New York Rangers Daily: 1 more chance to get it right before break, Senators’ Linus Ullmark injured
Just one game separates the New York Rangers from the three-day NHL holiday break. And there won’t be any waiting around all day for it, either. The Rangers will visit the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in a matinee Monday.
After that, from management to coaches and through the entire roster, the Rangers can get away, hopefully re-set mentally and return later in the week in a better place than where they are collectively right now.
A win Monday would be nice, for sure. But it wouldn’t cure all that ails the Rangers, who are 4-12-0 in their past 16 games after a 3-1 loss at home to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. Not even a goal 17 seconds into the game by Jimmy Vesey and the outstanding play of Igor Shesterkin in goal could get the Rangers over the hump nor propel them to a more complete 60-minute effort.
So, the Rangers (16-16-1) enter play against their Metropolitan Division and cross-river rivals tied for sixth in the division, one point ahead of the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets. They trail the Ottawa Senators by five points for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
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New York Rangers news
If you wish to take a look back, here are our three Rangers takeaways from the loss Sunday, including the powerless power play coming up empty again.
And if you want to look ahead, here are three things to watch for Monday, when the Rangers visit the Devils as they try to enter the break on a positive note.
In case you missed it, Matt Rempe was suspended eight games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for elbowing and boarding Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.
How about Jack Roslovic twisting the knife a little deeper into the Rangers on Sunday? The 27-year-old forward did little after being acquired by the Rangers last season, but Roslovic now has 14 goals already with the Hurricanes, including the game-winner Sunday. Of course.
NHL news
Linus Ullmark sustained an upper-body injury Sunday for the Ottawa Senators. He left the game against the Edmonton Oilers after the first period and did not return. There was no update postgame. He had won seven straight starts prior to Sunday.
As for that game Sunday, the Senators had their six-game win streak end in a 3-1 loss to the Oilers. So a bit of good news from out of town for the Rangers.
It’ll be a special night for top-overall pick Macklin Celebrini, when the 18-year-old forward plays in his hometown Rogers Arena for the first time Monday. The San Jose Sharks rookie said it will be “surreal” when he suits up against the Vancouver Canucks.
Pierre-Luc Dubois had two assists against his former team, helping the Washington Capitals defeat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. Washington (23-8-2) moved into first place in the Metropolitan Division with the victory, one point up on the Devils and 15 ahead of the Rangers.
Watch Joel Kiviranta record his first regular-season NHL hat trick, to help lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-2 win against the Seattle Kraken.
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