The New York Rangers are set to play their fifth and final game of this road trip. They're a perfect 4-0-0 thus far, can they complete the mission tonight in Winnipeg?
Blake Wheeler will be making his return to Winnipeg tonight as he and the New York Rangers take on the Winnipeg Jets. Wheeler spent 12 successful seasons in Winnipeg and also served some time as the teams captain. This will most likely be an emotional night for the current New York Ranger.
The New York Rangers have now gone through Seattle, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver coming away with wins in all four of those contests. Before heading back home, they have one more road game to play tonight, and that is against a Winnipeg Jets team that has been rolling.
Winnipeg has won three of its last four games, their most recent game being an overtime loss against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. The Jets come into this game with a 4-3-1 record (2-2-0 on home ice).
Matchup History:
In two meetings last season, the Jets outscored the Rangers by a combined 8-2, winning both games by the score of 4-1.
What To Watch For: Winnipeg's Third Line
The Jets third line, which consists of Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, and Mason Appleton. In the team's last five games, this line has produced the most and they could be dangerous tonight if they're matched up against the Rangers third line. During the five-game span, Niederreiter has tallied 2 goals with 3 assists, Lowry has 2 goals, 2 assists and Appleton has added 2 goals and 3 assists as well.
Can Artemi Panarin Keep His Streak Going?
Today is the Rangers best forwards 32nd birthday. Panarin tallied a goal and an assist in the Rangers win on Saturday night, extending his point streak to eight games with a total of 12 points. Panarin has been the heart beat of the team thus far this season and continues to drive the offense with his linemates, Alexis Lafreniere and Filip Chytil, as well as on the first power play unit. In his last two games, he has tallied 10 shots on goal and he leads the team with 31. Let's see if he continues to have that shoot-first mentality.
Will Mika Zibanejad Get Going?
Zibanejad finally found the back of the net for the first time this season in the Rangers win on Saturday. He scored what was the go-ahead going the third period at the time, but it was good for Zibanejad's confidence to see one go in. He has 8 points in eight games, but Zibanejad is a streaky player and is arguably the Rangers best goal-scorer. He had a goal and two assists on Saturday night, so let's see if that gets him going here.
Adam Fox Having An Impressive Road Trip:
Fox may have had a costly turnover in the third period of Saturday night's game, but it didn't take long for him to make up for it. Fox eventually had the game-tying goal and the go-ahead assist, giving him a goal and an assist for the second straight game. He has tallied points in three of the four games on the road trip for a total of 5 in three games. He has been very solid on the Rangers blue line.
I will have more on the expected lineup's and goaltending matchup's a little later today once morning skate concludes.