Zibanejad was expected to play on Thursday after missing the last two practices due to an illness, but the Rangers' superstar left warmups before line rushes took place and was announced as a scratch less than five minutes before puck drop. Zac Jones will draw into the lineup in place of Zibanejad as New York will now opt to dress seven defensemen.

Robertson was recalled for the first time in his career due to a few question marks in the Rangers' lineup but was not need and has been reassigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). The 22-year-old will return to Hartford, where he had two goals, 11 assists, 14 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 30 games prior to his call up.

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.

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.

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.

Reese Johnson will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Raddysh to return to the lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury. Raddysh has 10 points (5G / 5A) in 35 games this season and is expected to play on the top line of an injury-depleted Blackhawks roster alongside Rem Pitlick and Philipp Kurashev.

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).

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.

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.

Sheary will draw back into the Lightning lineup on Tuesday after a hand injury forced him to miss Sunday's game against the Canadiens. Sheary is expected to rotate in on the third line with Alex Barre-Boulet as the Lightning are rolling with unconventional lineup on Tuesday, consisting of five defensemen and 13 forwards.

Shesterkin has been terrific over the last several weeks and will start for the second consecutive game on Tuesday. Shesterkin has won five straight games, allowing two or fewer in four, posting a remarkable .946 SV%, a sign that he is back to his Vezina-caliber form after an inconsistent first portion of the season, posting a .902 SV% in his first 17 games (10-7-0). The Rangers are slight -113 home favourites against a Carolina Hurricanes team that has won three straight, outscoring their opposition 13-7.