Game #44: Utah Mammoth vs. New York Rangers Open Thread
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Fresh off their victory against the Florida Panthers at the 2026 Winter Classic in Miami, the Rangers are back at Madison Square Garden, set to take on the Utah Mammoth. The Mammoth will look to change their luck tonight after only winning three of their last eight games.
While he has returned to practice without a noncontact jersey, J.T. Miller won't play tonight but is nearing a return. Anton Blidh is expected to draw into the lineup for the Rangers for the first time since the 2023-24 season. Blidh has been playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he has seven points on the season. Urho Vaakanainen is back in the lineup, and Matthew Robertson is coming out. Loogan Cooley won't play for the Mammoth, as he is out with a lower-body injury.
Where to Watch
Cable/Network TV: MSG 2, NHL website, NHL app, and the Gotham Sports app
National Broadcast: ESPN+
Radio: 880 AM
Player to Watch: Mika Zibanejad
We all saw what he did, becoming the first player to record a hat trick of five points at a Winter Classic. It was around this time last year that Zibanejad picked his game up, leading to him finishing as a point-per-game player over his last 32 games. Zibanejad's improved play has been a pleasant surprise in an otherwise disappointing season.
With their playoff dreams slipping away, the Rangers need all they can get from Zibanejad. If he can take another step forward this year and J.T. Miller returns fully healthy, that may be what this team needs to fight for a wild card spot.
Enjoy the game!
