“He’s one of the coolest guys, one of the coolest Russians I’ve met. Him and his wife are so humble,” Reaves explained on the Cam and Strick podcast.

The forwards were Rangers teammates for only a season-plus. Reaves signed with the Rangers ahead of the 2021-22 season and then was traded to the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 23, 2022. Panarin is set to begin his seventh season in New York after he signed aa a free agent before the 2019-20 season.

Reaves, one of the toughest players in the League, and Panarin, one of the most skilled players in the NHL, made for quite the Odd Couple. But the tough guy from Canada and the star from Russia each has an upbeat, fun-loving side — and they hit it off as Rangers teammates.

“He was a cool kid. He’d come over like after we landed (in Westchester) … from a road trip and we had the day off,” Reaves recounted. “He’d come over like one in the morning; he’d race home and grab a bottle of his Russian vodka, and we’d sit downstairs and take shots of vodka and play basketball at four in the morning. I love ‘Bread’.”

Good thing there were no late-night or early-morning hoops injuries.

It should be noted that Panarin had 96 points (22 goals, 74 assists) in that 2021-22 season, his most until two years later when he notched 120 points (49 goals, 71 assists), second-most in franchise history.

Related: Why bounce back from Rangers top line key to playoff hopes next season

Ryan Reaves recalls being Artemi Panarin’s ‘secretary’ with Rangers

Reaves provided more insight into Panarin with another story he shared.

“[Panarin] doesn’t carry around an iPhone, he’s got a flip phone only because people got to get ahold of him,” Reaves explained. “There’s an app we’d get our schedule on and this guy doesn’t have this app, so every day I gotta text him ‘Hey, we’ve got a meeting’ or ‘I’m picking you up.’ Whatever it was. But it was constant, like I was his secretary.”

Reaves, who turns 39 in January, was traded to the San Jose Sharks by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday and is entering the final season of a three-year contract. He appeared in 35 games for the Leafs last season, and this could be his final go-round in the NHL. He enters 2025-26 with 137 points (63 goals, 74 assists) and 1,100 penalty minutes in 912 games. The Sharks will be his seventh NHL team.

Panarin has been the Rangers’ top scorer for six straight seasons, including this past one when he finished with 89 points (37 goals, 52 assists) in 80 games. The best free-agent signing in franchise history, Panarin turns 34 on Oct. 30 and has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1. Rangers general manager Chris Drury recently sidestepped a question about Panarin’s future with the organization.

Adam and Tate fired up the crowd, with the former Norris Trophy winner lifting his wife in the air, singing Swift’s early-career hit with a live band playing at their New York reception. In a separate Instagram post from the wedding, the couple are seated in separate chairs and lifted into the air by wedding guests.

Congrats to Adam Fox and his wife Tate on getting married this weekend! 💙

(via IG/taterosegreen) pic.twitter.com/VtvpnlJHkH

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) July 8, 2024

The pair married after a long relationship. Each was a star athlete at Harvard University, Tate a lacrosse player and Adam, well, you know. Tate is the daughter of former NFL player, TV broadcaster, lawyer and author Tim Green, who has battled ALS since 2018.

She wore a long flowing white gown and he wore a black tuxedo for the ceremony, but later switched — ahem — uniforms for a cream-colored jacket over black trousers.

By time he and Tate were filmed “harmonizing” on the Swift song, Fox had already ditched his jacket and bow tie.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laura Rose Weddings (@lauraroseweddings)

Related: Matt Rempe taking fighting lessons from former NHL heavyweight

Current, former Rangers attend Adam Fox’s wedding

Many of Fox’s current and former teammates were on hand for the festivities. Perhaps none drew more attention than former Rangers enforcer Ryan Reaves, who currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Reaves was photographed shirtless at the reception, part of a social media post that also included his recent meet-up with famed rapper Snoop Dogg.

Ryan Reaves is having a heck of a summer pic.twitter.com/kHuOs9kb2D

— katie | formerly @itsmitchmarney (@katieonleafstwt) July 9, 2024

In another photo, Reaves is posing next to former Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow, each with a stem of a rose in his mouth.

No word as to where Adam and Tate are honeymooning. But rest assured the 26-year-old alternate captain will be back in training soon enough before training camp opens in September and the Rangers quest for their first Stanley Cup title in 31 years begins in October.

Not only did it free up $3.6 million in salary cap space the next three seasons for the Rangers, but Goodrow was the last remaining piece from Chris Drury’s first offseason as general manager of the Blueshirts.

After several seasons in the organization as the assistant general manager, Drury was appointed as the president and general manager of the Rangers on May 5, 2021, replacing John Davidson and Jeff Gorton, who were let go by the organization.

Drury took over with two games left in a disappointing 2020-21 season, when the Rangers failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a 56-game shortened regular season, finishing fifth in the Metropolitan Division with a 27-23-6 record.

Four days after the season ended, he fired coach David Quinn and soon after replaced him with Gerard Gallant. Overseeing his first NHL Draft in 2021, Drury and the Rangers selected forward Brennan Othmann No. 16 overall in the first round. Though the rest of that draft class has yet to impress, Othmann could have a regular role with the Rangers in 2024-25.

Sparked by an incident against the Washington Capitals on May 3 when Tom Wilson cross-checked Pavel Buchnevich and rag-dolled Artemi Panarin, Drury entered the offseason motivated to make the team bigger and tougher.

Tom Wilson gets two roughing minors, plus a 10 minute misconduct. Artemiy Panarin is called for roughing, as is Pavel Buchnevich. pic.twitter.com/ExNO73eFhA

— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) May 4, 2021

Drury’s major offseason moves included signing defenseman Patrik Nemeth, trading for forward Ryan Reaves, and acquiring Barclay Goodrow’s RFA rights in order to sign him to a six-year, $3.6 million contract before he hit free agency.

Related: Future uncertain for these two Rangers defensemen

Breaking down Chris Drury’s first offseason as Rangers GM in 2021

Perhaps the most memorable move, unfortunately for Drury, was trading Buchnevich, who was due for a new RFA deal, to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Sammy Blais and a second-round pick that Drury later used to acquire forward Andrew Copp.

Drury engaged in heavy trade talks with the Buffalo Sabres to acquire Jack Eichel, but was unwilling to give up Alexis Lafreniere or Kaapo Kakko. The Rangers stood pat and Eichel was shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Goodrow was ultimately the most valuable piece from Drury’s first offseason, but now that he’s been claimed, no players acquired in the 2021 offseason remain on the roster.

Nemeth’s three-year, $7.5 million contract was an absolute failure. He lasted just one season in New York and posted a minus-nine rating. Drury had to attach a pair of second-round picks the following offseason in order to trade him to the Arizona Coyotes and get his contract off the books.

The Buchnevich trade is now looked upon as a total disaster, though it was believed to be somewhat necessary at the time because of New U=York’s salary cap situation. Blais played just 54 games with the Blueshirts due to injury and recorded nine points, never scoring a goal. He was ultimately shipped back to St. Louis midway through the 2022-23 season as part of a package for forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola. That worked out much better for New York.

Similarly, the second-rounder in that deal was flipped in a package for Copp midway through the 2021-22 season. Copp was excellent in the postseason and a big part of the Rangers reaching the Eastern Conference Final, though they fell short against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Copp, Tarasenko, and Mikkola all left in free agency after half-seasons in New York, leaving the Rangers with no remaining ties to Buchnevich, who has tallied between 63 and 76 points in his three seasons with the Blues. Not to mention that the Rangers have yet to adequately replace him as the right wing on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

Reaves’ toughness, personality, and skillset as a fighter was a welcome addition to a Rangers team that needed more of that going into Drury’s first season. Reaves was a beloved teammate, but his lack of skill and defensive ability, while making $1.75 million annually, became a detriment and he was shipped to the Minnesota Wild early into the 2022-23 season.

Even his coaching hire, Gallant, was fired after just two seasons. Gallant did lead the Rangers to back-to-back 100-point seasons and an Eastern Conference Final appearance, but he fell out of favor with management and the clubhouse and left New York on sour terms.

That left Goodrow as the final piece standing. Overpaid for his fourth-line and penalty-killing role, Goodrow had 33 and 31 points in his first two seasons in New York, the two highest marks of his career, and was reliable in the postseason.

While his experience and skillset were definitely valuable, it looks as if Drury paid too steep of a price for a bottom-six player. The decision to place Goodrow on waivers and clear his cap hit certainly supports that.

It’s safe to say Drury didn’t knock it out of the park when he first took over. But for what it’s worth, he showed his value ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, making substantial additions by acquiring Copp, Frank Vatrano, Tyler Motte, and Justin Braun. Despite a couple swings and misses early, the Rangers made the conference final in Drury’s first season.

In the midst of his fourth offseason, the pressure is on with the Blueshirts failing to reach the Stanley Cup Final once again. Drury’s become a well respected GM in the League, but his tenure in New York could be defined by the way he attacks the next few seasons.

“He’s seems to be a really nice, humble kid,” Reaves said about their conversation in the penalty box after the fight. “He talked about how the media really pumped it up with two Original Six teams going at it. It was cool because it shows fighting isn’t dead and people get amped up for it.”

Per the website HockeyFights, Rempe was voted the winner by a 41% to 38% margin. A little over 20% saw it as a draw.

Related: Former NHL Enforcers hyped over Rempe

Ryan Reaves compliments Matt Rempe

The 37-year-old veteran, who was sporting a big bruise on his face courtesy of a big Rempe right hand, called him the biggest guy he’s ever fought.

“That’s a big boy,” Reaves exclaimed. “He’s gonna be a menace in this League.”

Rempe tips the scales at 6-foot-8 and 241 pounds. A sizable advantage over Reaves, who is no small guy at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds.

Meanwhile, the crowd-electrifying 21-year-old was throwing more than fists at Reaves on Monday after practice.

“That guy is a legend,” he told Mollie Walker of the NY Post. “That guy has been one of the most feared men in the league for 15 years.”

The Rangers lost in a shootout to the Maple Leafs 4-3.

Took them till late in the third but 75 and 73 finally went at it. 👊 pic.twitter.com/5o21OEl7op

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 3, 2024

The two combatants had a lengthy fight with Rempe wisely using his reach to keep Reaves at distance. From the onset, Rempe used his left hand to grab the front of the 37-year-old seasoned veteran’s jersey. When he couldn’t ensure connecting with a huge right, Rempe delivered a series of rabbit punches to Reaves’ chin and also avoided taking a big shot to his already bruised faced.

Reaves and Rempe drop em' 🥊 pic.twitter.com/NvvmDiyzYI

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 3, 2024

In his three previous fights, Rempe’s sheer size (6-foot-8) and strength overpowered his opponents. However, in his last altercation against Columbus’ Mathieu Olivier, he was wobbled by a much smaller fighter, as he allowed him to get in tight.

Former NHL enforcer John Scott, who played 286 NHL games over eight seasons with seven teams, including six games with the Rangers in 2011-12, had some advice for Rempe after that bout.

“His grab hand (left) is the main problem, as he’s getting tagged by small guys consistently and he shouldn’t be,” Scott, who is also 6-foot-8 told Forever Blueshirts. “To take advantage of his height, he needs to grab the other guy by the neck. He’s been grabbing them on the outside shoulder of their right arm for some reason. If he gets that grip initially, he will have a much easier time.”

According to ESPN, Rempe and Scott connected via social media and it appears the kid listened.

Related: Rangers needed more than one line to score in Toronto

Matt Rempe receives praise

After the battle between Rempe and Reaves, which was also the featured game on Hockey Night In Canada, Scott was pleased. Not just because of how Rempe heeded his instruction, but also because of the timing when the rookie decided to go.

Late in the third period with the Rangers down 3-2 to the Maple Leafs, the 21-year-old looked over to his bench and received the seal of approval to drop the gloves. Whether you believe in it or not, the Rangers tied the game soon afterwards.

“The kid is a gamer,” Scott said on X. “Used his reach, threw less but more effective punches. Great fight by both guys. And the Rangers score to tie! What a result for Rempe.”

From the ice to the penalty box, the Rangers were fired up to send the game to OT. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/kXbmBZcL81

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 3, 2024

Another well known former NHL heavyweight even felt Rempe edged Reaves in the bout. Georges Laraque played 695 games over 12 years and amassed 1,126 penalty minutes.

“Impressive fight by the young rookie in Toronto,” Laraque stated. “Edge Rempe, good job!!!”

Max Domi, who’s father Tie is considered one of the all-time great fighters even had some kind words for his opponent.

“Respect to that kid,” Domi praised. “Reavo is the toughest guy in the League. For him to hang in like that, all the credit to him.”

Of course, fighting Reaves wasn’t the only thing Rempe did. He played a very physical game and delivered a bone-crushing hit to Leafs’ defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, knocking him out of the game.

Rempe catches Lyubushkin with a big hit. 😳 pic.twitter.com/zlAnvaJ5wL

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 3, 2024

Toronto’s head coach Sheldon Keefe claimed Rempe left his feet, but it appears that at the point of contact, they were firmly on the ground. On the other hand, there is a case for a charge.

No word yet if the League intends to look at the hit.

Late in the third period with the Rangers down 3-2, and after Rempe knocked Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin out of the game with crushing hit, Reaves got what he wanted.

The two big guys had a lengthy bout with Rempe wisely using his reach to keep Reaves at distance. Both players got their licks in with the fight most likely a draw.

Reaves and Rempe drop em' 🥊 pic.twitter.com/NvvmDiyzYI

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 3, 2024

This season, the 37 year-old Reaves has seen limited action playing in just 32 games. However, he’s managed to get into three fights and picked up 29 penalty minutes in the process. All things considered, those are pretty low stats for a bruiser with a career total of 1052 penalty minutes in 860 games over 14 years.

Latest: New York Rangers trade tiers

Matt Rempe vs Ryan Reaves

Coming into the matchup, it felt like two Main Events were on the card with both teams considered Stanley Cup contenders. However, Rempe has taken the league by storm with his sheer size at 6-foot-8 and three bombastic fights in his brief NHL career. So when Reaves, a veteran enforcer and former Ranger was asked about the kid on Friday, his comments hinted at a possible tussle.

“I don’t have the game script, but you never know,” Reaves smirked. “He’s got some attention– see how long it lasts.”

Meanwhile, prior to the game, head coach Peter Laviolette focused on the other things Rempe has done well since joining the team.

“He’s had a positive impact on our team,” Laviolette praised. “He skates well and has been physical. He’s created some offense. Him and his line have chipped in some goals. So, he’s done a good job.”

Rempe, 21, has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) with 32 penalty minutes before tonight’s contest.

It’s a heavyweight battle between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, as both are considered Stanley Cup contenders this season. However, there’s also the possibility that former Rangers enforcer Ryan Reaves may look to give it a go with rookie Matt Rempe. At Leafs’ practice on Friday, he made some interesting comments regarding the hype surrounding Rempe, who has taken the League by storm with his bombastic fights.

“Good on him,” Reaves remarked, “He’s got some attention … see how long it lasts.”

Whether or not these two big guys throw down remains to be seen. In the Rangers last game, Rempe avoided a rematch with Columbus’ Mathieu Olivier, who wobbled him pretty good leaving a black eye for a keepsake. Instead, he played a solid fourth-line role and helped the Blueshirts beat the Blue Jackets 4-1.

The 21-year-old has had three fights in six NHL games to date, all of them were discussed during pre-game warmups. Will that be the case again or will Reaves try a run a Ranger forcing Rempe to defend a teammate?

“I don’t have the game script, but you never know,” Reaves said with a smile.

Here’s today’s game and broadcast info:

New York Rangers (40-17-3) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (34-17-6)
Date/Time: March 2, 2024 @ 7:00 PM ET
Arena: Scotiabank Arena
TV: MSG
Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM

Note: Subject to change, updated for each game

Related: Former NHL enforcer John Scott has some advice for Matt Rempe

New York Rangers projected lineup

Here’s the expected lineup versus the Flyers:

Kreider – Zibanejad – Kakko
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Brodzinski – Vesey
Edstrom – Goodrow – Rempe

Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Gustafsson – Schneider

Shesterkin
Quick

Note: The Rangers will hold a morning skate at 11:30 a.m. ET as Scotiabank Arena. Peter Laviolette is expected to address the media at that time. Check back here for updates.

New York Rangers vs Toronto Maple Leafs

The Rangers’ 83 points remains the best in the Metropolitan Division, giving them a five point cushion over the second-place Carolina Hurricanes. Overall, the Rangers are one point behind the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins for the Presidents’ Trophy.

New York closed out the month of February with a 10-1-0 record earning their 40th win of the season in their last contest. By hitting that mark in game number 60, they tie the 1972-73 squad for the fewest games needed to reach that milestone.

On Friday, Igor Shesterkin was named the NHL’s Third Star for the Month of February after going 7-0-0 with a 1.72 GAA and a .953 save percentage.

As for the Maple Leafs, they sit third in the Atlantic Division and fifth overall in the Eastern Conference. One thing is certain, coach Peter Laviolette knows this is going to be a tough match up.

“I think they’ve only lost a couple of games in their last 10,” he said. “They’re finding ways to win. So it will be good to go up there and test ourselves.”

Toronto is 8-2-0 in their last 10 contests to set up a major battle between two heavyweights.

And it should also be a good hockey game (wink-wink).

Upcoming Rangers Milestones

• Jonathan Quick is 1 win away from tying Dominik Hasek (389) for 15th all-time
• K’Andre Miller is 2 points away from 100 career points

And in a calm, confident way, Reaves set the stage for an expected battle with the Rangers rookie in the Hockey Night in Canada showcase.

“I don’t have the game script, but you never know,” Reaves said with a smirk and more than a little cockiness when asked Friday if he expected to fight Rempe.

Reaves added some snark, as well.

“Good on him. He’s got some attention … see how long it lasts.”

Related: Rangers sign Connor Mackey to two-year contract

Matt Rempe, Ryan Reaves could take center stage when Rangers visit Maple Leafs

Reaves has earned the right to be dismissive, if that’s the right word. He’s taken on all comers over his 14 NHL seasons, including a season-plus with the Rangers. 

The 37-year-old is not flustered at all that Rempe is building a quick reputation and likely will be eager to go Saturday. Just as Rempe was against Islanders forward Matt Martin on his first NHL shift outdoors in front of 79,600 fans at MetLife Stadium.

“He’s coming into the League trying to make a name for himself anyway he can,” Reaves said. “That’s how I came in (with the St. Louis Blues in 2010-11). I wasn’t called up to add scoring touch for sure. It was to be physical, stick up for teammates … I kind of came into the League the same way.”

Matt Rempe couldn’t help but smile when he heard the ovation from #NYR fans as he was shown stretching at the red line.

Kids enjoying every second of this. pic.twitter.com/M40NsScwE4

— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) February 28, 2024

Reaves has 1,052 penalty minutes in 860 NHL games. He’s been there, done that, time and again.

Rempe has three fights and 32 penalty minutes in his first six games since being recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League. He’s being noticed around the League after his wild fights with Martin, Nicolas Deslauriers (Philadelphia Flyers) and Mathieu Olivier (Columbus Blue Jackets).

“It’s been a hot start for him, a good start,” Reaves said of Rempe, who also has scored a goal and added an assist playing on New York’s fourth line.

Rempe will have a distinct height advantage against Reaves if they drop the gloves Saturday, as expected. The 21-year-old is listed at 6-foot-7, though claims to be an inch and a half taller than that. Reaves is 6-foot-2.

“You can’t get strung out by him, for sure,” Reaves explained. “You have to try and stay a little inside because you’ve got to be able to reach him. I’ve got long arms but not 6-foot-7 long … not something I’ve never dealt with.”

So, just days after Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Rempe needs to stay out of the penalty box in order to develop more as an NHL player, it’s more than likely he’ll be filling the sin bin for at least five minutes after encountering Reaves at Scotiabank Arena this weekend. 

This is his first trip back after being traded for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 Draft back on November 23. However, Reavo wanted to make a couple of things clear including a report saying that he asked for a trade.

Ryan Reaves on trade request

Per the NY Post’s Mollie Walker, Reaves claims that the request for a trade is a “half truth, half lie,” and that the trade was in the works for awhile. Apparently, once he knew about a deal to the Wild, he gave it his blessing.

The report Reaves is referencing appeared in the NY Post the day of the trade to Minnesota and stated:

Reaves’ agent, Kevin Epp, asked Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury for a trade while the team was in Los Angeles earlier this week, according to a source. The Rangers wanted to give Reaves a dignified departure, so reuniting him with Wild general manager Bill Guerin, whom the veteran winger knows from his days in Pittsburgh, was a way to do it.

After the trade, Reaves appeared on the Minnesota Wild’s talk show ‘Wild on 7th’ and explained how the deal came about.

“My wife sent me an article that the Rangers were looking to dump my salary,” Reaves said. “So I approached [Chris Drury] and asked if there was any truth behind this. We went back and forth and I said listen, ‘Am I gonna play? I’m getting older and I want a contract next year.’ I’m not going to get one if I’m not playing and we came to the decision that if I’m not playing I’ve got to get out of here. Basically I got a call from Billy (Guerin) and here I am.”

Trade details aside, when the puck drops tonight all previous friendships will go out the door. When asked about possibly dropping the gloves with any of his former teammates, Reavo wasn’t bashful to respond.

“I’d be happy to go 2-on-1, to be honest,” Reaves said via Mollie Walker. “That’s what it’s gonna take. You can write that wherever you want to write it.”

One thing for sure, Reaves will be on the ice looking for big hits. Something his good friend Barclay Goodrow is aware of.

“You have to keep your head up out there since he’s going to be looking for a hit,” Goodrow noted. “Whenever you go back to play a former team, especially for the first time, he’s going to be jacked up. His juices will be flowing, so we’ll try and match that to pick up two points.”

Reaves, 35, played a total 81 regular season games on Broadway in a little over one season registering 5 goals and 13 points with 55 penalty minutes. He also picked up 5 fighting majors in a Rangers uniform. Unfortunately for him, the Rangers were looking for more speed and cap space in the lineup leading to Reaves being scratched in 7 of 8 games before the trade.

Updates: You can read Ryan Reaves’ full quotes on the matter in Mollie Walker’s latest for the NY Post in the link below.

“I think I’ve always been honest with my game and with myself to management and coaches,” he said. “For something like that to be going on and not communicated to me, it was a little frustrating. Left a little bitter taste in my mouth, for sure.”

Ryan Reaves, via NY Post

Prior to the game, Gerard Gallant was asked about Reaves’ comments and said he was “surprised” but what was said regarding communication.

Gerard Gallant said he was "surprised" to hear Ryan Reaves suggest there could have been better communication on his role & standing when he was on the Rangers before getting traded pic.twitter.com/CuPAOtOogi

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 10, 2023

NHL News and Rumors

NHL Recaps. All the latest scores here.

Things are Kraken in Seattle. Read more.

NHL Rumors: Bo Horvat a Kraken trade target? Read more.

Flyers bench boss John Tortorella rips the NHL All Star Game. Read more.

On Monday, head coach Gerard Gallant was asked about the man affectionately known as Reavo.

“I hope he doesn’t play well,” Gallant said with a chuckle. “He’s been with me a long time in Vegas and here. He’s a guy I respect and like a lot. Hopefully he plays well and we win by a goal or two.”

Barclay Goodrow, who became very close with Reaves knows his former teammate is not going to hold back when it comes to his usual brand of physical play.

“You have to keep your head up out there since he’s going to be looking for a hit,” Goodrow noted. “Whenever you go back to play a former team, especially for the first time, he’s going to be jacked up. His juices will be flowing, so we’ll try and match that to pick up two points.”

Here’s tonight’s game and broadcast info:

New York Rangers (22-12-7) vs. Minnesota Wild (22-14-3)
Date/Time: January 10, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Arena: Madison Square Garden
TV: MSG
Radio: ESPN 98.7

New York Rangers take on Wild

The Blueshirts are coming off a disappointing 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, where they blew a two-goal lead in the third period.

Despite the upsetting performance, they have now earned points in five straight contests (3-0-2) and are on an 11-2-2 run since the ‘Trouba Helmet Toss’ game (5-2 loss to Chicago at home on Dec 3).

“I feel like we’re a more confident group now than we were, whatever it was, 20 games ago,” Captain Jacob Trouba said. “We’re playing better hockey… I think as a team we’re more confident and playing with more togetherness.”

Per multiple reports from practice, it appears Jonny Brodzinski will get back into the lineup. He’ll play alongside Goodrow and Julien Gauthier with Sammy Blais being a healthy scratch.

Igor Shesterkin should also be back in net for this matchup. His career record against the Wild is 1-1-0, with a GAA of 3.04 and a .914 save percentage.

Jaroslav Halak did not practice with the team due to illness but is expected to be available as the backup.

Wild playing solid hockey

The Wild lost their last game as well, to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday in overtime.

They’ll be looking to bounce back and find a way to win more consistently. Since Reaves joined the lineup on November 25, Minnesota is 13-6-1, but their played has dipped going 3-3-1 in the last 7 games.

While there’s a lot of attention on Reaves playing his first game against the Rangers since the trade, Mats Zuccarello is hoping to get back into lineup after missing the last two with a lower-body injury.

If he does suit up, it makes the task of shutting down the Wild much harder. Zuccarello is second on the team in scoring with 40 points in 37 games. His linemate is none other than the Wild’s leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov with 48 points in 39 matches.

Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to be in goal and looking to avenge a 7-3 loss to the Rangers earlier in the season. He’s currently 13-8-2 with a GAA of 2.94 and a .901 save percentage.

NHL News and Rumors

NHL Recaps. All the latest scores here.

Things are Kraken in Seattle. Read more.

NHL Rumors: Bo Horvat a Kraken trade target? Read more.