New York Rangers defenseman Zachary Jones will be a healthy scratch again for the Saturday, Dec. 28 matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Zac Jones will be a healthy scratch again tonight for #NYR
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) December 28, 2024
Jones was the No. 68 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut for the Rangers on April 22, in a 3–2 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers
A Virginia native, Jones became the first player ever from Richmond, Virginia to play in the NHL and the sixth person from the state to play in the league.
This is not the defenseman's first involuntary absence from the ice during the 2024-25 season, with fans chiming in that at this point he might as well just be traded.
So far this year, Jones has eight points (seven assists and one goal) across 26 game appearances.
This latest move comes ahead of the Rangers returning to action for the first time at the holiday break by traveling to Florida to take on Tampa Bay. The Blueshirts are currently tied for last in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 16-17-1. Tampa Bay has six less losses than the Rangers, boasting a record of 19-11-2.
How to Tune In
- Date: 12/28/24
- Where: Amalie Arena
- Betting Odds: The Rangers are 11-23 against the spread, while the Lightning are 17-15 against the odds. Moreover, the Rangers are 8-9 against the spread on the road, while the Lightning are 8-8 against the odds at home. The Rangers are 14-19-1 against the over/under, while the Lightning are 14-14-4 against the over/under.
The Rangers are coming off of a 5-0 shutout loss in New Jersey on Monday in the Battle of the Hudson River, while the Lightning most recently had a 4-0 win against the reigning Stanley Cup Championships, the Florida Panthers.
Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. EST, with the game available for livestreaming via ESPN+ and Fubo TV.