Heading into a Thursday night matchup, the New York Rangers are in a similar boat as the Utah Hockey Club: on the outside of the playoffs, looking in, hoping there’s still a chance for them.
Both teams have 43 points. The Rangers are five points out of an NHL playoff spot, while Utah HC needs six more.
Being in different conferences, they aren’t vying for the same spots — but that doesn’t make this game any less important. Every point counts during this part of the season.
Utah HC’s history with the Rangers
The Rangers’ home opener was against Utah Hockey Club. For my money, it’s still the most entertaining game the NHL has had this season.
In the second period alone, there were seven goals, one disallowed goal and two fights. The game was knotted at 5-5 by the end of regulation, so it went to 3-on-3 overtime on a Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
Does it get any better than that?
For Utah HC fans, it did.
In the last minute of overtime, newly minted captain Clayton Keller found the puck at the side of the net, sold a fake pass, turned toward the net and roofed it. It popped out right away, so the local fans weren’t sure how to react — but Keller knew he had just won.
New York Rangers this season
The Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy last year. It’s awarded to the team with the best record in the regular season.
They made it to the Conference Final, taking the eventual Stanley Cup champions to six games. Now, they’re the third-worst team in the Eastern Conference — and their roster barely changed.
What happened?
That’s the question Rangers management has been trying to answer, but they haven’t solved anything yet.
They traded captain Jacob Trouba and 2019 second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko, neither of whom had been playing up to their perceived potential. Some people are questioning the coaching staff and others wonder how long the front office will stay intact.
At any rate, nearly all of the Rangers’ stars are having down years.
Mika Zibanejad, who’s two years removed from a 92-point season, has just 27 points in 43 games; Chris Kreider, who scored 75 points last year, only has 15 this year. Star defenseman Adam Fox hasn’t been his usual self and K’Andre Miller has raised some questions as to his true NHL role.
Artemi Panarin and Igor Shesterkin have been good, but it takes more than two players to win a hockey game.
Utah Hockey Club’s keys to victory
The Rangers and Utah HC have allowed the fifth- and sixth-most second-period goals in the NHL this season, respectively.
The Rangers, though, score enough in the middle frame to largely offset that stat. That’s something Utah HC has yet to figure out.
When the new year started, Utah seemed to be a different team in the second period — They were scoring, their shifts weren’t too long and they were supporting their goalie. But, like most New Year’s resolutions, it didn’t even last two weeks.
“Consistency, I think, is a big thing for us,” Keller said after Utah’s practice on Thursday. “Getting all four lines involved, having an impact on the game and playing for each other. If we do that, we’re kind of a tough team to beat.”
A frustrating second period against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday gave Utah another tally in the “L” column.
Managing the second period will be a major focus of the group once again on Thursday.
“Looking at our first period yesterday, it was elite,” said head coach André Tourigny after practice on Wednesday. “It’s good to have those periods, but you need to be able to sustain (them).”
Where to watch Utah Hockey Club vs. New York Rangers
Fans in Utah can catch Thursday’s game on Utah 16 and Utah HC+.
Additionally, tickets are available for as low as $10.
The game is set to start at 7 p.m. MST.
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