Rangers vs. Utah Hockey Club: 3 things to watch for in historic first visit to Beehive State
The New York Rangers will do something Thursday they’ve never done in their nearly 100-year history in the NHL. They will play a game in Utah, the Beehive State.
When the Rangers play the Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center to close out a three-game road trip, it will mark the 25th state or district they played a regular-season game in. Delta Center will be the 91st unique venue the Rangers have played in.
So, there’s a historical element to the clash Thursday against the former Arizona Coyotes. It’ll be the second meeting between the clubs since the relocation to Utah prior to this season. Utah spoiled New York’s home opener on Oct. 12 by winning a wild 6-5 overtime decision. That was New York’s only defeat in its first six games (5-0-1) and seems a lot longer than three months ago.
Since then a lot has happened with the Rangers. They endured a dismal 4-15-0 stretch. They traded captain Jacob Trouba and forward Kaapo Kakko in separate deals. Trade rumors have followed Chris Kreider, who’s been haunted by a back injury. The Rangers incorporated two new defensemen — Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen — in their top six. And now they’re 4-1-2 since the New Year.
The Rangers (20-20-3) are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche after winning two straight for the first time since Nov. 14-19. They’ll have a sour taste in their mouth Thursday, considering the Rangers let a late 2-1 lead slip away in that loss in Denver.
Utah (19-23-3) has also hit the skids since a strong start to the season. Its win against the Rangers was the third straight for Utah to open 2024-25. Heading into the rematch, Utah has lost four of five (1-3-1) and is 2-7-2 in its past 11 games.
This could be just what the doctor ordered for the Rangers. A win Thursday would cement a 2-0-1 road trip heading back home for a crucial game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Related: Rangers take away ‘lots of positives’ despite avoidable OT loss to Avalanche
3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Utah Hockey Club
1. No chasing this time
In their first meeting against Utah, the Rangers scored five goals and lost. Three times the Rangers tied the game. But not for a single second in the game did they hold a lead. Four times, Utah pulled ahead, twice by two goals. Rangers coach Peter Laviolette lamented afterward that his club “chased the game all night.”
That can’t happen Thursday. Though the Rangers and Utah are in similar places in the standings (Rangers have 43 points, Utah 41), the Rangers are the better team playing better hockey. They need to jump on Utah and not let up. They did that by and large against the Avalanche on Tuesday, but they failed to close it out against a top opponent and a goalie (Mackenzie Blackwood) who played a sensational game.
All excuses are off the table Thursday. The Rangers need to jump on Utah in the first period, then remember they’re 13-2-1 when leading after one this season and bank two valuable points.
2. Time for cream to rise to top
The Rangers are 2-0-1 in their past three games but have scored just seven goals in that span. Fourth-liners Sam Carrick and Adm Edstrom have accounted for four of those seven. While winning teams get contributions from up and down the lineup, the Rangers need more steady production from the top six.
In that three-game stretch, only Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck scored goals from the top-six group of forwards. Since the third line didn’t score in that span, you can make it two goals from the top-nine.
This follows a group explosion of 10 goals in two games, which was preceded by a similar lull offensively. It’s great that the defense tightened up and goalie Igor Shesterkin appears to be finding his game again. But the Rangers’ top offensive players need to score more consistently here in the second half of the season if there’s going to be a meaningful playoff run.
3. Shaking off the rust
Arthur Kaliyev hadn’t played a single NHL minute this season before the Rangers claimed the forward off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. He sustained a fractured clavicle in training camp and only recently played five AHL games on a conditioning stint before being placed on waivers.
So it’s to be expected that Kaliyev is rusty. And that’s shown in his first three games with the Rangers, where he’s also learning a new system, playing with new teammates and absorbing the first switch of teams in his career. The 23-year-old is pointless and has four shots on goal — including one against Colorado that was “ripped,” according to Laviolette — and should skate alongside Filip Chytil and Chris Kreider again Thursday.
“I was doing a lot of skating [coming] off my injury,” Kaliyev told Mollie Walker of the New York Post. “I felt better than I thought I would. I don’t think I’m up there at my best yet, but it’s getting better, I think. Just getting that timing and feeling back everywhere. It was a long time I didn’t play.”
Thing is, though, the Rangers need every point they can get, so each game is crucial in their playoff push. They need Kaliyev to find his game sooner rather than later.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Zibanejad – Smith
Kreider – Chytil – Kaliyev
Edstrom – Carrick – Rempe
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Borgen
Vaakanainen – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Utah Hockey Club: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Utah Hockey Club
When: Thursday, Jan. 16 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Delta Center
How to watch: MSG
More About:New York Rangers News
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