The New York Rangers technically still have a chance of still making the playoffs, and in order to keep the dream alive they need to win every game left in their season and also hope the Montreal Canadiens lose every game left on their schedule. The Rangers have lost three games in a row (4-0 the New Jersey Devils, 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and 8-5 to the Philadelphia Flyers) and face the New York Islanders for the final time this season.
At this point the only thing the Rangers can control is how they show up and compete in the final games of their season, and with that in mind, here are three storylines to keep an eye on during tonight’s matchup.
Will the Rangers complete the season series sweep?
The Rangers have a 3-0-0 record against the Islanders thus far, and have outscored them by a margin of 14-3. During the 2023-24 campaign, the Rangers finished 3-1-0 against the Islanders, but the margin of victory was much tighter with a total score of 15-13 in favor of the Blueshirts. Put those two seasons together, and the Rangers are 6-1-0 with a plus-13 goal differential. Naturally the Islanders are due, and it seems like fate that universe has provided an opportunity for Islanders to officially eliminate the 2023-24 President’s Trophy winner.
2. Can the Islanders shutdown Artemi Panarin?
This year has been a disappointing one for mostly everyone on the Rangers, and that includes Panarin. He’s well off the torrid pace his average last season, and it appears this is the first full season with the Rangers that he will finish with fewer than 90 points. That said, he’s sitting at 84 points (35 goals and 49 assists) and could still find a way to get there.
Panarin’s been very productive as of late with 25 points over the last 19 (which includes points in 16 of those 19 games) and 32 points in his last 29 games per NHL.com. Since becoming a Ranger, Panarin has posted a line of 11-18-29 in 25 games against the Rangers, and if the Blueshirts want to keep their season alive they’ll need the “Breadman” to keep delivering
3. Marcus Högberg to make start in net for Islanders
Over the past few years these matchups have offered fans the storyline of Igor (Shesterkin) vs. Ilya (Sorokin), but tonight fans will be deprived of that. Shesterkin is taking the net for the Rangers, but Högberg is starting for the Islanders. He’s back in the league this year after a four-year hiatus from the NHL, and has a record of 2-4-2 in 8 games started. He’s posted a line that also includes a .907 save percentage, and a 2.62 goals-against average.
Högberg stopped 6 of 9 shots in relief during the Islanders OT loss against Nashville, and tonight will be his first start since March 30th, which was a loss against the Carolina Hurricanes per Hockey-Reference. The Rangers have been bested by backups before, and Högberg getting the nod tonight is just another interesting wrinkle to consider.