The New York Rangers have lost two games in regulation for the first time this season. It’s the perfect time for them to play the worst team in the NHL. Beware.
The Rangers will play the second of back-to-back games in Arizona, taking on the Coyotes. How bad are they? They have 12 points, the fewest in the NHL. They’ve won five games, the fewest in the NHL. They have scored 48 goals in 27 games an average of 1.78 goals per game, lowest in the NHL. They have allowed 101 goals, second most in the NHL for an average of 3.67, the worst in the NHL. Their power play is second worst at 12.1% and their penalty killing percentage of 71.9% is fourth worst in the league.
They have lost seven of their last eight games, allowing 32 goals while scoring 14. In their five win that have beaten Winnipeg, Los Angeles, Detroit, Seattle and St. Louis. The Rangers don’t want to join that list.
The Rangers haven’t played the Coyotes in Arizona since January 2019. That game was a disaster with the Rangers losing 5-0. The last game between the two teams was in October 19, a 3-2 loss in overtime. Only seven Coyotes are left from that team. Tonight, eight Rangers will play who also were in action in that game.
The Rangers are 0-1-2 in their last three games against Arizona. Before that, the Blueshirts had beaten the Coyotes nine straight games.
Projected lineups
All signs are that Keith Kinkaid will get the start. Lifetime against Arizona he is 1-2 in three games with a .877 save percentage (Sv%) and 3.33 goals against average (GAA). Kinkaid will have to shake off some rust. He hasn’t played in a game since November 26 with Hartford. He was sidelined by a bout with COVID and after being cleared to play, he has been on the bench for three games with the Rangers.
With the Wolf Pack he was 9-1-1 with a .916 Sv% and a 2.59 GAA. He appeared in nine games with the Rangers last season. If Kinkaid starts, it will be first time the Rangers have given four different goalies starts in the same season since 2009-10. Four different goalies played for the Rangers in 2017-18, but one, Brandon Halverson, made his only appearance in relief.
NEW YORK RANGERS
20 Kreider – 93 Zibanejad – 24 Kakko
10 Panarin – 16 Strome – 29 Hunt
13 Lafrenière– 72 Chytil– 15 Gauthier
17 Rooney – 21 Goodrow– 75 Reaves
55 Lindgren – 23 Fox
79 Miller – 8 Trouba
25 Hajek – 12 Nemeth
72 Kinkaid
40 Georgiev
ARIZONA COYOTES
9 Clayton Keller – 72 Travis Boyd – 81 Phil Kessel
67 Lawson Crouse – 8 Nick Schmaltz – 36 Christian Fischer
26 Antoine Roussel – 29 Barrett Hayton – 21 Loui Eriksson
16 Andrew Ladd – 17 Alex Galchenyuk – 38 Liam O’Brien
14 Shayne Gostisbehere – 61 Dysin Mayo
75 Kyle Capobianco – 46 Ilya Lyubushkin
54 Cam Dineen – 62 Janis Moser
31 Scott Wedgewood
70 Karel Vejmelka
Scott Wedgewood will be in goal for the Coyotes. He was a waiver claim from the Devils in November and since joining them he has a 3-6-1 record with a 2.91 GAA and .912 Sv%. This will be his first appearance against the Rangers. He was a teammate of Keith Kinkaid with the Devils in 2015-16.
How to watch and the live conversation
The game will start at 9pm EST and will be televised on the MSG Network. The national telecast will be on ESPN+. The radio call will be on ESPN 98.7FM.
Blue Line Station’s live conversation will be up throughout the game and will give you the opportunity to share your opinions about your favorite hockey team and the game. The live thread is open now.