The Rangers play their home opener tonight again the Coyotes. New York went 1-1 on the road to open the season, defeating Buffalo 5-1 before falling 5-3 to Columbus on Saturday. Arizona defeated New Jersey 4-3 in a shootout Friday night.

Welcome to the Jungle:

The jungle comes alive again. 🔥 https://twitter.com/NYRangers/status/1713923982192164968/video/1

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 16, 2023

Rangers likely lineup tonight vs. Arizona:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Trocheck-Wheeler
Goodrow-Bonino-Pitlick

Miller-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Gustafsson-Schneider

Shesterkin Quick

Probable Scratches: Vesey and Jones

Tyler Pitlick gets back in the lineup for Jimmy Vesey. Barring injury, flip flopping back and forth could last a bit. That strategy is not good for either player as they need to establish a set lineup and allow chemistry to build. Pitlick doing deserve to sit Game 2 and Vesey played well in Game 2 and warrants a place in the 12 tonight. But I guess it’s a good problem to have.

Ryan Lindgren, who missed Saturday’s game, is a game-time decision tonight. He practiced this am but coach Peter Laviolette did not commit to him dressing. We all know the difference he makes when in the lineup, both on the ice and in the overall record when he dresses.

New York has to clean up the mistakes from Saturday. The Garden should be rocking, but Arizona defeated New Jersey in the Devils’ home opener, so they should not be phased by the environment tonight. Logan Cooley notched a pair of assists in his first NHL game vs. the Devils while Matt Dumba and Sean Durzi each lit the lamp in their first games as Coyote. Arizona is a much better team than last year and they gave the Rangers fits in the game in Mullett Arena. New York is 13-1-2 in their last 16 contests against Arizona but I am not expecting an easy game tonight.

After tonight’s game, New York is home to Nashville on Thursday. Then, the team departs for six straight on the road, including five on the west coast, which also encompasses the annual Western Canada swing. That trip is bookended by games in Seattle and Winnipeg.

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