Rangers vs. Maple Leafs: 3 things to watch for to start 4-game homestand before trade deadline
The New York Rangers step up in weight class when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night at Madison Square Garden to begin a four-game homestand.
After facing three lesser teams in the Eastern Conference coming out of the break — the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders — the Rangers play a true heavyweight in the League. The Maple Leafs (36-20-2) are second in the Atlantic Division, one point behind the first-place Florida Panthers, with two games in hand. They are third in the East and sixth overall in the NHL.
You may have heard that Toronto’s lineup includes Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. You may also have heard that the Rangers defense has been frightful at times this season, including in that terrible 8-2 loss to the Sabres last Saturday. And New York is now without its top defenseman Adam Fox, who’s on injured reserve after sustaining an upper-body injury against the Islanders in a 5-1 win Tuesday.
So, yeah, this isn’t the easiest start to a four-game homestand that leads right into the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline. But really nothing has come very easy for the Rangers (29-25-4) this season, which is why they’re tied for ninth in the conference, four points out of a wild-card spot.
It’s the second meeting between these Original Six teams this season. The Rangers skated out of Toronto back on Oct. 19 with a 4-1 victory, the third of a four-game winning streak. That stands as New York’s longest win streak this season. They come into Friday having won two in a row, but haven’t won more than that consecutively since they snagged three straight Nov. 14-19.
Counter that with the Maple Leafs. They’re currently on their ninth winning streak of at least three games this season, including a five-game run Dec. 31-Jan. 7.
Related: Zac Jones gets major opportunity to prove himself once again
3 things to watch for when Rangers host Maple Leafs
1. In flux
Not only is Fox out of the lineup Friday, but the Rangers could be without one or more of J.T. Miller, K’Andre Miller and Chris Kreider against the Maple Leafs. Each of those Rangers regulars took part in an optional morning skate, but coach Peter Laviolette said the two forwards and one defenseman are game-time decisions.
J.T. Miller missed practice Thursday with an illness. Since he’s the engine that makes the Rangers go, it can’t be underestimated how much he’d be missed if unable to play. The other Miller, K’Andre sustained a lower-body injury Tuesday against the Islanders, but practiced Thursday and is expected to play. That would be huge because he and Will Borgen will be needed to play heavy minutes with Fox sidelined.
Kreider didn’t play the past two games with an upper-body issue. The 33-year-old has dealt with back problems all season and missed 10 games (one as a healthy scratch). He practiced Thursday.
2. Zac’s back
We haven’t seen a lot of Zac Jones the past two months, though we heard from him in January when he popped off about being a healthy scratch night-in and night-out after losing his third-pair slot to Urho Vaakanainen. With Fox out, Jones returns to the lineup Friday. He’ll pair with Braden Schneider and is slated to quarterback the second power-play unit.
The Rangers need a defenseman to replicate some of Fox’s offensive attributes, like funneling pucks to the net, make quick, smart passes to create scoring chances and start rushes up ice, and to skate the puck out of trouble when needed. That fits Jones’ skill set, though he’s no Fox, of course.
Laviolette doesn’t seem to trust Jones — hence he’s only played 28 games this season — but has little choice right now. It’s up to Jones to prove his worth.
3. Taking off in walk year
Mitchell Marner is going to be a very wealthy man. In fact, he already is very wealthy; he makes $10.9 million annually on his expiring contract. But everything is pointing toward the pending UFA being able to really break the bank this summer, whether it’s by remaining with the Maple Leafs or signing with another team on the open market (the Rangers do have some salary cap space — just sayin’).
The stars are aligning for the 27-year-old forward. The NHL salary cap is going up considerably, not only next season but those after, so teams will have more money to spend. And Marner is flying high in his prime; he’s third in the NHL with 55 assists and tied for fifth with 73 points in 57 games. He’s on the way to his first 100-point season, and already has a pair of 90-point campaigns (99 and 97 points) on his resume.
Oh, and he earned his big-game bones by assisting on Connor McDavid’s tournament-winning goal in overtime to help Canada defeat the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game.
He also comes into the Garden after a two-goal outing against the Boston Bruins on Monday.
All eyes will be on Marner at the Garden on Friday night.
Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – J.T. Miller- Zibanejad
Vesey – Carrick – Smith
Othmann – Brodzinski – Rempe
K. Miller – Borgen
Lindgren – Vaakanainen
Jones – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Maple Leafs: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
When: Friday Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG
More About:New York Rangers News