Rangers vs. Canucks: 3 things to watch for seeking third straight win
It’s the second of a four-game road trip out west, when the New York Rangers visit the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday at Rogers Arena.
The Rangers (11-4-1) opened this week-long trip with a largely solid 2-0 win against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday and have won two straight and five of their past seven overall. The win in Seattle lifted the Rangers to 6-1-0 on the road this season. Their .857 points percentage on the road is tied with the Canucks (also 6-1-0) for best in the NHL.
Perhaps fortunately for the Rangers, the Canucks are under .500 (3-4-3) on home ice. This game concludes a six-game homestand for the Canucks, where they are 2-3-0 so far, following a 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Sunday.
Another advantage for the Rangers is that the Canucks (9-5-3) remain without star goalie Thatcher Demko, a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, who’s yet to play this season because of knee issues. That’s left the Canucks in the middle of the pack of the NHL, allowing 3.18 goals per game. Journeyman Kevin Lankinen has stepped in to solidify the position, with a 2.71 goals-against average and 8-3-2 record after Arturs Silovs struggled mightily (3.86 GAA, .850) to begin the season.
In their last visit to Vancouver, on Oct. 28 last season the Rangers skated to a thrilling 4-3 overtime win. K’Andre Miller scored the OT winner after the Canucks tied the game with under five minutes to play in regulation.
Related: Revisiting Rangers successful 5-0-0 road trip last season
3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Canucks
1. Keep it under 2
If the Rangers limit the Canucks to two goals or fewer, there’s a really good chance they’ll win their third straight game. In each of their 11 wins so far this season, the Rangers have given up two goals or fewer. And in six of their seven road games, they’ve allowed two goals or fewer.
The Canucks have surrendered at least three goals 10 times already this season. So, doing the math, two is an important number for the Rangers on Tuesday. And standing third in the NHL with 2.38 goals against per game, the Rangers are in a good spot against the Canucks, who’ve been middle of the road, averaging 3.18 goals per game.
Since the start of last season, the Rangers are 49-1-0 when allowing two goals or less.
2. Second to one
Alexis Lafreniere scored an easy tap-in goal Sunday against the Kraken. His second goal in four games gives the 23-year-old seven goals and 14 points on the season. He is New York’s second-leading scorer, only behind the guy who set him up in Seattle, Artemi Panarin, who has a Rangers-best 24 points.
Lafreniere leads the Rangers with an outstanding — if not sustainable — 23.3 shooting percentage. He’s got seven goals on 30 shots in 16 games, fewer than two shots per outing. You’d think the message from Peter Laviolette and Co. is: Shoot the puck more Laf! He had four shots on goal Sunday, equaling his season high.
That line with Lafreniere and Panarin flanking center Vincent Trocheck was New York’s best against the Kraken. They had an xGF of 54.9 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, and out-chanced their opponents 10-6. In a “low-event” game, using Laviolette’s description, the Trocheck line was the only one that has positive analytics against the Kraken.
3. First goal wins
The Rangers are a perfect 10-0-0 when scoring first this season. So, getting that first goal is a good path to success, especially on the road Tuesday. And since the Canucks have scored first in only six games (3-1-2), there’s a good chance that the Rangers can jump out on top against them.
The flip side is that Vancouver is comfortable playing from behind (6-4-1 when allowing first goal), and used to it, having done so 11 times already.
The Rangers recently won for the first time when allowing the first goal, rallying past the San Jose Sharks 3-2 last Thursday.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Brodzinski – Kakko
Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey
Miller – Fox
Lindgren – Trouba
Jones – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Canucks: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks
When: Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 10 p.m. ET
Where: Rogers Arena
How to Watch: MSG
Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results
More About:New York Rangers News