New York Rangers News

Korpisalo allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Blue Jackets' win in Detroit on Monday. Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins have alternated starts to begin the season but Korpisalo has been the better of the two thus far. Korpisalo has stopped 67 of 71 shots (.944 SV%) in his first two outings but draws a terrible matchup tonight vs. the Lightning.

Korpisalo allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss in Nashville on opening night. Elvis Merzlikins allowed five goals in his season debut on Saturday, so they'll come back to Korpisalo as the Blue Jackets search for their first win of the season today in Detroit. Korpisalo was 2-0-0 with a 3.55 HAA and .851 SV% in two games vs. the Red Wings last season.

Miller missed the first three games of the season in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to play Monday in Calgary. Miller was removed from the COVID list and will presumably re-claim his spot on the Canucks’ top line with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser on Monday. Miller is coming off of a caerer-high 72 points (27G / 45A) in 69 games a season ago.

Korpisalo is expected to split time in the Blue Jackets crease with Elvis Merzlikins this season but they will go with the more veteran of the two on opening night. Korpisalo was solid in the 2020 regular season, posting a 2.60 GAA and .911 SV% in 37 games but took his game to a new level in the postseason. In nine playoff starts, he posted a playoff-best .941 SV%. He makes for a decent option in his first start of the season vs. a Nashville team that was in the middle of the pack in goal-scoring and below-average on the PP last year.

Zibanejad missed the first few weeks of training camp after testing positive for COVID-19 but was on the ice for Thursday's morning skate and will play vs. the Islanders. Head coach David Quinn said he expects to see "full Mika tonight" so it doesn't sound like Zibanejad is dealing with any limitations. He is coming off of a career year and will look to maintain the blistering pace he set a year ago.

Shesterkin started the 2020 season in the AHL before making his highly anticipated NHL debut on January 7th. Just over one year later, Shesterkin has gone 10-3-0 in 13 career starts and will be relied upon as the Rangers No.1 netminder this season. Shesterkin went 6-2-0 with a 2.75 GAA and .925 SV% in eight starts at Madison Square Garden last year.

According to Canucks GM Jim Benning Miller is no "available to us" and that there would be more information released on Wednesday. Speculation is that Miller has either tested positive or was in close contact with a positive COVID-19 test and that will keep him out for at least the first game of the season. With Miller absent from Tuesday's practice, Jake Virtanen was moved to the top line with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser.

Bjorkstrand finally saw his long-awaited bump in ice time in 2020 and he turned out a career-year, which was unfortunately hampered by injuries. Overall, he scored 21 goals with 15 assists (36 points) in 49 games, a 35-goal and 60-point per 82-game pace. Bjorkstrand is expected to continue to see huge minutes in 2021 as a fixture on the Blue Jackets' top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois.

The Rangers called Zibanejad day-to-day, so it doesn't sound like he's going to miss any regular-season time at this point, but his situation is certainly one worth monitoring as the season approaches.

Korpisalo was 2-1 while posting a 1.45 GAA, .956 SV% and two shutouts in four starts vs. the Maple Leafs in the qualifying round. It was a terrific showing from Korpisalo, who is now the unquestioned No.1 in Columbus with Elvis Merzlikins out indefinitely. Korpisalo did not face the Lightning during the 2020 regular season.