Rangers vs. Panthers: 3 things to watch for in final game of calendar year
Perhaps it’s fitting that the New York Rangers close out the calendar year trying to turn things around in Sunrise, Florida, where their Stanley Cup dreams were crushed last spring and current issues can be traced back to.
The Rangers (16-18-1) visit the Florida Panthers (22-13-2) on Monday, their first visit to Amerant Bank Arena since losing Game 6 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Final and being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on June 1.
Many of the same reasons why the Rangers lost to the Panthers then are things that ail them now during a miserable 4-14-0 funk. Getting outworked in all three zones, particularly in the defensive zone. Egregious turnovers. Star players outplayed by their counterparts. One-and-done offense. Powerless power play. Not a high enough compete level.
It was one thing for those areas to be exposed by a driven, talented Panthers team, that went on to win the Stanley Cup last spring. It’s another being exposed on a nightly basis by good teams, bad teams, even teams in the cellar, as they are this season.
Speaking of the cellar, that’s where the Rangers reside in the Metropolitan Division. They are also 14th in the Eastern Conference, seven points out of the second wild card and incredibly just one point ahead of the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, who are tied for last in the conference.
New York has lost three in a row and six of seven. It’s coming off a 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, a defeat low-lighted by the Rangers surrendering two short-handed goals and two more on the power play.
Can they make a return to Sunrise a turning point in their season? We will find out soon enough.
Related: Rangers Daily — last chance to get it right in 2025, Patrick Kane records milestone point
3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Panthers
1. All eyes on Mika
Mika Zibanejad is pointless in seven games, has fallen to minus-21 on the season and now been booted from New York’s top power-play unit in favor of Alexis Lafreniere. So, how does Zibanejad react to all that Monday, when he skates against the Panthers, who manhandled him in the conference final last spring?
These are troubling times for Zibanejad, who likely will see a lot of Aleksander Barkov again Monday. He’s been demoted to the third line at times, had his ice time reduced, and now lost his coveted spot on the power play. It would be a statement, of sorts, if he produced against the Panthers, after his woes against them last spring. Even more importantly, it could get him started back on the right direction because his overall game is completely off the rails right now.
2. Good or bad timing?
We all know about the Rangers’ miserable troubles. But the Panthers are in a bit of a skid here, too. The Panthers bookended the NHL holiday break with a pair of 4-0 losses, to the Lightning before the break and against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
The Panthers have not scored a goal in 120:31, since a Sam Reinhart empty-netter against the Lightning on Dec. 22. That’s a pretty sizeable funk for the sixth-highest scoring team (3.35 goals per game) in the League.
Of course, the Panthers still remain tied for first in the Atlantic Division, have lost more than two games in a row just once this season and — as you may have heard — are the defending Stanley Cup champions.
The question then is: Are the Rangers catching the Panthers at a good time to pick them off? Or is it bad timing because the Panthers will be intent and focused on snapping their mini skid?
3. Sunshine guy
Artemi Panarin has thrived playing against the Panthers in his career. In 21 games, the Breadman has 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists). Of course, that doesn’t include a quiet conference final, when he had four points in six games, including his lone goal late in Game 6.
Perhaps playing the Panthers in a regular-season game will reignite Panarin, who’s among a long list of struggling Rangers. His goal against the Lightning on Saturday was Panarin’s first in eight games. If ever a team was in need of a Panarin breakout, it’s these Rangers.
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. Panthers: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Florida Panthers
When: Monday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Amerant Bank Arena
How to watch: MSGN
Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results
More About:New York Rangers News
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