Rangers and Islanders set for outdoor clash at MetLife
The New York Rangers and New York Islanders first tilt of the season is an outdoor clash at MetLife Stadium. On Sunday, the final game of the 2024 Stadium Series will take place at 3:00 p.m. ET in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Saturday night, saw the New Jersey Devils top the Philadelphia Flyers by a 6-3 score to open the festivities in front of 70,000+ fans. Expectations are for that same number of fans to be in attendance as two longtime rivals square off in a highly-anticipated matchup.
“It was the beginning of January and it wasn’t a great month for us,” he said. “That game didn’t go the way we wanted it to on the scoreboard. Their goaltender played a heck of a game that night and we were on the short end of the stick. It’s a chance to right a wrong for us.”
“It’s the first New York verse New York,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s going to be a great game. The history of the Islanders and the Rangers puts an exclamation point on the day.”
Here’s today’s game and broadcast info:
New York Rangers (35-16-3) vs New York Islanders (22-18-13)
Date/Time: February 18, 2024 @ 3:00 PM ET
Arena: MetLife Stadium
TV: ABC, ESPN+
Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Note: Subject to change, updated for each game
Related: Top 10 Games in Rangers vs Islanders history
New York Rangers projected lineup
Rookie Matt Rempe is expected to make his NHL debut, despite coach Peter Laviolette not confirming the lineup. If not, veteran Alex Belzile is the only other option, and it would be his Rangers debut.
Here’s the expected lineup versus the Islanders:
Kreider – Zibanejad – Vesey
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Brodzinski – Kakko
Edstrom – Goodrow – Rempe
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Gustafsson – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Note: Peter Laviolette and select players will address the media beginning at 12:40 p.m. ET. Check back for updates.
New York Rangers vs New York Islanders
The Rangers lead in the Metro Division over the Carolina Hurricanes is at four points (73 to 69). Meanwhile, the Flyers loss to the Devils to open the Stadium Series makes the race for third-place a little more interesting. New Jersey is five points behind Philadelphia (65 to 60) with two games in hand.
New York enters this matchup on a roll with six straight wins, and looking for a season-high seven on a grand outdoor stage. The good news is they have seven players with experience playing outside. Artemi Panarin (2x), Chris Kreider (2x), Erik Gustafsson (3x), Jimmy Vesey (1x), Jonathan Quick (3x), Mika Zibanejad (2x), and Blake Wheeler, (3x) who is sadly out for the season, have all played felt the bitter cold.
For coach Peter Laviolette, this will be his fifth time coaching an outdoor contest. He’ll be looking for his first win, entering with an 0-3-1 record outside. That includes the 2012 Winter Classic against a heroic Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers, who won 3-2.
If Matt Rempe does play, he’ll be the first player in NHL history to make his debut in an outdoor game.
In their history, the Blueshirts are 4-0-0 in outdoor games, and are seeking to be the first NHL team to get five wins playing outside.
Looking across the way, the Islanders come into the matchup on a slide losing two straight (0-1-1). Since Patrick Roy took over as their head coach, they’ve gone 3-3-2. However, past experience will tell you, streaks and standings mean nothing when these two team meet.
Expect fireworks.
Upcoming Rangers Milestones
- Jonathan Quick is 1 win away from tying Dominik Hasek (389) for 15th all-time
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