Game #54: Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Open Thread

With a back-to-back set against Metropolitan Division foes being the only thing standing between the Rangers and the 4 Nations Face-Off break, Peter Laviolette's squad will need to buckle down for a pair of critical games starting tonight.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in town as the Blueshirts play their final home game before heading into the break and every win is crucial in this ongoing wild card race. Back-to-back comeback victories against Vegas and Boston have allowed the Rangers to keep pace, but the five point deficit currently standing between New York and playoff spot remains a tall hurdle to clear. Pittsburgh currently sits three points behind the Blueshirts and are in 14th place in the Eastern Conference, and the Rangers can ill afford to cede ground to teams behind them in the standings.

Player to Watch: Mika Zibanejad

J.T. Miller's arrival from Vancouver has bumped Zibanejad out of a center position for the first time since arriving on Broadway prior to the 2016-17 campaign. As unusual of a circumstance it is for Zibanejad, the move to the wing has seemingly breathed new life into No. 93. Zibanejad has notched a goal and five assists in the three games since Miller's arrival, playing primarily with Miller and Artemiy Panarin on the team's top line. Keep an eye on Zibanejad tonight to see if he can keep up his strong play as of late.

Enjoy the game!