Date: December 15th, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO.
Overview
The New York Rangers play the St. Louis Blues tonight at the Enterprise Center in a matchup that pits two teams with something to prove. The Rangers, holding a 15-11-3 record, aim to bounce back after a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, while the Blues, at 14-14-3, are adjusting to life under new head coach Jim Montgomery.
Recent Form and Key Storylines
- Rangers Struggles: After a strong start to the season, the Rangers have stumbled in their last ten games, particularly with defensive lapses. The trade involving former Captain Jacob Trouba also highlights the Rangers effort to address internal dynamics, with reports suggesting locker room cohesion and morale had been the issue during this disappointing season. They’re seeking more consistency, especially from star players like Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Panarin has not scored a goal in 4 straight games, but he still leads the team with 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) this season. The team’s production has been lacking with only 90 goals in 29 games this season ranked 20th in the NHL.
- Blues Transition: The Blues are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Stars and are navigating changes under new head coach Jim Montgomery. A lack of offensive production has been a recurring issue for the Blues as they rank 28th with only 80 goals in 31 games played. Key players like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou have kept the Blues within 4 points of a wild card spot, combining for 47 points this season. Young gun players like Zack Bolduc and Phillip Broberg have also contributed to the Blues lineup this year combining for a solid 20 points in 44 games played. The Blues also made a recent trade bringing in veteran defenseman Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
- Forwards:
- Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
- Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith
- Cuylle – Chytil – Kakko
- Edstrom – Carrick – Berard
- Defense:
- Lindgren – Fox
- Mackey – Schneider
- Jones – Mancini
- Goaltender:
- Jonathan Quick
St. Louis Blues
- Forwards:
- Buchnevich – Thomas – Kyrou
- Halloway – Schenn – Neighbours
- Texier – Sundqvist – Bolduc
- Toropchenko – Walker – Joseph
- Defense:
- Broberg – Parayko
- Fowler – Faulk
- Suter – Joseph
- Goaltender:
- Joel Horfer
Players to Watch
- Artemi Panarin (NYR): The offensive catalyst for the Rangers, Panarin has been their most consistent scorer and will be crucial to getting their power play back on track.
- Pavel Buchnevich (STL): The 29 year old forward is heating up with five points in his last five games, offering hope for the Blues struggling attack. He also faces his former team tonight. He played with the Rangers from 2016-2021.
Keys to the Game
- Rangers Offensive Pressure: The Rangers need to generate sustained pressure and capitalize on power play opportunities, an area where they’ve faltered recently.
- Blues Defensive Structure: For St. Louis, containing New York’s top players and maintaining disciplined play will be critical to staying competitive.
- Goaltending Duel: Both teams rely heavily on their goalies, with Quick and Horfer expected to play pivotal roles in this Sunday matchup.
The Rangers are slight favorites in this matchup, but the Blues could surprise if they find a spark and pressure the already struggling team early on. Will the Rangers bounce back, or will the Blues take advantage of the change in momentum? All eyes will be on the this game tonight.
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