Rangers vs. Predators: Lineups, storylines in Vincent Trocheck’s return
Still seeking their first win on home ice this season, the New York Rangers have some serious lineup reinforcements for their game against the Nashville Predators on Monday at Madison Square Garden.
Vincent Trocheck returns after missing the past 14 games with an upper-body injury. Also, New York’s top prospect, Gabe Perreault, makes his season debut after the 20-year-old forward was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
Each will start out in New York’s top six, which lengthens the Rangers’ lineup considerably. Trocheck, who has one assist in two games before the injury, will center longtime linemates Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Perreault, who leads Hartford with five goals and 10 points in nine games, steps into a prime spot on the top line with J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad.
Not only does that fortify, New York’s top two lines, but it strengthens the bottom six, as well. Will Cuylle joins Noah Laba and Taylor Raddysh to form a solid two-way third line.
The fourth line, though still missing Matt Rempe who’s out with an upper-body injury, gets Adam Edstrom back after a two-game absence and now includes veteran Conor Sheary, bumped down to play on a line centered by stalwart Sam Carrick.
The Rangers (7-7-2) certainly can use the good vibes and expected juice from the deeper, more skilled and balanced lineup, They’re 0-6-1 at MSG, the worst home record in the NHL. And the Rangers have scored six goals in their seven home games and were shut out five times, including 5-0 by the Islanders on Saturday.
It also doesn’t hurt that they host the struggling Predators (5-8-2) on Monday. The Predators are winless in their past four games (0-2-2) and have one victory since Oct. 26 (1-5-2). They lost a back and forth game to the Dallas Stars on Saturday, 5-4, the eighth time in their past nine games that the Predators allowed three goals or more.
This is also Nashville’s final game in North America before taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins twice in Sweden this weekend, part of the NHL Global Series.
3 storylines when Rangers host Predators
1. Rangers expect ‘jolt’ from Vincent Trocheck’s return
All things considered, the Rangers survived Trocheck’s month-long absence pretty well. They were 6-6-2 after the 32-year-old center sustained his injury in the second game of the season against the Buffalo Sabres. Taking into account their winless skid at MSG, it’s even more impressive that the Rangers were at NHL-.500 without Trocheck, and speaks, of course, to their tremendous success on the road, where they are a League-best 7-1-1.
Trocheck is a letter-wearing veteran, respected and beloved by teammates, coaches and fans alike. He plays in every game situation, and averages nearly 21 minutes TOI per game during his three-plus years on Broadway. He’s as irreplaceable as anyone on the Rangers’ roster. So, yes, it’s a big deal that’s he’s back.
“I think he’ll give our team a jolt,” coach Mike Sullivan said after the morning skate. “I just think just his presence alone from a leadership standpoint means a lot to this group. The hockey side of it goes without saying, he’s a terrific hockey player, as we know. It’ll be nice to get him back.”
2. Rangers rookie lands prime spot
Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
There’ll be no easing Perreault into things. He’s expected to play serious minutes at even strength alongside talented veteran forwards Miller and Zibanejad.
“Our intention is to try to set him up for success so he can play to his strengths. In other words, I don’t know that it makes a lot of sense to call up a player like that and put him in a bottom-six role,” Sullivan explained.
Perreault has produced at every stage of his career, though he was pointless in five games with the Rangers after he signed his entry-level contract late last season. He had a strong showing in training camp, and just seven days ago was named AHL Player of the Week. The Rangers believe he’s ready to slot into an important role right away.
“He’s a good playmaker, and he’s playing with two pretty good players,” the coach said. “I think Gabe will help those guys with his offensive instincts. I think he has the ability to get those guys the puck in the right areas.”
3. Another zero hero?
The Rangers and Predators split their season series in 2024-25, each side winning with a shutout. Jonathan Quick and the Rangers blanked the Predators 4-0 at MSG on March 2. That was after Juuse Saros led Nashville to a 2-0 home-ice win on Dec. 17.
Though the Predators have yet to record a shutout this season — nor be shut out in defeat — the Rangers have been involved in seven shutouts over their first 16 games this season. As noted above, they have five shutout losses on home ice; the Rangers also have a pair of shutouts of their own, one apiece by Igor Shesterkin and Quick.
New York Rangers projected lineup
J.T. Miller — Mika Zibanejad — Gabe Perreault
Artemi Panarin — Vincent Trocheck — Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Taylor Raddysh
Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Conor Sheary
Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox
Carson Soucy — Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen — Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Rangers vs. Predators: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Nashville Predators
When: Monday Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG
