New York Rangers set for home opener against Coyotes
The New York Rangers will host the Arizona Coyotes looking to improve on their 40-39-14-3 all-time record in home openers.
Madison Square Garden last saw a hockey game during the playoffs on April 29, when the New York Rangers forced a Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils with a 5-2 win. Unfortunately, the team laid an egg the very next game and were eliminated.
The Rangers come into this contest after a tough 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday that featured 3 disallowed goals. Meanwhile, their opponent for tonight, actually opened the season with a shootout win over those same Devils and will look to stay unbeaten. Overall, the Rangers have a lifetime record of 51-26-6-2 versus the Coyotes and have earned a point in 15 of the last 16 meetings.
Here’s tonight’s game and broadcast info:
New York Rangers (1-1-0) vs. Arizona Coyotes (1-0-0)
- Date/Time: October 16, 2023 @ 7:00 PM ET
- Arena: Madison Square Garden
- TV: MSG
- Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Note: Subject to change, updated for each game
Related: New York Rangers lose to Columbus
New York Rangers Projected lineup
Updated
Per multiple reports, the Rangers lines at the morning skate are as follows:
Kreider – Zibanejad – Kakko
Panarin – Chytil – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Trocheck – Wheeler
Goodrow – Bonino – Pitlick
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Gustafsson – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Defenseman Ryan Lindgren missed the last game (5-3 loss to Columbus) due to an upper-body injury. The Rangers will hold a morning skate at 10:30 a.m. ET, which should better indicate the final lineup.
Update: Ryan Lindren is a game-time decision
New York Rangers vs Arizona Coyotes
Madison Square Garden was a fun place to be in 2022-23 for the Blueshirts, who posted a 23-13-5 record on home ice.
The team will look to continue their dominance at the Garden, but will have to execute defensively as they did to start the season in Buffalo last Thursday. In that 5-1 win over the Sabres, the Rangers were sharp in all three zones for 60 minutes. However, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, they suffered several defensive lapses leading to a 5-3 loss.
“It wasn’t a volume of defensive things, but there were some issues that could’ve been better,” coach Peter Laviolette said. There were some odd man rushes I didn’t like and some [bad habits] that snuck in there that we’ve got to take out.”
His words were echoed by the Rangers captain, Jacob Trouba, who has 10 blocks after 2 games this season.
“We got looser as the game went on,” Trouba explained. “We’re building trust in our game. The first game we liked a lot, but [in Columbus] we saw things we can clean up. We’re still learning [this system] and we’ll get more comfortable as we go.”
One player the team will look to lead the way is Chris Kreider. The current longest-tenured member of the Blueshirts is off to a hot start with 3 goals and 4 points in 2 games. Historically, Kreider has 11 goals lifetime versus the Yotes.
“We gave up a few too many chances, and they capitalized,” Kreider said Saturday. “The process is good, but we can’t get impatient.”
New York will also get their first look at the Yotes impressive rookie, Logan Cooley. The third overall pick in the 2022 draft recorded two assists in his first NHL game and is someone the Rangers will have to mark closely along with Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller.
Check back in for updates leading all the way up to puck drop beginning after the Rangers morning skate.
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