New York Rangers begin Western Canada road trip in Vancouver
The New York Rangers will play three games in four nights starting in Vancouver against the Canucks. They will then travel to Edmonton on Friday for a matchup versus the high-flying Oilers and finish Saturday playing the physical Calgary Flames.
The Rangers are winners of five straight games and riding a seven-game point streak (6-0-1) into Wednesday contest. Meanwhile, the Canucks are reeling with two straight losses and have a 1-3-1 record in their last five matches.
It’s a potential trap game, but the Rangers are excited to get back to work after a three-day layoff.
“We’ve just got to continue to play our game well,” Gerard Gallant said on Monday. “There’s always tough teams, no matter who you’re playing. We’ve got Vancouver then Calgary and Edmonton back-to-back. You can’t worry about what teams we’re playing… We’ve been on a good roll here and you got to keep working hard to keep winning.”
Here’s tonight’s game and broadcast info:
New York Rangers (31-14-8) vs. Vancouver Canucks (21-29-4)
Date/Time: February 15, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Arena: Rogers Arena
TV: MSGSN
Radio: ESPN 1050
New York Rangers on the road vs Canucks
The Rangers kicked off this current road-trip with a 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. It was big night for Artemi Panarin, who rattled off four goals starting late in the second period to finish with a five-point game.
“Four goals, first time in my life,” Panarin said. “I don’t know what happened tonight, so it’s probably my day tonight.”
Panarin, 31, leads the Rangers in scoring with 59 points in 53 games and was given the Broadway Hat by good buddy and new acquisition Vladimir Tarasenko.
This long trip also allowed the team some much needed practice time to help assimilate the aforementioned Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola.
“You know what honestly, I don’t make a big deal about the lines,” Gallant explained. “Mika and Chris have played together a long time but it’s about how we’re playing… If we’re flat, you’re going to make line changes. Coaches are going to do that.”
Tarasenko debuted last Friday against the Seattle Kraken scoring on his first ever shot wearing a Rangers sweater. He played a little less against the Hurricanes but should have a prominent role going forward on the top line and second power play unit.
Igor Shesterkin is expected to get the start in goal for the Rangers tonight and split the back-to-back set with Jaroslav Halak.
In his career against the Canucks, Shesterkin is 1-0-1 with a GAA of 2.94 and a .902 save percentage.
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