Rangers vs. Penguins: 3 things to watch for on opening night

It gets real for the New York Rangers on Wednesday night when they play their 2024-25 regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.

The preseason, when they were 4-2-0, is in the rearview mirror. So, too, is the bitter end to a wonderful 2023-24 season, when the Rangers lost in the Eastern Conference Final to the Florida Panthers after establishing franchise records for wins (55) and points (114).

The Rangers open against the Penguins, who were 4-3-0 in the preseason and need a lot of things to go right this season in order to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs after two straight seasons on the outside looking in.

But the Penguins still have a talented core that features Sidney Crosby — fresh off a contract extension this offseason — who has 108 points (40 goals, 68 assists) in 85 games against the Rangers.

New York won two of three games against Pittsburgh last season and is 7-3-1 in the past 11 games against its Steeltown foe. Wednesday’s game will be the 300th regular-season contest played between these rivals. The Rangers are 139-120-23-17 all-time against the Penguins.

CLICK TO WATCH: Rangers season preview podcast with Jim Cerny and Jonny Lazarus

3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Penguins in 2024-25 season opener

Here are three things to watch for Wednesday night.

1. Finish what he started

Artemi Panarin appeared in two preseason games for the Rangers and didn’t finish either. He exited with a lower-body injury twice — once in the the third period, the next time in the first. The stud forward missed some practices, too, but he declared himself ready to play against the Penguins earlier in the week.

Now, the Breadman needs to finish what he starts Wednesday. Bigger picture, the Rangers need Panarin to remain healthy, not only against the Penguins, but the entire season. So, hopefully, he doesn’t have a nagging issue which affects him for a while moving forward, because it’s pretty difficult to replace a 120-point scorer in your lineup.

Side note: Panarin has 17 goals and 39 points in 30 career games against the Penguins.

2. You only get one NHL debut

Victor Mancini is expected to make his NHL debut for the Rangers, skating on the third defense pair with Zac Jones. The 22-year-old had a very strong preseason with two goals, one assist and some very solid two-way play. With Ryan Lindgren on injured reserve because of an upper-body injury, Mancini beat out several more experienced defenseman to land a spot in the opening-night lineup.

There’ll be an NHL debut on then other side of the ice, too. Rutger McGroarty, Pittsburgh’s top prospect who the Penguins acquired this summer in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets, made the opening-night roster. With veterans Bryan Rust and Blake Lizotte out, the 20-year-old forward will play his first NHL game after a terrific preseason when he had six points (one goal, five assists) in six games.

3. Getting defensive

An interesting area to focus on Wednesday will be New York’s defense pairings. Jones and Mancini form an inexperienced, though intriguing, pair. It’s also one the Rangers can shelter if needed.

K’Andre Miller moves up to play alongside Adam Fox on the top pair, the Rangers loading up with their two most dynamic defensemen with Lindgren (Fox’s longtime partner) sidelined. Braden Schneider slides from the right side to the left and will partner with Jacob Trouba. Yes that means “Baby Trouba” plays with the captain.

More important: Schneider will need to prove he’s capable of playing his off side effectively or else there could be more juggling of the pairs moving forward.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith

Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere

Cuylle – Chytil – Kakko

Edstrom – Carrick – Brodzinski

Miller – Fox

Schneider – Trouba

Jones – Mancini

Shesterkin

Quick

Check back for updates after Rangers coach Peter Laviolette meets with the media Wednesday morning.

Rangers vs. Penguins: When, where, what time, how to watch

Who: New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Where: PPG Paints Arena

When: Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET

How to Watch: TNT

Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results

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More must-reads:

• Jacob Trouba has strong start with pair of points in Rangers season opener
• Rangers eye better depth scoring with healthy Filip Chytil
• Victor Mancini earns Rangers ‘Broadway Hat’ in steady NHL debut