Game #29: Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers Open Thread

After a brief, one-game road trip upstate, the Rangers have returned home for one more game before an extended road trip. This Saturday matinee is presents a matchup Rangers fans would like to forget as the Los Angeles Kings are in town in a rematch of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.

Chris Kreider stands as the only member of the 2014 Rangers that has remained with the team in the interim to suit up for this rematch. Drew Doughty (who is injured and yet to play this season), Anze Kopitar, and Trevor Lewis (also currently injured and out) still remain with the Kings, while Jonathan Quick has made his way from LA to Broadway with pit stops in Columbus and Vegas in between. For the faint connections to 2014 that still remain, the Blueshirts will look to pick up a victory as they look to get back on track in 2024.

Player to Watch: Connor Mackey

After K'Andre Miller was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, Mackey has been tabbed as the next man up. Mackey played one game for the Rangers last season, a similar situation to the 2024-25 group where the team was struggling to the tune of a 4-7-2 January record at the time of his debut. Mackey took the ice against the Ottawa Senators, dropped the gloves with future Ranger Brady Tkachuk, (soft tampering!!!!!) and helped the team win his lone game before returning to Hartford for the remainder of the season. Keep an eye on Mackey tonight as he once again looks to provide a spark to a team desperately in need of one.

Enjoy the game!