RANGERS VS COYOTES GAME DAY PREVIEW 1/6

RANGERS START BACK TO BACK WEEKEND IN ARIZONA

New York Rangers (21-14-5) vs Arizona Coyotes (10-27-5)

TONIGHT 8:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM

Gila River Arena: Glendale, AZ

The Rangers head west to Arizona to face the Coyotes for the second of two meetings this season. In the first contest the Rangers defeated the Coyotes 5-2 at Madison Square Garden back on October 26. Chris Kreider collected a goal in the game while Pavel Buchnevich and Michael Grabner tailed 2 each, Boo Nieves added 3 assists. Ondrej Pavelec got the win stopping 2 of 29 shots on goal. Coyotes goaltender Adin Hill surrendered 4 goals on 29 shots.

Tonight’s game is the first of a back to back weekend ending tomorrow in Las Vegas against the Knights before the Rangers bye week. They will return to action next Saturday taking on the Islanders at MSG in an afternoon matinee.

The Rangers are coming off one of their worst showings in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday at the Garden and have only won two of their last 5 games including Monday’s Winter Classic game against Buffalo.

The Rangers will once again be without winger Chris Kreider who received the news that he needs to undergo surgery to have his rib resected as part of his recovery from a blood clot in his arm. Kreider will remain sidelined indefinitely.

Without Kreider and after the poor performance in Wednesday’s effort Alain Vigneault switched up his forwards lines using JT Miller, Mika Zibanejad & Pavel Buchnevich on the first line, Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes & Mats Zuccarello on the second, Jimmy Vesey, David Desharnais & Rick Nash on the third while Paul Carey, Boo Nieves & Jesper Fast rounded out the lineup on the fourth during practice yesterday. No goaltender has been announced for either team and the Rangers defense was without Marc Staal yesterday who took a maintenance day.

The struggling Coyotes come in having won their last game 3-2 in overtime over the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Arizona like the Rangers have only won 2 of their last 5 games. Clayton Keller leads all Coyotes in goals (14), assists (18) and points (32).

TEAM LEADERS:
Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 31

GOALS: Michael Grabner 18

ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 23

Coyotes

POINTS: Clayton Keller 32

GOALS: Clayton Keller 14

ASSISTS: Clayton Keller 18