Rangers vs. Kraken: 3 things to watch for seeking season-series sweep
It’s been a few weeks since the New York Rangers won consecutive games. They’ll try to do just that, though, when they host the Seattle Kraken in a Sunday matinee at Madison Square Garden.
The odds are pretty good the Rangers can snag a second straight win, after knocking off the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 on Friday. That’s because the Rangers are 6-0-1 all-time against the Kraken. Their .929 points percentage against the Kraken is the Rangers’ highest against any active team in the NHL.
In fact, the most recent run of consecutive wins for the Rangers was Nov. 14-19, and included in the middle of that three-game win streak was a 2-0 victory in Seattle.
Add those historical nuggets to the fact that the drama of the Jacob Trouba trade has quieted around the Rangers, and the Kraken could be itching to get on a plane home after a four-game road trip concludes at MSG.
Of course, the Kraken already defeated the Carolina Hurricanes and Islanders on this trip, before they were edged 3-2 by the New Jersey Devils on Friday. And the Rangers, despite that win against the Penguins, are just 2-6-0 in their past eight games.
Related: Rangers GM Chris Drury ready to ‘let dust settle’ after trading his captain Jacob Trouba
3 things to watch for when Rangers host Kraken
1. Money in goal
After officially agreeing to the richest contract for a goalie in NHL history, it’s back to work for Igor Shesterkin, who looks for his second consecutive win after ending a personal five-game losing streak.
No one really knows if Shesterkin carried any burden before his contract extension was worked out with the Rangers, though his struggles are more likely born by playing behind shaky Rangers team defense. But no one knows if there’ll be any extra weight carried by the 28-year-old franchise goalie moving forward, after signing his eight-year, $92 million deal. Certainly nothing short of elite play and greatness will be accepted since being the highest-paid goalie goes with the expectation that he’s the best goalie in the NHL.
In any case, it’s back to work for Shesterkin, who’s 4-0-1 lifetime against the Kraken with a 2.18 goals-against average and .934 save percentage ,but just 9-9-1 with a 2.99 GAA overall this season.
2. Artemi Panarin heating up
After a brief lull, it appears Artemi Panarin is finding his groove and heating up again. The Breadman had two goals and an assist in the win against the Penguins and has six points (three goals, three assists) in a three-game point streak. In the previous three games, Panarin was scoreless; and in the previous six, he was held off the score sheet five times.
Panarin leads the Rangers with 13 goals, five power-play goals and 29 points this season. The Rangers would love to see him reclaim his top form, like when he opened the season with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in an eight-game point streak. That, more than any trade, could shake up the Rangers and help get them back on track.
3. Rookie’s audition
Sunday is another chance for Victor Mancini to prove he should be a regular on the Rangers blue line. With Trouba gone and newly-acquired Urho Vaakanainen still on IR with an upper-body injury, it appears Mancini will play regularly on the third defense pair with Zac Jones. It’s a big opportunity for the 22-year-old, who was a lineup regular the first month of the season, but was since demoted to Hartford of the American Hockey League on two occasions.
Coach Peter Laviolette is very cautious in how much, and in what situations, Mancini plays. He logged under 11 minutes of ice time against the Penguins, for example. But the kid is a big part of the Rangers future, so he’ll get another look after the Trouba trade.
He could prove ready enough for a somewhat extended run — though his underlying metrics haven’t been great — but it would be surprising if the Rangers fail to acquire a more-seasoned defenseman before the trade deadline in March.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith
Cuylle – Chytil – Kakko
Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey
Lindgren – Fox
Miller- Schneider
Jones – Mancini
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Kraken: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Seattle Kraken
When: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG
Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results
More About:New York Rangers News
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