Fox has missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury but he was a full participant in Saturday's morning skate and is "trending" towards playing according to head coach Peter Laviolette. It appeared as if Carson Soucy would sit if Fox plays.
Shesterkin allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Rangers overtime win in Minnesota on Thursday. Tonight he'll start a massive game vs. the Blue Jackets, who the Rangers are battling for a Wild Card spot with. In his only start against Columbus this season, Shesterkin stopped all 27 shots that he faced in 1-0 shutout/shootout win.
The Rangers have lost four straight (0-2-2) and will turn to Shesterkin between the pipes on Thursday as they desperately search for wins in a heated race for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 29-year-old Shesterkin played well in his previous outing but did not receive ample goal support, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. He has a 2.87 GAA and .905 SV% in 47 games this season (21-22-4). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as slight -104 road underdogs against a Wild club that has scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last eight games (3-5-0).
Veleno made his debut with the Blackhawks on Saturday, after being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith. The 25-year-old Veleno is averaging 11:35 time-on-ice and has zero points through two games with the Blackhawks.
The Rangers have lost four straight (0-2-2) and will turn to Shesterkin between the pipes on Thursday as they desperately search for wins in a heated race for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The 29-year-old Shesterkin played well in his previous outing but did not receive ample goal support, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. He has a 2.87 GAA and .905 SV% in 47 games this season (21-22-4). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as slight -104 road underdogs against a Wild club that has scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last eight games (3-5-0).
Simon Nemec will draw back into New Jersey's lineup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, sending Cholowski to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Cholowski is averaging 12:49 time-on-ice and has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 35 games this season.
Veleno made his debut with the Blackhawks on Saturday, after being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith. The 25-year-old Veleno is averaging 11:35 time-on-ice and has zero points through two games with the Blackhawks. The team returns to action on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks and it's unclear if Veleno will be ready to suit up.
The Rangers are coming off crushing losses to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators, hurting their hopes for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Shesterkin will tend the twine on Tuesday and hope for a better result against the Winnipeg Jets. The 29-year-old Shesterkin has a 2.89 GAA, .905 SV%, and four shutouts in 46 games this season (21-21-4). The Rangers enter the action on Tuesday as +169 road underdogs against a Jets team that has lost four of their last six (2-3-1).
Cholowski was a 20th overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 27-year-old averaged 12:48 time-on-ice and scored 10 points (3G / 7A) in 33 games with the Islanders this season.
Vaakanainen was acquired in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this season and has earned himself a two-year, $3.10 million contract extension with the Rangers. The 26-year-old defenseman has averaged 15:599 time-on-ice and scored nine points (2G / 7A) in 30 games with the Rangers this season.
Veleno was a first-round pick, 30th overall, of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old averaged 11:57 time-on-ice this season, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in 56 games.
Veleno will take a seat on Thursday in order to make way for the return of Michael Rasmussen (upper-body). Veleno has five goals and five assists in 56 games this season.
