Rangers vs. Wild: Lineups, storylines, seeking 1st home win, goal
Seeking their first win on home ice this season, the New York Rangers also look to score their first goal at Madison Square Garden when they host the Minnesota Wild on Monday.
Their historic scoring drought at the World’s Most Famous Arena now includes three consecutive shutout losses. They are the first team in NHL history to be held scoreless in each of their first three home games.
But the Rangers (3-3-1) return home with a bit of offensive mojo after they rallied for a 4-3 win over the Canadiens in Montreal on Saturday. Down 2-1 entering the third period, the Rangers exploded for three straight goals for the comeback victory.
Key to the resurgent offense was Artemi Panarin delivering his first signature performance of the season. New York’s leading scorer each of the past six seasons, was stuck on two assists through six games before he recorded four points Saturday, including his first goal of the season, the game-winner as it turned out.
Mika Zibanejad had a goal and an assist, J.T. Miller scored his second goal, and Adam Fox contributed two assists. So, the big guns filled the score sheet. And Matthew Robertson’s first NHL goal was a welcome surprise, as well.
The Wild (2-3-1) have allowed five goals or more three times in six games, and their 3.67 team goals-against average is sixth worst in the League. Filip Gustavsson starts in goal against the Rangers, and enters the night with an .888 save percentage in four games (1-3-0), despite his lone win being a 26-save shutout over the St. Louis Blues on opening night. Gustavsson is winless (0-1-2) in four games against the Rangers with a 4.14 GAA.
Though the Rangers have struggled to break through on a consistent basis offensively, they’re at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to the Wild defensively. New York’s allowing 1.71 goals per game, second fewest in the NHL, and 25.4 shots per game, the ninth fewest amount.
New York allowed three or fewer goals in each of its first seven games of a season for the first time since 2009-10 (eight games), and only the third time since 1974-75.
Igor Shesterkin is back between the pipes for the Rangers, after Jonathan Quick started in Montreal. Shesterkin’s allowed five goals in five starts, and never more than two in a game. He lost his past two starts (0-1-1) despite allowing only three goals. His save percentage is a sublime .962.
The Rangers earned points in each of their past six games against the Wild (5-0-1), dating to October of 2022. Last season, the Rangers won twice in overtime against the Wild, 3-2 at MSG on March 13 and 5-4 in St. Paul on April 2.
3 storylines when Rangers host Wild
1. Carson Soucy set to return
Though Rangers coach Mike Sullivan didn’t confirm his lineup, it appears Carson Soucy returns Monday after the veteran defenseman missed four games with an upper-body injury. Soucy was hurt after he went hard into the boards during a 6-1 road win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 11.
“It looked worse than it was,” Soucy explained after the morning skate. “It also didn’t feel great at the time, little more just shock when it happened. And then obviously a little stiff next couple days, but been feeling good.”
Soucy paired with Braden Schneider at the morning skate. Robertson remained on the second pair — in Soucy’s previous spot — with Will Borgen. Urho Vaakanainen skated as an extra defeseman and appears headed for his first healthy scratch of the season. Rookie Scott Morrow was sent back to Hartford of the American Hockey on Monday afternoon.
2. Playing with power
Watch the Rangers power play Monday. New York’s just 3-for-19 on the power play overall — and 0-for-7 on home ice — but Zibanejad broke through with a clutch power-play goal Saturday, and that PP1 unit has created a ton of Grade-A scoring chances so far this season. Going up against the woeful Wild penalty kill (70.6 percent) should give Zibanejad and his PP brethren the chance at a breakthrough night.
On the flip side, Minnesota owns the top power play in the NHL (38.5 percent). They don’t do a lot of scoring 5v5, so the Rangers must focus on staying out of the box and finding a way to slow down Kirill Kaprizov and Co. when the Wild go on the power play.
Kaprizov, owner of the highest AAV contract in NHL history ($17 million per season), is tied for the Wild lead with nine points (four goals, five assist) in six games. Each of those goals and seven of his points were recorded on the power play.
3. Wobbly Wild
The Wild play the fourth of a five-game road trip Monday and are winless in the first three games (0-2-1), outscored 12-4. They’ve played all season, so far, without former Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello, a key driving force in their top-six forward group. Zuccarello likely is out the first two months of the season with a lower-body injury.
Now comes word that center Marco Rossi and defenseman Zach Bogosian won’t play against he Rangers. Bogosian remains out with a lower-body injury. Rossi has a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, and will miss his first game after playing in 173 straight.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Will Cuylle
Alexis Lafreniere — J.T. Miller — Conor Sheary
Juuso Parssinen — Noah Laba– Taylor Raddysh
Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe
Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox
Matthew Robertson — Will Borgen
Carson Soucy — Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Rangers vs. Wild: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Minnesota Wild
When: Monday Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG
More About: New York Rangers News