Rangers can finally close the 2022-23 curtain as they embark on a new journey to capture Lord Stanley.
It's important to not look too far into the future, even though this city and this particular fan base are starving for a championship. This season is going to be a process for the Rangers. The young guys have more responsibilities and this group has a coach in Peter Laviolette that wants to teach.
Tonight is simply just step one in trying to complete the ultimate goal.
Here is the group that the Rangers will be going with tonight, or at least the lines they had at today's morning skate:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Lafreniere
Cuylle-Trocheck-Wheeler
Goodrow-Bonino-Pitlick
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Gustafsson-Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
In pre-scouting the Buffalo Sabres, the Rangers main focus is to have their defense lead to offense. The Sabres are a very strong offensive team, especially their first line that consists of Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner.
Something to look forward to tonight is watching the line of Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko.
Laviolette had some very high praise for Kakko after morning skate. He told the media "He's been a guy with his skating, his size, his ability to hang onto pucks and make plays, it's for me been very noticable. He seems to be a guy that stood out in camp to give it a look with Zibanejad and Kreider. That's again a starting point, not saying that that's forever, but he played well in camp and he looked good when he had those opportunities and that's the way we're gonna start."
I had a brief moment with K'Andre Miller in the locker room after morning skate, I asked him how he was feeling to which he replied "we're just ready to get this thing going."
Starting the season on the road will be a challenge, but a fun one at that. So in the words of Miller, let's get it going.