With just four wins in their last 12 games, the New York Rangers return to the sanctuary of Madison Square Garden looking to put their tales of woe behind them. They will look to do that as they take on the Arizona Coyotes for the second and final time this season. On Military Appreciation night at the Garden, the Blueshirts need the two points as they will go into a tough battle tonight.
When these two teams played at Mullet Arena in Arizona, perhaps better known as the college arena, New York bested the Coyotes. That was one of the four wins the Rangers have in their last dozen games. As the Rangers try to complete the season series sweep over the Arizona Coyotes, this is a game that they should be winning. Arizona is a team trying to rebuild so the Rangers cannot be afford to dropping points.
New York is not expected to change much in the skater core but due to the travel back from Nashville, there’s not exactly been time to pick the mind of head coach Gerard Gallant.. It’s incredibly likely the Rangers turn back to Igor Shesterkin in net tonight. Nothing that is the fault of Jaroslav Halak, but Shesterkin is the Rangers bet goalie and its the second half of a back-to-back in which Halak played the first half.
For the Coyotes, Patrik Nemeth is expected to return to MSG for the first time since his deal was dealt to the desert for the Rangers much needed cap space. While you shouldn’t be expecting a tribute, no one likes being used as a cap dump. He’s going to have a point to prove and he’ll want to show the Rangers up for dumping his deal on the Coyotes. He’s going to be trying to show up the Blueshirts management against his former teammates.
Arizona Coyotes
Clayton Keller – Barrett Hayton – Dylan Guenther
Matias Maccelli – Nick Bjugstad – Lawson Crouse
Nick Ritchie – Jack McBain – Christian Fischer
Liam O’Brien – Travis Boyd – Dysin Mayo
Juuso Valimaki – J.J. Moser
Shayne Gostisbehere – Josh Brown
Patrik Nemeth – Troy Stecher
Connor Ingram
Karel Vejmelka
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Jimmy Vesey
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Julien Gauthier
Alexis Lafreniere – Filip Chytil – Kaapo Kakko
Sammy Blais – Barclay Goodrow – Ryan Reaves
Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Libor Hajek – Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jaroslav Halak
What time & where to watch?
This is a 7 PM Eastern start time for the Rangers at the Garden. As is tradition, ESPN+ and Sportsnet 360 will carry this game if you cannot watch on either Bally Sports Arizona if you want the Coyotes feed. MSG will have the feed for those watching from New York City. There will be a lot to watch for in this game and the Rangers could really use the two points from a team they should be beating.