Shesterkin has followed up three of his last four quality starts by allowing three or more goals, including allowing five on 25 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The 2023-24 campaign has been inconsistent for the 2021-22 Vezina winner, as his .904 SV% and 2.85 GAA are well below his career-averaged .921 SV% and 2.44 GAA. Despite his unspectacular play, Shesterkin has managed a respectable 16-9-0 record for a Rangers club that sits first in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers have lost two straight but are sizeable -161 road favourites against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.

Zibanejad did not practice on Wednesday due to an illness but will play on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. Zibenejad has only two points (0G / 2A) in his last four games but has been consistent all season, scoring 39 points (14G / 25A) in 39 games.

After playing two straight games, Groulx was a healthy scratch in the last two for the Ducks but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday. The 23-year-old has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 12:44 time-on-ice through 22 games this season.

Robertson had two goals, 13 points, 14 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 30 games with Hartford (AHL) but has earned his first career call-up to the Rangers Wednesday. The 22-year-old defensemen was New York's 2019 2nd round pick (49th overall) and has spend the last four seasons with Hartford prior to his call up.

Leschyshyn has spent the majority of his season playing with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, scoring six points (3G / 3A) in 14 games. The 24-year-old will make his season debut with the Rangers on Thursday.

Zibanejad did not practice on Wednesday due to an illness but is expected to play at some point on their upcoming two-game road trip. Zibenejad has only two points (0G / 2A) in his last four games but has been consistent all season, scoring 39 points (14G / 25A) in 39 games.

Leschyshyn had three goals, three assists, eight PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 14 games with Hartford (AHL) this season but has earned his first call up of the year to the Rangers and will replace Brennan Othmann on the active roster. The 24-year-old appeared in 35 games with Vegas and the Rangers in 2022-23 and miraculously failed to pick up a point while amassing 31 SOG, eight PIMs and a -10 plus/minus.

Othmann made his NHL debut last week, playing 12:26 time-on-ice while firing five shots on goal and registering three hits. In his two subsequent games, Othmann averaged just over seven minutes, accumulating only one shot on goal and two hits. The 20-year-old Othmann was the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has been reassigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, where he has 23 points (9G / 14A) in 28 games.

Shesterkin had the night off on Saturday, a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but will return to the crease on Monday night against the high-flying Vancouver Canucks. Shesterkin has been inconsistent this season, highlighted by a recent stretch where he has impressively allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last eight games (6-2-0) but allowed six in two, settling for a .907 SV%. The Rangers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and are -148 home favourites against a Canucks squad that has scored six or more goals in three of their last five games (3-2-0).

Shesterkin had the night off on Saturday, a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, but will likely return to the crease on Monday night against the high-flying Vancouver Canucks. Shesterkin has been inconsistent this season, highlighted by a recent stretch where he has impressively allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last eight games (6-2-0) but allowed six in two, settling for a .907 SV%. The Rangers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and are -148 home favourites against a Canucks squad that has scored six or more goals in three of their last five games (3-2-0).

Kaliyev will re-enter the lineup on Thursday after sitting out Tuesday's game against the Maple Leafs. He has six goals and eight assists in 30 games this season.

Shesterkin will start for the Rangers on Thursday and look to rebound after a terrible performance in his last outing. On Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, Shesterkin allowed six goals on 27 shots (.778 SV%) in a 6-1 loss, his first loss in six games (5-1-0). Before that, Shesterkin allowed two goals or less in four of his last five games (5-0-0), posting a tremendous .946 SV%. The Rangers have an extremely favourable matchup on Thursday as -430 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has lost three straight.

Shesterkin will likely start for the Rangers on Thursday and look to rebound after a terrible performance in his last outing. On Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, Shesterkin allowed six goals on 27 shots (.778 SV%) in a 6-1 loss, his first loss in six games (5-1-0). Before that, Shesterkin allowed two goals or less in four of his last five games (5-0-0), posting a tremendous .946 SV%. The Rangers have an extremely favourable matchup on Thursday as -430 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has lost three straight.

Othmann is expected to skate on a line with Nick Bonino and Jonny Brodzinski in his NHL debut on Thursday. The 20-year-old Othmann was the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has 23 points (9G / 14A) in 28 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL this season.

Groulx will make his first appearance since December 17th as the Ducks deal with a mix of illnesses and injuries. He is yet to score a goal and has just one assist in 20 games this season.

With the news of Tyler Pitlick (lower body) being out week-to-week, Brennan Othmann has been recalled from Hartford (AHL) for the first time in his career. The 20-year-old left-winger is the Rangers' 2021 first-round pick (16th overall) and had nine goals and 23 points in 28 games with Hartford prior to his promotion.

Kaliyev's absence for Tuesday's game is a surprise, and it's unclear at this time whether this is simply a healthy scratch or if it's due to an undisclosed injury. He has six goals and eight assists in 30 games this season. Jaret Anderson-Dolan will enter the lineup in his place.