Two months ago, the New York Rangers earned wins over the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks to start a four-game Western trip on a positive note.
Those wins gave the Rangers a 12-4-1 record and although there may have been some concerning signs, a full-blown collapse was unforeseen. The collapse started in the final two games of the first Western swing with defeats against the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers.
Recently, the Rangers (19-20-2) are showing some signs of life as they open a three-game trip Saturday night against the Vegas Golden Knights (28-10-3), whose 59 points lead the NHL and are six ahead of Edmonton in the Pacific Division.
Since their 12-4-1 start, the Rangers are 7-16-1 with losing streaks of five and four sprinkled in. The final contest of their four-game slide was a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Dec. 30; but that game started a run of improved showings and the Rangers are hoping it starts a sustained stretch of positive results as they to navigate the crowded race for one of the Eastern Conference’s two wild-card spots.
The Rangers are a respectable 3-1-1 in their past five and head into the trip after getting three out of a possible four points against the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils on home ice. They blew a three-goal lead in the first period with a 5-4 overtime loss on Tuesday but recovered from allowing two goals in the second period to earn a 3-2 win against the Devils on Thursday, when Sam Carrick scored 2:12 into overtime on a 2-on-1 after stealing the puck from Jack Hughes.
Related: Rangers roller-coaster 2024-25 season hits halfway mark
3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Golden Knights
1. Igor is back
Igor Shesterkin made a strong return to the net after missing four games with an upper-body issue, when he made 21 saves on Thursday against the Devils. Shesterkin had been 3-7-0 with an unsightly 3.43 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage in 10 games before the break.
Shesterkin’s struggles were also attributed to sub-par defense in front of him but for the most part, his defense helped, though the goalie did make an errant clearing attempt that led to a goal by Jack Hughes.
The Rangers No. 1 goalie stopped Dawson Mercer on a shorthanded breakaway in the third period and his 23 shots were the fewest he faced since the Kraken scored eight goals on 22 shots
Last season, Shesterkin went through a similar stretch, when he was 4-5-1 with a 3.25 GAA in 10 January starts and then went 17-5-1 in his final 23 games.
2. Power play follow up
The Rangers scored multiple power-play goals for the third time this season by being in the right positions to produce goals against the Devils. Adam Fox scored on a long drive from near the blue line five seconds into their first power play and Artemi Panarin crashed the net for a rebound to get the second power-play goal.
The Rangers previously scored multiple power-play goals Nov. 30 against the Montreal Canadiens and Oct. 17 Detroit Red Wings and enjoyed one of their better power-play showings against the League’s 10th-best penalty kill on Thursday.
Though the Golden Knights are atop the Pacific, a weakness is penalty killing. Vegas is 22nd at 78.2 percent but at the same time its 87 times short-handed are tied with the New York Islanders for the fewest in the NHL.
Vegas allowed one power play in its 4-0 loss to the Islanders on Thursday and has been short-handed eight times in the past five games after being short-handed 15 times in the previous four contests.
The possibility of fewer power plays means the Rangers must be able to score enough at even strength, which has been a struggle at times.
3. Role for Rempe
Matt Rempe returned from his eight-game suspension for his dangerous hit on Dallas Stars Miro Heiskanen and his uneventful return might earn him another chance Saturday.
After practice Wednesday, Rempe talked about balancing the fine line of playing physically and being cautious to avoid future suspensions. He followed by playing 11 shifts in a quiet 7:47 TOI against the Devils.
Rempe received his second-highest of ice time in his six games this season and was credited with four hits. Like past games, Rempe spent the latter portion glued to the bench as coach Peter Laviolette did not put him on the ice for the final 9:36 of regulation.
Laviolette opted to scratch Jimmy Vesey for Rempe and may change the lineup again. It also is possible Rempe’s play was satisfactory enough to earn him another chance.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Zibanejad – Smith
Kaliyev – Brodzinski – Berard
Edstrom – Carrick – Rempe
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Borgen
Vaakanainen – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Golden Knights: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Vegas Golden Knights
When: Saturday, Jan. 10 at 10 p.m. ET
Where: T-Mobile Arena
How to watch: MSG
Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results