Rangers vs. Lightning: 3 things to watch for in 1st game after NHL holiday break
Coming off the NHL holiday break, which was preceded by a ghastly 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, the New York Rangers play their first game in five days when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
That’s a tough spot for a struggling team to find itself. But there’s no time like the present for the Rangers (16-17-1) to snap out of their slide, 4-13-0 in their past 17 games, that’s dropped them into a last-place tie with the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division.
The Lightning (19-11-2) sit in the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after winning five of six games — and seven of nine — before the break. They’re seven points up on the Rangers with two games in hand, so they’re looking to move up without peering over their shoulder at where the Blueshirts sit in the standings.
Add to the mix that the Lightning are the highest-scoring team in the NHL (3.94 goals per game), and this doesn’t feel like the game to expect a big turnaround from the Rangers. But they are 7-1-1 in their past nine against the Lightning, and it’s hockey. You never know.
“Coming out of this break, we have to almost use it as a re-set, move forward and go down to Tampa and win a hockey game, and then push our way back into the playoff race,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Friday. “
Related: Why top 2 Rangers prospects aren’t in position to help at NHL level just yet
3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Lightning
1. ‘Key’ Rangers back in lineup
The Rangers get two regulars back Saturday. K’Andre Miller was activated off IR on Friday after missing six games with an upper-body injury. The Rangers were 1-5-0 without the 24-year-old defenseman. Though he’s struggled this season, Miller’s return provides a big boost to a Rangers defense corps that lacks depth, even after the acquisitions of Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen.
Chris Kreider will also play against the Lightning. The 33-year-old forward was a healthy scratch against the Devils and has one goal in his past eight games. Whether he’s struggling through an injury — he does appear to be laboring on the ice at times — or simply suffering a deep and steady decline in play, Kreider should be motivated to have a big night Saturday.
Kreider will be reunited on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith. Zibanejad was a non-factor against the Devils and is pointless in his past six games. It’s time for the BFFs to start producing.
2. Igor vs. Vasy
Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has won the Stanley Cup twice and the Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophies once each. He passed the 300-win milestone this season and is on his way to the Hockey Hall of Fame when his NHL career is over.
Igor Shesterkin of the Rangers has a Vezina Trophy on his resume and signed the richest contract for a goalie in NHL history last month.
So, when these countrymen square off against one another is well worth the watch. And though Vasilevskiy has accomplished more in his career, it’s Shesterkin who typically comes out on top when the Rangers and Lightning play one another.
Shesterkin is 6-1-1 all-time against the Lightning with a 1.84 goals-against average, .941 save percentage and one shutout in eight regular-season starts. Vasilevkisy, on the other hand, is 5-8-2 with a 2.92 GAA and .906 save percentage against the Rangers.
3. Strength on strength
Although the Rangers allowed three power-play goals in New Jersey, their penalty kill is fourth in the NHL (85.3 percent). The returns of Kreider and Miller should help solidify the PK even more against the Lightning, who have the No. 3 power play in the League (27.1 percent).
The Rangers’ main point of emphasis will be to shut down Lightning forwards Brayden Point, who leads the NHL with 11 power-play goals, and Nikita Kucherov, who has a League-high 19 power-play assists and is tied for the top spot in power-play points (20).
There’s also another strength-against-strength angle in this game. The Rangers are 8-2-0 against the Atlantic Division, their best mark against any of the four divisions. The Lightning do some of their best work against the Metropolitan Division (6-1-2). Something’s gotta’ give on Saturday.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith
Cuylle – Chytil – Berard
Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Borgen
Vaakanainen – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Lightning: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
When: Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Amalie Arena
How to watch: MSG2
Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results
More About:New York Rangers News
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