The 2025-26 season continues to be a slow one for the New York Rangers, with a 6-6-2 record and a last place standing in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers are on the road tonight, and this evening's game just got a bit more special with the latest breaking news courtesy of Mike Sullivan.
#NYR Jaroslav Chmelař will make his NHL debut tonight, per Mike Sullivan.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) November 7, 2025
The Blueshirts currently sits right at the .500 mark and are about as bad as their in-state rivals over in Long Island who they face on Saturday. The most recent lineup adjustment, placing Will Cuylle at the top of the power play line in favor of Alexis Lafrenière is the team's latest experiment to try and get back on track. Now a visit to Detroit, the second place team in the Atlantic, is next on the Rangers' dinner plate.
How to watch New York Rangers vs. Detroit Red Wings
When: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Little Caesars Arena
TV and Streaming: MSG, Gotham Sports App
Radio: ESPN New York, 98.7 FM
New York has averaged just two goals per game this season, second last in the league, just ahead of the Calgary Flames, who are also last in their own division, the Pacific. The Rangers have scored 31 goals this season while allowing 34, which is the second fewest amount of goals conceded behind Washington, so there's at least one bright spot.
But New York also currently has the league's lowest shooting percentage, as they're just not getting pucks to the net in enough opportunities. And even when they do, it's still not much, evidenced by the earlier-mentioned low goals per game output. In the last 10 games, the Rangers are 4-4-2 and yet to record a shutout at home this season, while they've suffered at least three of those, including Wednesday night's 3-0 home defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Speaking of home, the Rangers are the only team in the league this season yet to even win a game at home. The next closest team in that category are the Los Angeles Kings, posting a 1-3-2 record at Crypto.com Arena, and they're halfway in the Pacific Division standings in fourth. New York has a 0-5-1 record at The Garden this season, and remember the number of goals per game they have? They've also allowed about as much.
Meanwhile, the Red Wings rank 16th in league scoring, posting a three goals per game average to put them in the middle of the NHL. Their goals scored compared to goals allowed is also vastly different than New York's, scoring the 21st most and allowing the 15th most goals per game. Detroit is also looking for a shutout win this season, and they hold a 6-4-0 record over their last 10 games. The amount of points earned with a record like that of an 82-game regular season is about 80% worth, while the Rangers have only collected 40% of the points they could gain this season so far.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
Artemi Panarin -- Mika Zibanejad -- Taylor Raddysh
Will Cuylle -- J.T. Miller -- Alexis Lafrenière
Conor Sheary -- Noah Laba -- Jonny Brodzinski
Juuso Pärssinen -- Sam Carrick -- Jaroslav Chmelař
Vladislav Gavrikov -- Adam Fox
Carson Soucy -- Will Borgen
Matthew Robertson -- Braden Schneider
Jonathan Quick
Detroit Red Wings
Emmitt Finnie -- Dylan Larkin -- Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat -- Marco Kasper -- Patrick Kane
Andrew Copp -- J.T. Compher -- Mason Appleton
Elmer Söderblom -- Michael Rasmussen -- James van Riemsdyk
Simon Edvinson -- Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot -- Axel Sandin-Pellinka
Albert Johansson -- Travis Hamonic
Cam Talbot
Players to watch
For this evening's contest, players to watch include Adam Fox, who's tallied three goals and eight assists so far for the Blueshirts, and J.T. Miller, who has eight points after potting three goals and five assists, including an overtime winner in Edmonton against one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
Igor Shesterkin has also continued to be a moderate goaltender, with a .915 save percentage (13th in the NHL) and has a 4-5-2 record between the pipes this season. The Rangers' injury report lists Vincent Trocheck, even though he was seen at practice in a non contact jersey, indicating a possible return after the road trip. Matt Rempe is on injured reserve, and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen is dealing with a lower-body injury.