New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions December 6th 2024

Rangers Look to Rebound Against Red-Hot Penguins

The New York Rangers are hoping a few days of rest and practice can help reverse their recent struggles when they face the surging Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. With only one win in their last seven games (1-6-0), the Rangers desperately need a spark to recover their form against a Penguins team riding a season-high four-game winning streak.

Rangers Seek Solutions to Recent Struggles

The Rangers’ recent woes have been highlighted by slow starts. Over their past seven games, they’ve been outscored 26-11 overall, including 9-2 in the first period. A brief moment of relief came on Saturday with a last-minute goal from Kaapo Kakko to edge the Montreal Canadiens 4-3, but that momentum didn’t last.

In their most recent outing, a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils, the Rangers allowed two early goals in the first 7:10, fell behind by four, and struggled to counter New Jersey’s speed and aggressive forecheck. Despite 39 shots on goal, the Rangers saw another 27 blocked and were plagued by turnovers that led to multiple odd-man rushes.

Coach Peter Laviolette hopes the extra practice time this week, including focused drills on neutral-zone turnovers, will translate into improved performance.

“A couple days of practice and guys working together, you’d like to think that it can have some positive impact on the game coming up,” Laviolette said.

Tweaking the Lines

The Rangers have also reshuffled their lines to spark offense. Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and Reilly Smith are reunited as the top trio, while Filip Chytil is paired with Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko. Artemi Panarin, who missed practice for maintenance, is expected to skate with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere.

“I believe the answers are in that room,” Laviolette said. “There’s things we can do better … but the only ones to get us out of where we’re at right now are ourselves.”

Penguins Riding High on Confidence

The Penguins, meanwhile, have shaken off a slow start to the season, going 8-5-3 in their past 16 games. During their current four-game winning streak, they’ve scored 18 goals, with three of the victories decided by one goal.

Pittsburgh’s resilience was on display Tuesday in a 5-4 overtime win over the Florida Panthers. After blowing a 4-1 lead in the third period, Bryan Rust delivered the game-winner in overtime, set up by Evgeni Malkin, who also scored earlier in the contest.

“I think it’s just the mindset of the group,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “No one got rattled. There was great conversation on the bench amongst the players.”

Despite being outshot 41-16 by Florida, the Penguins found a way to win, thanks in part to timely scoring and composure under pressure.

Key Contributors

• Bryan Rust: Rust has been a key player during the winning streak, providing critical goals like the OT winner against Florida.
• Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby: Malkin’s offensive creativity and Crosby’s leadership continue to anchor Pittsburgh’s attack.
• Blake Lizotte: Lizotte added two assists in the Florida win, showcasing the Penguins’ depth.

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What’s at Stake?

The Rangers are looking to get back on track and avoid further slipping in the Metropolitan Division standings. Their ability to start strong and minimize turnovers will be critical against a Penguins team that thrives on capitalizing on mistakes.

For Pittsburgh, the game presents an opportunity to extend their winning streak to five games and build momentum as they climb the standings. With their offense firing on all cylinders and newfound confidence, the Penguins will be a tough test for the struggling Rangers.

Fans can expect a competitive, high-intensity matchup between two division rivals, with both teams fighting to establish their footing in the season’s second quarter.