The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face-off for the first time this season. Over the years, the Penguins have become one of, if not the biggest rival of the Rangers.
It's always a fun battle when the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins get together.
Strong November's For Both Squads:
Penguins: 6-2-0
The Penguins have had a very strong month of November. They've lost two out of their last three games, but they're coming off of a very strong shutout win at home against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Pittsburgh's offense has been buzzing this month, averaging 4.00 goals per game while skating to a +15 goal differential.
Rangers: 5-1-1
The Rangers are coming off of a tough loss at Dallas, where they allowed six unanswered goals. This might come off crazy, but try to understand what I'm saying. Of course you go into every game wanting to win, but that loss against Dallas might actually be better for the Rangers as opposed to them going onto win. Here's what I mean.
This team has continued to find new ways to win hockey games, but the wins have overshadowed some of the negatives. It's easier to learn from losses than it is from wins. The Rangers had been on an absolute tear, and this loss might be somewhat of a mental reset for them.
Sidney Crosby's Still Got It:
The 36-year-old is currently leading the NHL in even-strength points and has recorded five goals and three assists in the team's last five games. Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel continue to be one of the league's most threatening duo's. Guentzel is right behind Crosby with 18 even-strength points.
Per, Colin Stephenson, the Rangers lines look the same as they have over the past few games.
Peter Laviolette moved Kaapo Kakko up in the third period of the Dallas game, so if things aren't going well early on we could see Kakko and Blake Wheeler swap again.
It looks like Jonathan Quick will get the nod for the Rangers tonight. Quick is 5-4-0 this season with a .928 save percentage and a 1.98 goals against average. He's done everything that the team has asked of him.
Gustafsson & Trocheck Riding 6-game Point Streaks:
Erik Gustafsson and Vincent Trocheck will look to stay hot as they're both on 6-game heaters. In that span, Gustafsson has tallied one goal with seven assists while Trocheck has added four goals and seven assists of his own.
Tonight should be a fun one in Pittsburgh, as it always is when these two teams collide.