New York Rangers Host the Young Detroit Red Wings

After seeing their three-game win streak snapped by the Boston Bruins, the Blueshirts will look ahead as they face a young but skillful Detroit Red Wings team (7:00 P.M. ET, MSG).

Rangers	NHL Rankings	Red Wings
6-4-2	Record	6-3-2
16^th	NHL Standing Rank	13^th
25^th	GF/PG	18^th
12^th	GA/PG	13^th
16^th	PP%	19^th
7^th	PK%	6^th

Previous Game

The Blueshirts saw their three-game win streak snapped as they were defeated by the Boston Bruins on home ice on Thursday. The Blueshirts were in another winnable game as they were tied in the third period twice at both 1-1 and 2-2. Ultimately, the Bruins outplayed the Rangers and Boston deservedly got two points. The Rangers got goals from Jimmy Vesey and Adam Fox as they fell 5-2 after Boston’s empty net goal.

Rangers vs Red Wings

The Blueshirts will look to find their goal scoring as they take on the young Detroit Red Wings. New York will be hoping that Filip Chytil is available as they look to continue to find their depth goal scoring. Chytil has played in just six games this season. If the Czech native is available, expect one of Julien Gauthier, Ryan Carpenter, or Ryan Reaves to be a healthy scratch.

Ryan Lindgren is also listed as day-to-day after he took a retaliatory cheap shot from David Pastrnak early in the first period. If Lindgren can’t play, Libor Hajek will enter the lineup. Even if the Rangers wanted to call up a defenseman, they couldn’t do to salary cap restraints and not meeting the qualifications for an emergency call up.

Artemi Panarin has been quiet in recent games. Panarin has been pointless in four of the previous six games.

Chris Kreider has been starting to pick up the offense as he has points in four consecutive games. Kreider scored 50 goals last year but is currently at just nine points and on pace for 30 goals.

Mika Zibanejad also needs to show more at even strength as he currently doesn’t have an even strength goal this season. The Blueshirts are heavily relying on their top-six forwards to provide the scoring. If they continue to struggle, the Blueshirts scoring woes might be long-term.

Detroit enters this game on a three-game losing streak on the road (0-2-1). Like the Rangers, Detroit is missing some key players including Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabbri. Detroit is currently led in scoring by 26-year-old Dylan Larkin and free agent signing Dominik Kubalik. Larkin and Kubalik each currently have 14 points in eleven games.

Another dangerous scoring threat is 20-year-old Lucas Raymond. Raymond was selected 4^th overall in the 2020 draft by Detroit and they are hoping he will be a key player in their top-six for the future. Raymond brings a good shot to go along with a lot of speed. The Swedish native currently has 6 points on the season.

One forward Detroit is missing is 26-year-old Jakub Vrana. Vrana entered a player assistance program design to improve his quality of life. The program is designed to help with mental health, substance abuse including alcohol, and much more. Everyone wants the best for Vrana but he is out of the lineup for an indefinite period of time. Vrana recorded two points in two games this season prior to entering the program.

Making his return to Madison Square Garden is former Ranger Andrew Copp. Copp was acquired by the Rangers from Winnipeg at the trade deadline and was a key player on the Rangers run to the Eastern Conference Final. Copp was in consideration to be brought back as the second line center but the Blueshirts went a different direction and signed Vincent Trocheck.

On the backend, Moritz Seider is the reigning Calder Trophy winner for rookie of the year. Seider is currently struggling for points as he has just three points in eleven games.