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New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin celebrates a second-period goal by Chris Kreider against the New Jersey Devils in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in New York.
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What's new with the New York Rangers, the Penguins opponent this weekend?

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What's new with the New York Rangers, the Penguins opponent this weekend?

The Penguins will face the New York Rangers in a two-game set that begins Friday at PPG Paints Arena. Here are some things to know about the East Division opponent.

Former Penguins have joined the fray — Assistant coach Jacques Martin joined coach David Quinn’s staff over the offseason after a seven-year stint here that included two Stanley Cup wins. But let’s be honest. You’re here to find out how things are going with much-maligned defenseman Jack Johnson, who signed a one-year deal with the Rangers over the summer. The answer, friends, is fairly poorly. He’s a minus-2 overall. He’s been on the ice for two of the three power play goals the Rangers have allowed so far after being signed in part to bolster the penalty kill. And he’s trended on Twitter multiple times for lowlights including these.

So yeah. Looks familiar.

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Henrik Lundqvist is gone — The 13-year veteran decamped to Washington in the offseason after losing his grip on the starting job in New York beginning last season, when he started a career-low 26 games in net. Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev now man the crease for the Rangers and present an interesting dynamic. The 25-year-old Shesterkin is the more heralded prospect and shined with a .932 save percentage 12 games last season. Georgiev, however, received the plurality of starts in 2019-20 and has gotten the majority of playing time this season after Shesterkin allowed four goals in a season-opening loss. Shesterkin remains the No. 1, but the Penguins could see both this weekend, and it should be interesting to watch their dynamic unfold.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan not happy with his team after giving up the third goal against the Rangers in the second period Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
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Alexis Lafreniere is still looking for his first point — The Rangers have played it safe with the coveted first-overall pick in this past summer’s draft, limiting him to fewer than 15 minutes per game so far, in which he’s generated five shots. That all could be changing, though. The New York Post reports Lafreniere has been practicing on the top line and at his more natural position of left wing alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. That could be a signal that bigger minutes and more production with them could be coming. Especially considering Zibanejad’s recent praise for his new 19-year-old linemate.

“I think just he’s very mature for his age, and the speed he plays at, the way he sees the ice,” Zibanejad said of him to the Post. “It is a step up from the hockey he’s been playing, but I think he’s been doing a really good job throughout camp from what I saw and the games. Maybe a goal, something to get his confidence level up, maybe a little more comfortable. I think it’s still maybe a little nervous. I really like what I’ve seen from him.

Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.

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First Published: January 22, 2021, 5:48 p.m.

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