After nearly completing the first 6-0 comeback in the history of the NHL, the Rangers look to play a complete game against the Calgary Flames (9:00 P.M. ET, MSG).
| Rangers | Ranks | Flames |
| 19-16-4 | Record | 20-17-5 |
| 10th | GF/PG | 25th |
| 27th | GA/PG | 15th |
| 19th | PP% | 18th |
| 24th | PK% | 4th |
New Year’s Eve didn’t go exactly as the Rangers had planned. Eleven seconds into the game the Rangers found themselves trailing and after 35 minutes, the Rangers found themselves down 6-0. During this stretch, everyone on the Rangers was frustrated and disappointed including head coach David Quinn. After not agreeing with Ryan Lindgren receiving two penalties during a scrum after a whistle which led to a power-play goal by the Oilers, Quinn began telling off the official and was issued an unsportsmanlike penalty.
But Quinn’s Rangers did not quit and after scoring a late goal in the second period, the Rangers scored four goals in under twelve minutes and found themselves down by one goal with just under four minutes left. Unfortunately, the comeback fell just short and the Rangers were defeated 7-5. Artemi Panarin registered four points and now has scored the most points in the league since November 6th.
“To have the wherewithal to turn it on the way we did – we showed some things we’re going to need moving forward,” Quinn said. We’ve got to build on that ending and carry that over into Calgary.”
The Rangers will have to move forward and get ready for the Calgary Flames. Calgary’s superstar Johnny Gaudreau has had a poor season according to his standards. Gaudreau has 31 points in 42 games and is a minus eleven. The Salem, NJ native is on pace to match the lowest point total of his career with 61 points. Last season Gaudreau was one-point shy of 100.
David Rittich will likely get the nod for the Flames. Rittich is coming off back-to-back defeats including getting pulled against the Canucks and allowed four goals on 28 shots on New Year’s Eve to the Canucks. But if the Flames turn to their backup goalie, the Rangers will see former Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner Cam Talbot. Talbot has a record of just 3-7 but a save percentage of .915.
Henrik Lundqvist will get the nod for the Rangers. Lundqvist came in relief of Alex Georgiev against the Oilers and stopped all six shots he faced. Lundqvist is coming off a 39 save victory of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Following the conclusion of this road trip that ends in Vancouver on Saturday, the Rangers will return home where they play 10 of their next 13 games on home ice. In the next seven games following their road trip, the Rangers will play five Metropolitan Division opponents; including the Islanders three times in a four-game span prior to the all-star break. This 13-game stretch will play a major factor if the Rangers are sellers at the upcoming trade deadline in February. The Rangers will look to finish this road trip strong before starting a key stretch of games this season.
Projected Lineup
Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Panarin-Strome-Fast
Howden-Chytil-Kakko
Smith-McKegg-Fogarty
Skjei-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Staal-DeAngelo
Lundqvist
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