The Rangers are making Filip Chytil a healthy scratch. (MSG)
Chytil is believed to be healthy, but the team wants to manage his workload/ice time following his injury. (MSG)
Jack Roslovic returns to the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. (MSG)
Will Cuylle moves up to the third line with Alex Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko. (MSG)
Blake Wheeler, Barclay Goodrow and Matt Rempe are the fourth line. (MSG)
The Panthers seem to be scratching Ryan Lomberg and Nick Cousins in favor of Steven Lorentz and Kyle Okposo.
Adam Rotter: I understand the decision to sit Chytil and expect him to return for Game 5. I am not surprised that Blake Wheeler is playing. I don’t know what Wheeler can/will bring, but his return definitely has to be a big boost. I never thought Wheeler would return, but it’s a credit to how hard he worked to get back. He has a ton of playoff experience and maybe after a few games he will get moved up, but for now he’s going to skate on the fourth line. I am a little surprised about Matt Rempe playing since it’s a road game and he only played 4 minutes in the last game. He definitely brings a different vibe than someone like Jonny Brodzinski does, but Brodzinski would potentially give them more minutes. Peter Laviolette has been pushing all the right buttons so far so we have to trust his judgement at this point.
I’m also surprised that Florida sitting Ryan Lomberg, unless Lomberg is hurt. That guy was all over the ice as a pest and always seemed to make an impact.