New York Rangers vs Seattle Kraken open thread

Get ready for a week of night hockey. The New York Rangers’ first West Coast road trip of the seasons kicks off in the Pacific Northwest tonight as the Blueshirts head into the Climate Pledge Arena for a matchup with the Seattle Kraken. Seattle will be the first stop on a four-game swing that will see Peter Laviolette’s team also pass through western Canada, with all four contests starting at 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM Eastern Time.

As the Rangers spend the week away from home, the biggest story of the trip will be the absence of Filip Chytil. The rising star suffered another “upper body” injury on Thursday, and given Chytil’s history with concussions and New York’s ambiguity regarding his status moving forward, it doesn’t take a detective to figure out why Chytil wants to go don’t miss this road trip. Jonny Brodzinski is expected to slide up to the third line to take Chytil’s spot, and Jake Leschyshyn has been recalled from AHL Hartford to serve as the backup forward for now.

Player to watch: Jonny Brodzinski

With Chytil sidelined, Brodzinski is tasked with filling Chytil’s spot between Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle. Brodzinski spent time in the top nine last season, but his effectiveness waned as the season progressed and he was eventually phased out of that rotation in the latter stages of the season. Tasked with playing more significant minutes than usual, keep an eye on Brodzinski tonight.

Enjoy the game!