Game #26: Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers Open Thread

After getting blown out of Washington by the Capitals 24 hours ago, the Blueshirts are back in action with a quick turnaround tonight. It’ll be a rematch of the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals as the Rangers welcome the Los Angeles Kings into Madison Square Garden with both teams coming off of road losses last night. The Kings held a 2-0 lead over the New York Islanders at the second intermission, but ceded a pair of third period goals and eventually lost in overtime, snapping their league record 11 game road winning streak to begin a season.

The Rangers, on the other hand, are in desperate need of a win tonight to avoid alarm bells going off concerning the team. Peter Laviolette’s squad has lost its last two contests to mediocre Capitals and Senators teams by a combined margin of 10-2, and another loss could be cause for major concern as 2024 approaches.

Player to Watch: Jonathan Quick

Quick will be getting the start in goal tonight after Igor Shesterkin manned the crease yesterday. Quick spent parts of 16 seasons as a member of the Kings before getting traded to Columbus (and eventually Vegas where he won his third Stanley Cup) at the trade deadline last season. Quick is one of four players participating in this game that also played in the 2014 Cup Finals, but Quick will be looking to deny the Kings a win tonight, rather than lead them to one as he did for so many years.

Enjoy the game!