When the Sharks travel to the East Coast, it’s almost inevitable that there will be a Sunday day game to enjoy. Admittedly, the Sharks will likely have lower than average viewership today. After all, the San Francisco 49ers are playing the Philadelphia Eagles in what is likely a precursor to a playoff showdown, but I digress. Today, the Sharks make the team’s one and only visit of the season to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Rangers.
The Sharks have a chance to be a piece of Rangers history today, or maybe delay it a little longer. New York is looking for its 3,000th win in team history. By comparison, the Sharks just secured the team’s 1,130th win of all time on Friday when San Jose beat New Jersey.
The odds of New York winning today are pretty good. After all, the team is entering today with a 17-4-1 record. New York leads the Metropolitan Division and is second in the NHL in points only behind the Vegas Golden Knights, who have played three more games than the Rangers.
There aren’t a lot of weaknesses when it comes to the Rangers. The team has the third best power play in the league and the seventh best penalty kill. Part of the reason the penalty kill is so good is that Nick Bonino joined the Rangers during free agency. Sharks fans will remember that Bonino was a stalwart on the penalty kill last season.
As for the Sharks, this will mark Ryan Carpenter’s return to MSG. He played 22 games for the Rangers last season. This will also be the return of Ty Emberson, who the Sharks snagged off of waivers in the preseason, much to the chagrin of Rangers fans.
The Rangers played yesterday and came back from a three goal deficit to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in regulation. The game was in Nashville, which means the team traveled as well. Meanwhile, the Sharks had yesterday off and only had a short trip from New Jersey to deal with.
San Jose Sharks lines
The Sharks placed Nikolai Knyzhov on waivers yesterday and he cleared this morning. He’s headed to the Barracuda. Meanwhile, Luke Kunin was placed on IR.
Here are what the lines could look like today, courtesy of The Hockey News’ Max Miller.
Lines at #SJSharks morning skate:
— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) December 3, 2023
Zetterlund-Granlund-Duclair
Eklund-Hertl-Barabanov
MacDonald-Sturm-Labanc
Hoffman-Carpenter-Bailey
Ferraro-Emberson
Addison-Benning
Okhotiuk-Rutta
Vlasic Burroughs
Forwards
William Eklund – Tomas Hertl – Alexander Barabanov
Fabian Zetterlund – Mikael Granlund – Anthony Duclair
Jacob MacDonald – Nico Sturm – Kevin Labanc
Mike Hoffman – Ryan Carpenter – Justin Bailey
Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Ty Emberson
Calen Addison – Matt Benning
Nikita Okhotiuk – Jan Rutta
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Kaapo Kahkonen
Notice that Alexander Barabanov is back after several weeks on the IR with a broken finger. It sounds like he’s ready to play. Same goes for Jan Rutta. Despite Kahkonen’s great performance Friday, it sounds like the Sharks are committed to platooning the two goaltenders.
New York Rangers lines
On the Rangers side, expect to see Adam Fox. He played his first game back after missing ten games due to injury on Wednesday. Fox was a Norris Trophy finalist last season. We’re guessing at the lines this morning because there was no morning skate.
Forwards
Alexis Lafreniere – Mika Zibanejad – Artemi Panarin
Chris Kreider – Vincent Trocheck – Jonny Brodzinski
Will Cuylle – Nick Bonino – Jonny Brodzinski
Jimmy Vesey – Barclay Goodrow – Tyler Pitlick
Defensemen
Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson – Braden Schneider
Goaltenders
Jonathan Quick
Igor Shesterkin
How to watch the San Jose Sharks at New York Rangers
Today’s game will be broadcast regionally on NBCSCA. Streaming is available with a subscription to ESPN+ (blackout restrictions may apply). The game is also set to air on the NHL Network. The radio call will be streamed through the Sharks Audio Network. Rangers fans can watch the game on MSG Network or listen on the radio at ESPN 9.87 FM.
The game starts at 3:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.
Check back then to follow along with all of the play-by-play action in the comment section below!
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