Game #26: Seattle Kraken vs New York Rangers Open Thread

Game #26: Seattle Kraken vs New York Rangers Open Thread
© Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

It's a Sunday afternoon in December, which means the most important sporting event going on in and New York City is the Rangers' matinee meeting with the Seattle Kraken. Without any local football teams worth watching at this point in the NFL season, all eyes will be on Madison Square Garden as Peter Laviolette's looks to sweep the season series against the Seattle Kraken.

If Friday night's victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins was a must-win game given the chaos surrounding the Blueshirts that day, today's game presents an opportunity to prove that Friday's showing was not just a flash in the pan. The Rangers are undefeated since jettisoning Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, and a victory over one of Anaheim's Pacific Division foes would go a long way towards settling things down. Igor Shesterkin has officially signed the $92 million contract extension he was rumored to have agreed to prior to Friday's game, and with New York's top two most pressing needs addressed, it'll be on the players to play fast, free, and loose hockey en route to a victory.

Player to Watch: Artemiy Panarin

With the captaincy now vacant in the wake of Trouba's departure, the Rangers needed somebody to step up and lead. That's what Panarin did on Friday as New York's franchise winger tallied a pair of goals in the Rangers' 4-2 victory. Keep en eye on Panarin tonight, as although we can't see what goes on and who speaks up inside the locker room, we can see who steps up on the ice, and expect Panarin to do so once again.

Enjoy the game!