Rangers vs Wild Lineups and Storylines as Rangers Pursue First Home Victory and Key Goal
The New York Rangers are on the verge of breaking a unique home-scoring record as they face off against the Minnesota Wild. This matchup is crucial for the Rangers, who are eager to secure their first home victory of the season.
Rangers Pursue First Home Win
On Monday, October 20, the Rangers will host the Wild at Madison Square Garden. They aim to end their scoring drought that has lasted through three consecutive games at home, marking an NHL record for not scoring in their first three home games.
Recent Performance
The Rangers recently showed some offensive promise by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-3. This was a bounce-back game after two shutout losses at home. Artemi Panarin starred with four points, including the game-winning goal. Key contributions also came from Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and Matthew Robertson, who scored his first NHL goal.
Team Statistics
As of now, the Rangers hold a record of 3-3-1. They have allowed only 1.71 goals per game, ranking second in the NHL. Their defense has been impressive, limiting opponents to an average of 25.4 shots on goal per game.
Wild’s Struggles
The Minnesota Wild enter the game with a 2-3-1 record. They have allowed five or more goals in three of their six matches, leading to a troubling 3.67 goals-against average, the sixth worst in the league.
- Filip Gustavsson will start in goal for the Wild, boasting an .888 save percentage.
- Ilya Shesterkin is back for the Rangers, with a remarkable save percentage of .962.
Key Matchups and Lineups
The game will showcase a pivotal matchup between the Rangers’ struggling power play and the Wild’s formidable penalty kill. The Rangers are currently only 3-for-19 on power plays this season but will need to improve against a Wild team whose penalty kill is at 70.6 percent.
Injuries and Returns
Carson Soucy is likely to return for the Wild after missing four games due to an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Mats Zuccarello remains sidelined, and Marco Rossi will also miss the game due to injury.
Projected Lineups
| New York Rangers | Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Will Cuylle |
|---|---|
| Alexis Lafreniere — J.T. Miller — Conor Sheary | |
| Juuso Parssinen — Noah Laba– Taylor Raddysh | |
| Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe | |
| Defense: Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox | |
| Matthew Robertson — Will Borgen | |
| Carson Soucy — Braden Schneider | |
| Goalies: Igor Shesterkin / Jonathan Quick |
This matchup offers the Rangers an opportunity to secure their first home goal—and win—at a critical point in the season. Fans will be eager to witness whether their team can turn the tide against the Wild.
