While the NHL season is only halfway done, it is officially crunch time for the New York Rangers. New York has played 40 games and sits with a record of 18-20-2; the Blueshirts are currently seventh in the Metropolitan Division and four points out of the second Wild Card spot.
Moreover, the Rangers have reached a crucial stretch in this season where the NHL world will find out a lot about who they are. They started a tough four game slate with the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, which they lost 5-4 in overtime, and tonight, they get another matchup against a top NHL team in the New Jersey Devils.
To say this game is just against a top team would be selling it short: the Rangers and Devils have history and the Hudson River Rivalry always carries more weight. The Devils are currently second in the Metropolitan with 53 points and look like a true contender from top to bottom. The Blueshirts and Devils have met twice this season already, and New Jersey has whalloped them both times, 5-1 and 5-0 respectively.
Thursday night, we are going to find out a lot about what the 2024-2025 New York Rangers are. They have dug a hole that they now have to claw out of, and now face a division rival with a lot of history that has smacked them twice already this season.
To quote Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday: "We're in hell right now, gentlemen ... What are you gonna do?"
Here's four storylines the Rangers need to break on Jan. 9th against New Jersey:
1. Jack Hughes Owns the Rangers
For nearly his entire career, Hughes - the 23-year-old megastar who was also the first pick in the 2019 NHL Draft - has terrorized New York. Currently, he has an 11-game point streak against the Rangers, including two three-point games (each with two goals and one assist) this season.
Last time the Rangers and Devils played, the Prudential Center rubbed salt into the wound by showing a video on the jumbotron of Rangers fans cheering when Jersey drafted Hughes; New York drafted Kaapo Kakko second overall. Kakko is now in Seattle, and Hughes was shown smiling after the video.
He's always able to find space and score against the Rangers, and while New York won't have to deal with a Devils jumbotron tonight, they have to stop No. 86.
2. The Rangers can't Win at Even-Strength vs. New Jersey
Through two games, the Rangers are yet to score an even strength goal, the lone tally being Chris Kreider (who will not play tonight and was a healthy scratch the last time these two met) on the power play. New York has sparingly gotten chances at 5v5 against New Jersey.
If the Rangers want any chance against a fast Devils team, they have to create opportunities at 5v5. But, they cannot sacrifice defense; New Jersey is one of the best odd-man rush teams in hockey and capitalizes a lot.
Tuesday night against Dallas, the Blueshirts gave up too many high-danger chances. That can't happen tonight.
3. The Devils power play has outplayed the Rangers kill; the Rangers' power play can't score
New Jersey boasts the second best power play in the NHL at 28.9%, and in two games against the Rangers this season have scored four power play goals. The Rangers have struggled to stop both New Jersey units and it has made a critical difference in both games.
Moreover, the Rangers kill has not been good lately - it has dropped from second in the NHL to ninth. New York allowed two power play goals against Dallas, two against Washington on Saturday and two against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec 28. In four out of the past five Rangers' losses, they have allowed at least two power play goals; special teams are a core reason for these losses.
On the other side, New York broke a 1-35 power play with a Vincent Trocheck goal in the third period Tuesday night against Dallas. When the Rangers get opportunities, they have to score; they have always been a team that thrives on the man advantage, and it needs to be the case to salvage the season.
4. Matt Rempe is a Dirty Player
Guess who's back? Back again? Matt Rempe.
Last year, Rempe gave the Devils all types of hell, hitting Nathan Bastian and getting ejected from a game. Then, next time they met, New Jersey brought up their goons, and Kurtis MacDermid fought Rempe immediately.
Now, Rempe returns from an eight-game suspension against the perfect opponent. But he needs to play smart.