Pavelec made 16 saves in a 3-2 loss to the Devils on Saturday night.

EDGE Analysis

The Rangers appear to have a goaltending issue. King Henrik Lundqvist has been OK, but Pavelec has been queasy. The Rangers need solid backup goaltending to keep Lundqvist fresh as the season wears on. So far, they have not gotten it.

Pavelec will tend twine Saturday versus the visiting Devils, Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

This will be Pavelec's first start against New Jersey while donning the blue shirt, but he enjoyed a high degree of success against them as a member of the Thrashers turned Jets -- we're talking a 6-3-4 record, .922 save percentage and 2.06 GAA in 15 career appearances. However, he faltered in a relief showing for his season debut against the Maple Leafs last Saturday, yielding three goals on 24 shots for the loss. There are 13 other games on this heavy Saturday slate, so consider all possible alternatives before streaming Pavs.

Pavelec will not start Sunday against the visiting Canadiens, giving way to No. 1 backstop Henrik Lundqvist.

EDGE Analysis

It was originally reported that Pavelec would get the second half of the back-to-back set of weekend games, but those plans changed after the backup had to relieve Lundqvist following the first intermission of Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Maple Leafs. Of course, Pavelec didn't play well in that one, either, as he surrendered three goals on 24 shots. It's difficult to get excited about a backup goalie with a career 2.87 GAA and .907 save percentage.

Pavelec may not start Sunday's home game against the Canadiens after all, the New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Henrik Lundqvist drew the start against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday, but he was replaced by Pavelec after the first intermission, having surrendered five goals on 18 shots. The backup tender didn't fare a whole lot better, as the Buds tagged him for three goals on 24 shots to finish the contest. According to this report, head coach Alain Vigneault said he'd need to confer with the team's goalie coach to decide whether Pavelec would get the nod Sunday, per the original plans.

Pavelec will guard the cage in Sunday's home game against Montreal, Steve Zipay of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pavelec struggled in limited action with the Jets last season, compiling a 4-4-0 record while registering an ugly 3.55 GAA and .888 save percentage in eight appearances. He'll hope to make a good first impression in his Rangers debut Sunday in a matchup with a Canadiens club that averaged 2.72 goals per game in 2016-17, 15th in the NHL.

Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said he believes the Rangers have gotten Pavelec "at the right time," The Sporting News reports.

EDGE Analysis

"In certain players' careers, you catch them at the right time, and our organization got him at the right time," Vigneault said. "He's had a couple off years, and you only get so many kicks at the can in this game. We have a highly motivated guy who's going to want to listen to the goalie coach and wants to help the team win so that he can prove he belongs in the NHL." Of course, it's easy to be optimistic before any games have been played; once the puck drops, the onus will be on Pavelec to prove that he can come back after nearly falling out of the league entirely last year, as he played in just eight games and posted an .888 save mark. The Czech netminder has been better than that in the past, though, and playing backup minutes for a Rangers team that emphasizes defensive responsibility should be a positive change of pace for him.

Pavelec signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Rangers on Saturday, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Rangers were linked to the veteran netminder prior to the opening of free agency and the two sides mad ethe deal official Saturday. After falling out of favor in Winnipeg and playing just eight contests for the club during 2016-17, he will return to a goalie rotation in New York, albeit behind "The King" Henrik Lundqvist. It's highly unlikely he will earn consistent starts for the Rangers unless Lundqvist were to miss time due to injury.

Pavelec has been linked to the Rangers with free agency looming, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old backstop will officially become an unrestricted free agent Saturday. Despite falling out of favor in Winnipeg and playing in only eight NHL contests, Pavelec could be an ideal fit for a Rangers team that lost backup netminder Antti Raanta to the Coyotes in last week's trade for Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft -- New York selected Swedish pivot Lias Andersson. Pavelec banked $19.5 million annually over the five years of his most recent contract, but we figure he wouldn't come close to that figure playing second fiddle to Henrik Lundqvist in the Big Apple. After all, he posted a 3.55 GAA along with a similarly weak .888 save percentage in that eight-game curtain call with the Jets.

According to general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, Pavelec (knee) will hit the free agent market after his contract official expires, Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Considering the Jets demoted Pavelec to the minors immediately following training camp, where he spent the bulk of the season, to avoid his $3.9 million cap hit, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the two sides are parting way. The netminder was recalled in mid-January when Winnipeg were on the verge of playoff contention and posted a 4-4-0 record with a 3.55 GAA before a concussion -- then knee injury -- sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Despite playing in a mere eight NHL contests this season, there will certainly be teams in the market for at least a backup, although whether the 29-year-old can get another shot at a starting role remains to be seen.

Pavelec is expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks after having his knee scoped Monday.

EDGE Analysis

To say 2016-17 has been a difficult campaign for Pavelec would be an understatement at best. The netminder was relegated to the minors following training camp, ultimately spending the first three months of the year in the AHL. Once recalled, the 29-year-old was performing well and seemed to have secured the No. 1 role, only to suffer a concussion and now a knee injury. Pavelec has missed the Jets' last 10 contests due to these ailment and will miss nearly the rest of March, if not beyond. Although it hasn't happened yet, fantasy owners should expect the Czech to be placed on injured reserve in order to free up a spot on the 23-man roster.