Rangers vs. Kraken: 3 things to watch for to begin 4-game road trip
The New York Rangers hit the street for a four-game street journey, starting Sunday on the Seattle Kraken. It begins a stretch for the Rangers the place they play six of their subsequent seven video games away from Madison Sq. Backyard.
That will not be a nasty factor. Get away from the uneasy feeling of their dwelling barn, which grew throughout their latest 5-4-0 stretch of inconsistent — and infrequently poor — play. Profitable groups, championship contenders, typically consult with lengthy street journeys as essential occasions to bond and develop the general group sport. Let’s see if that holds true right here, when the Rangers go to the Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers.
That’s not precisely a gauntlet for the Rangers to handle this week. Every of these Pacific Division groups is barely above .500, however none is firing on all cylinders. The Canucks (9-4-3) are one of the best of the lot, thus far this season.
The Kraken (9-8-1) have gained 4 in a row, although, to creep again into the early playoff image within the Pacific. They edged the Islanders 3-2 at dwelling Saturday and have allowed eight targets of their previous 4 video games.
The Rangers (10-4-1) have by no means misplaced in regulation to the Kraken. They’re 5-0-1 in opposition to the fourth-year membership. That .917 level proportion is the very best for New York in opposition to any energetic NHL group.
Associated: Amid Filip Chytil damage scare, Rangers recall heart from AHL Hartford
3 issues to look at for when Rangers go to Kraken to start street journey
1. Heeere’s Jonny
With Filip Chytil again in New York being evaluated for an upper-body damage, Jonny Brodzinski will heart the third line in opposition to the Kraken. It’s a job the 31-year-old is conversant in, stepping in for the injured Chytil final season, as properly, when Brodzinski performed an NHL career-high 57 video games.
Although coach Peter Laviolette is a giant fan of Brodzinski’s, nobody goes to inform you that he’s the participant Chytil is. Nor that he could have the identical chemistry with Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko that Chytil does — they’ve outscored opponents 11-0 this season. But when Brodzinski can merely not lavatory that line down and maintain it buzzing at each ends of the ice, because the Rangers imagine he can, then the Rangers can climate Chytil’s absence for a bit.
In restricted time this season, Brodzinski has one purpose and one help, averaging 9:11 TOI in seven video games on the fourth line.
2. Highway warriors
The Rangers are 5-1-0 on the street this season, successful their first 4 video games away from The Backyard earlier than an unpleasant 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Oct. 29. They rebounded with a 4-0 win in Detroit in opposition to the Purple Wings eight days in the past, and stay among the best street groups within the League once more this season.
They gained 25 street video games final season and in 2021-22. In between that they had 24 street wins in 2022-23. That claims lots about this core group and its skill to persevere away from its dwelling rink, reaching this success below two totally different teaching staffs.
Final season, the Rangers had the same early-season street take a look at out west and had been an ideal 5-0-0, setting the stage for an impressive common season that ended with the Rangers successful the Presidents’ Trophy. That journey started with a 4-1 win on the Kraken.
This season, their street factors proportion (.833) is third finest within the NHL. The Rangers lead the League with 4.83 targets for per street sport and 1.67 targets in opposition to per street sport.
3. Constructing blocks
The Rangers uneven and infrequently subpar play the previous few weeks is properly chronicled. Their successful file (5-4-0) in that span masks lots of their deficiencies. However maybe there’s a gentle on the finish of the tunnel.
Regardless of shedding 6-3 to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, the Rangers performed higher than that they had lately. The Jets capitalized on their probabilities and the Rangers, by and huge, didn’t. Everyone knows about Mika Zibanejad’s brutal evening.
However that sport was a small step in the suitable path. So, too was their 3-2 win in opposition to the San Jose Sharks. Sure, the ultimate rating was too shut for consolation and it may be argued that the Rangers ought to have run up a bigger margin of victory in opposition to one of many NHL backside feeders. However the Rangers had been the much better group, vastly out-chanced the Sharks and put up one other constructing block in establishing their general sport once more.
They get one other alternative to do this Sunday in Seattle.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Brodzinski – Kakko
Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey
Miller – Fox
Lindgren – Trouba
Jones – Schneider
Fast
Shesterkin
Rangers vs. Kraken: When, the place, what time, the way to watch
Who:Â New York Rangers vs. Seattle Kraken
When:Â Sunday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. ET
The place: Local weather Pledge Enviornment
Methods to Watch:Â MSGSN
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