The New York Rangers had a chance to pick up some momentum over the past few days, hosting a back-to-back at Madison Square Garden against two below-500 teams in the Seattle Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks. Instead, the Blueshirts lost both matchups and have now lost eight out of their last 10.
Not only were the Rangers beaten, they were outplayed, outskated and outworked in the majority of the two games. While two extremely different affairs - one with 12 combined goals and the other with three - the result was the same.
Wednesday night, the Rangers can get back in the win column against another reeling team, the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo (11-13-4) has lost seven straight games, and both teams are desperately looking for a win.
The Rangers need a bunch of different units to start clicking if they want to turn around their season. Here's three in particular that need to get going tonight.
1. Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith
In the past 10 games, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith have combined for four goals. Last time out against the Blackhawks, Zibanejad made a crucial turnover which led to Chicago's first goal.
Over the summer, one of the major concerns for the Rangers was who they could plug with Zibanejad and Kreider to get them going. Smith - who New York traded for from Pittsburgh - has not been the solution so far, but there have been some games where he's played well. This is especially true over the last three games.
If this line could get going, it would resolve a lot of the current worries surrounding two Rangers' stars.
2. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren
While Adam Fox is tied for second on the Rangers in points, he does not have a goal yet through 27 games. Ryan Lindgren, on the other hand, has been on the ice for a lot of costly goals and is subject to a lot of criticism.
With Rangers coach Peter Laviolette searching for answers, Fox and Lindgren are back together and both need to up their play.
3. Igor Shesterkin
An obvious answer, but with Igor Shesterkin getting the nod tonight, he'll need to give the Rangers a chance like he does in every game.
Igor Shesterkin the first #NYR goalie off
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) December 11, 2024
The Sabres are just as desperate as New York and will be firing shots. If the past 10 games have indicated anything, the Rangers will have times where they are stuck in their own zone. This is where Shesterkin is going to need to make big saves.
If New York is going to turn it around, the highest paid goaltender in the NHL is going to be a reason.