3 things to watch tonight as the New York Rangers face off against the best team in the NHL

PUBLICATION

Joshua Deeds
November 12, 2024 (5:55 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The New York Rangers will take onScott Arniel's Winnipeg Jets tonight, who are currently the top team in the league.

The Jets have won 14 of 15 games, and have only lost one game since October 28th against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Rangers (9-3-1) have the fifth-highest points percentage in the League (.731) even though they're 4-3-0 in their past seven games. They were better in a 4-0 shutout win against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, following an ugly 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. But there's plenty that needs to be cleaned up in their game, especially facing such an elite opponent Tuesday.

Winnipeg is real, just so you know they defeated the Dallas Stars on the weekend with a resounding 4-1 score. If they can handle a deep team like the Stars easily, the Rangers will have to do three things tonight.

The New York Rangers will have to strike first against the Winnipeg Jets tonight to establish control of the ice in the game. The Rangers are currently 0-3-1 when they don't score the first goal against their opponents.

When they do score first, they're unbeatable with a 9-0-0 record, so Artemi Panarin or Chris Kreider will have to come in clutch and not let up in Madison Square Garden tonight.

The Jets are 7-0-0 when they score first and have won all games, except against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Establish the forecheck early, and if Will Cuylle or Filip Chytil scores first? Even better!

2

Each team has its own elite goalie in the net tonight, as Igor Shester will be dueling against Connor Hellbuyck. Hellbuuyck is 11-1-0, 1.83 GAA, and has a .935 save percentage with 3 shutouts. Hellbuyck is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and has only allowed one goal in 3 starts.

New York's Igor Shesterkin (6-3-1, 2.62 GAA, .920 save percentage, one shutout) won the Vezina in 2021-22 and has been lights out this season, except for his last start against the Sabres when he allowed five goals on 12 shots.

The Jets have the lowest team GAA (2.07) and the Rangers are second (2.31). The teams are tied for best save percentage (.929). So, safe to call it best on best Tuesday

<3>

The two teams have been trade partners in the past and in 2019 swapped Jacob Trouba for Neal Pionk. The Rangers sent a 1st-round pick attached to Pionk, for Trouba who'd eventually earn the "C" here in New York.

Both sides have equally benefited from the trade, as Trouba has provided grit on the ice needed. But last season he wasn't able to stay consistent, and his play peaked early and is now tapering off.

Pionk's utilization has seen him play 21:01 TOI per night, and the last 5 years, and have seen him score at a 30+ point clip. While he hasn't topped his career high of 45 points in 2019-2020, he's been a consistent 2nd pairing defenseman for the Jets.

That being said, the New York Rangers will have to shut down the Jets in all zones of the ice. They're a team that runs four lines that can produce, and with the Ranger's defensive lapses, they will have to figure out how to stifle their scoring by committee approach.