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New York Rangers Return to Action at the Pittsburgh Peguins

By Conor Power

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 20: Jonny Brodzinski #76 of the New York Rangers passes the puck as Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends in the third period during the game at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 20: Jonny Brodzinski #76 of the New York Rangers passes the puck as Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends in the third period during the game at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 20: Jonny Brodzinski, #76 of the New York Rangers, passes the puck as Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends in the third period during the game at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 20, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 20: Jonny Brodzinski, #76 of the New York Rangers, passes the puck as Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends in the third period during the game at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 20, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

After seeing their 11-game point streak snapped in a very unconvincing display in Dallas, the New York Rangers get a chance to atone for their mistakes as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. This will be the Rangers’ first trip of the season to PPG Paints Arena in the Steel City, and it will be a chance to prove that the game against the Dallas Stars was nothing more than a minor hiccup.

Artemi Panarin saw his 15-game point streak snapped in that defeat, ending the longest point streak to start a season in franchise history. With the breadman still amassing 26 points in those 16 games, he has been one of the hottest players in the NHL to start this season. He is the beating heart of the Rangers organization right now. Mika Zibanejad is off to a slow start, and Adam Fox is on the shelf, so this franchise lives and dies on Panarin’s shoulders right now.

Igor Shesterkin is another one off to a slow start. His 7-3 record is good, and a .908 save percentage certainly isn’t awful, but it isn’t what we expect from Igor. He’s also been somewhat leaky since returning from an injury he sustained in the game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Perhaps it is just rust, but we must see the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner tighten up for the team’s sake now.

Projected Lineups

Pittsburgh Penguins

Jake Guentzel – Sidney Crosby – Vinnie Hinostroza
Reilly Smith – Evgeni Malkin – Radim Zohorna
Drew O’Connor – Lars Eller – Alex Nylander
Matt Nieto – Noel Acciari – Jeff Carter

Ryan Graves – Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson – Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea – John Ludvig

Tristan Jarry
Alex Nedeljkovic

New York Rangers

Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Blake Wheeler
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle – Nick Bonino – Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey – Barclay Goodrow – Tyler Pitlick

K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren – Erik Gustafsson
Zac Jones – Braden Schneider

Jonathan Quick
Igor Shesterkin

Puck Drop

This is a 7 p.m. Eastern puck drop from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. New York will be looking to return to winning ways at the new igloo. in Pennsylvania. Two points would allow the Rangers to continue to build on their lead at the top of the Metropolitan Divison and against a divisional rival in the Penguins.

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