Islanders vs Rangers – Age isn’t an issue: Lines, TV, more

The New York Islanders take on the New York Rangers. Here’s what you need to know.

Today is the day. The New York Islanders hit the ice after a long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been nearly five months since the Isles were on the ice last. It’s been a long wait but we’re glad they’re here.

We haven’t even hit the ice yet and we’ve already got our first bit of negative (ish) news about the Islanders. They’re old.

Anyone who follows the team shouldn’t be too surprised about that. With an average age of 28.9, the Isles are the oldest in the 24 team tourney, while the Rangers are the second youngest with an average age of 25.7.

To be fair, a difference of 3.2 years, on average, isn’t much of a gap. And honestly if not for say 37-year-old Andy Greene, who was only brought in for an injured Adam Pelech, the Isles average age drops to 28.1. That would rank 20th overall.

We shouldn’t necessarily be worried about the Islanders average age. You can look at it this way, the Islanders are just more experienced.

This first meeting between these two rivals since the end of February should be physical. If we learned anything from the Battle of Alberta it’s that teams won’t be scared to be physical during the exhibition.

It should be everything we want it to be after this long wait.

Expected Lineups

Teams can dress 22 skaters of the 28 they brought with them to the hub city in this exhibition game. That’s two more skaters than usual. They can dress two goalies. Here’s how both teams should lineup:

Islanders

Lee-Barzal-Eberle
Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey
Kuhnhackl-Pageau-Brassard
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Johnston

Pelech-Pulock
Toews-Mayfield
Leddy-Boychuk
Dobson

Greiss (Varlamov)

There should be NO surprise with the lineup here. If there’s any movement in the lines against the Rangers it’s going to be swapping Tom Kuhnhackl and Ross Johnston on the third line.

In net, both Greiss and Varlamov will get a chance to play.

Rangers

Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Panarin-Strome-Fast
Di Giuseppe-Chytil-Kakko
Lemieux-McKegg-Gauthier
Howden

Smith-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Staal-DeAngelo
Crawley

Shesterkin (Lundqvist)

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TV Listing

I’ve seen a number of people confused as to where the game will be broadcast. To make it easy on you here’s where the game will be held on Wednesday:

TV: NBCSN, TVAS, MSG GO, MSG+

There seems to be conflicting information about the game’s availability on NHL.tv. The Islanders site indicates the game is available through NHL.tv, but the NHL’s site does not state the game is available via NHL.tv.

Radio: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9 LI NEWS