New York Rangers Daily: Blueshirts resume playoff race; Boone Jenner among Blue Jackets reinforcements
The final sprint in the 2024-25 NHL regular season begins Saturday, when the New York Rangers are among 28 teams in action following the 4 Nations Face-Off break. They’ll visit the Buffalo Sabres to begin a three-game win streak after hitting the two-week break with three wins in four games to move into 11th in the Eastern Conference, three points out of the second wild card.
The Rangers get a healthy Igor Shesterkin back after their No. 1 goalie sustained an upper-body injury before the break. But how will their players that participated in the 4 Nations be affected for these games that actually count in the standings?
Vincent Trocheck, clearly hurt in Team USA’s 2-1 loss to Sweden on Monday, reportedly has a broken finger that he will play through. That’s suboptimal. J.T. Miller played like a banshee in four tournament games. Will he be able to maintain the same level of intensity and passion or will there be a dip in his play? Will Miller, Adam Fox, Chris Kreider and Trocheck be mentally drained after that 3-2 overtime loss in the championship game to Canada?
The Rangers must hit the ground running with three winnable games on this road trip. There can’t be any 4 Nations hangover, their margin for error all but vanished during that ugly 4-15-0 stretch through November and December. Now, would be a good time for rested players like Alexis Lafreniere, Artemi Panarin, K’Andre Miller and Shesterkin to step up and pick up their teammates the first few games after the 4 Nations tournament.
There are 27 games for the Rangers to try and find a way into the playoffs for the fourth straight season. It’s there for the taking. Game On!
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New York Rangers news
Here are three things to watch for when the Rangers visit the Sabres, including all eyes on Shesterkin as he comes back from his second upper-body injury.
Here’s what we know about Trocheck’s broken finger, including how badly he struggled on face-offs against Canada on Thursday.
In a final look back at the 4 Nations Face-Off, our John Kreiser hands out report cards for Fox, Miller, Trocheck and Kreider after the championship game, and the grades weren’t all so great for the four Rangers.
Urho Vaakanainen believes his experience playing for Finland in the tournament will only help him in the Rangers stretch run trying to make the playoffs.
Zac Jones won’t be in Buffalo with the Rangers on Saturday; the defenseman was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack on a conditioning stint.
NHL news
Here are the top 5 NHL storylines entering the stretch drive, including the upcoming trade deadline.
Goalie Kevin Lankinen landed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.
The Canucks will be without two of their stars — Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes — when they return from the break Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Hughes remains out, and Pettersson is day to day with injury sustained playing for Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Boone Jenner will make his season debut for the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks following shoulder surgery in October. Kirril Marchnko (broken jaw) and Dante Fabbro (concussion) will also be back for the Blue Jackets.
Matthew Tkachuk is out Saturday when the Florida Panthers against the Seattle Kraken with an injury he sustained at the 4 Nations. His status will be further evaluated.
Brandon Montour and Ryker Evans are expected back for the Kraken when they face off with the Panthers.
The Winnipeg Jets will give Connor Hellebuyck a breather after the goalie’s heavy workload at the 4 Nations and he won’t dress Saturday for their game against the St. Louis Blues. Defenseman Josh Morrissey remains out with an illness.
Tyson Barrie cleared waivers and the Calgary Flames assigned the defenseman to Calgary of the AHL.
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