Game #1: New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Open Thread

Opening night has arrived for the Rangers.

After an offseason filled with anticipation of massive changes that never came to be, the reigning Presidents Trophy winners are set to begin their trophy defense in Pittsburgh in a Metropolitan Division clash against the Penguins. In what is definitely the biggest sports matchup between a team from New York and a team from Pennsylvania going on today, the Rangers will look to start the 2024-25 season on the right foot with a road victory tonight.

Artemiy Panarin is back in the lineup after sitting out of the final exhibition contest, but Ryan Lindgren (injured reserve) and Jimmy Vesey (long term injured reserve) will not suit up tonight. The injuries to Lindgren and Vesey created roster opportunities for players who otherwise may not have made the roster, so Peter Laviolette will have a bit more youth in his lineup than he might have expected when training camp began.

Player to Watch: Victor Mancini

For all the roster projections made at the onset of camp, you would have been hard-pressed to find anyone expecting Victor Mancini to be in line for his NHL debut tonight. New York's fifth round pick in the 2022 Entry Draft, Mancini was selected as an overage player after going undrafted in 2020 and 2021. After concluding his college career at Nebraska-Omaha, Mancini turned pro down the stretch last season and skated in 17 games with AHL Hartford.

A standout performance training camp out Mancini on the radar, and Lindgren's injury created an opportunity Mancini to make the team as one of New York's top six defenseman to begin the season. In what will be his NHL debut, keep an eye on Mancini as he skates next to Zac Jones tonight.

Enjoy the game!