Struggling with a battered lineup and a season-high four-game losing streak, the New York Rangers are set to face the St. Louis Blues on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, potentially providing the spark they need to turn their season around. The Rangers currently hold a record of 10-11-2 and 22 points, sitting just above the Blues, who have 20 points and a record of 7-9-6. However, the Rangers’ recent performance has raised concerns, as they previously lost to two of the five teams trailing them in standings: the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames.
The Rangers’ recent road trip saw them lose all three games, including a tight 3-2 match against the Utah Mammoth on Saturday and a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, which was misleadingly broader due to late empty-net goals. Struggling to generate offense, the Rangers are facing challenges at home as well, holding the worst home record in the league at 1-7-1. Their scoring woes have been notable, managing just 13 goals in nine home games, with five shutouts. Optimistically, they may find relief against the Blues, who have had their own struggles, being one of the league’s worst defensive teams, giving up an average of 3.64 goals per game.
In goal for the Rangers, Igor Shesterkin will look to rise to the occasion as they seek to recover from their recent losses to the Blues, having been winless in their previous encounters last season. The upcoming match is compounded by injuries impacting the Rangers’ roster. Captains J.T. Miller and Jonathan Quick are sidelined, and defenseman Will Borgen is also out, while Vincent Trocheck is a game-time decision after missing the morning skate. With vital players potentially absent, the challenge of depth becomes crucial, as they’ve called up forward Brett Berard and goalie Dylan Garand from the AHL.
The Rangers will lean heavily on their top line of Mika Zibanejad, Will Cuylle, and Alexis Lafreniere for offensive production. Zibanejad, who has earned seven points in his last seven games, will be instrumental, alongside others stepping up to fill voids left by injured players. Meanwhile, for the Blues, former Ranger Pavel Buchnevich is struggling with only two goals in his last 22 games, a sharp contrast to his past performance that once made him a standout player for New York. Buchnevich, notably, has garnered attention with four goals and six points in seven matchups against his former team.
As the Rangers gear up to host the Blues, the excitement of a fresh opportunity at Madison Square Garden could mark the turning point they desperately need. The match is set for November 24 at 7 p.m. ET, and fans will be eager to see if their team can harness the energy of home ice to break the losing streak. The atmosphere might just be the catalyst they need to overcome their current challenges and return to a winning path.