NY Rangers (22-27-6) vs Penguins (27-14-11)
• 31 January 2026 15:30 EST
• PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
• TV: ABC, SNO, SNE, SN1, TVAS •
The Rangers travel to the former big steel town in PA to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the third time this season having split the prior two games. While every game seems to be a challenge for this group of Rangers, they may catch a break this afternoon against a Pens team that is missing a few from their waddle.
The Penguins come into this game 6-2-2 of their last 10, winners of five straight against CHI, VAN, EDM, CGY and SEA. The Rangers continue to cruise at 2-8-0, the wins in regulation against PHI and OT against BOS.
Not sure who will start in goal for the Rangers. Quick (4-12-2, 3.11 GAA, 0.885 SV%) played a good game the other night but seems to need more time between starts. Martin (1-3-0, 4.13 GAA, 0.863 SV%) has not been dreadful but would probably be exposed for the AHL goalied that he is. Skinner (18-12-2, 2.65 GAA, 0.896 SV%) is likely for the Pens. The rest of the NYR line up should be identical to the last Islander game. For the Pens, they are juggling a bit as D Letang was just placed on IR with a broken foot, Malkin is banged up and skipped praccy on Friday and Rust was sent to the cooler by Bettman. Some what surprised to see long ago NYR Kevin Hayes listed as possible RW2 for the Pens!
The zebras this afternoon are Eric Furlatt (1581 GP) and Chris Lee (1545 GP), both in their 25th season of handing out tickets.
On this date in history: In 1989 Guy Lafleur appeared in his 1,000th NHL game, the 66th player to do so. He assisted on a goal by Leetch in a 7-3 NYR drubbing of the NYI.
Speculative NYR lineup:
Forwards
1st line ⊳ Miller ⋄ Zibanejad ⋄ Perreault
2nd line ⊳ Cuylle ⋄ Trocheck ⋄ Lafreniere
3rd line ⊳ Othmann ⋄ Laba ⋄ Raddysh
4th line ⊳ Berard ⋄ Carrick ⋄ Rempe
Defensemen
1st pair ⊳ Gavrikov ⋄ Schneider
2nd pair ⊳ Robertson ⋄ Borgen
3rd pair ⊳ Vaakanainen ⋄ Morrow
Goalies
Starter ⊳ Quick
Backup ⊳ Martin
Healthy scratch: D Mackey F Brodzinski
Injured: G Shesterkin (LBI) F Panarin (bubble wrap)
In the Cooler: none
Long-term IR: D Fox (LBI) F Edstrom (LBI) F Sheary (LBI)
95 responses to “It’s Go Time!”
First Vincent iorio!
Rangers will surprise everyone this afternoon.
We pick up an Oreo via waiver
Now Meeka Waive your NMC
Retool conducted by a Fool.
Another bakery turn-over
Keep getting beaten for Keaton!
Morrow is a puzzy, get that figgier off the ice.
Fugger
Iorio 🤌🤌
Here we go – again and again_…Morrow is a worthy exchange for K’Andre…
Not great breakout by Morrow and Quick didn’t help. The tank continues.
Eye Orio nice pick up
Morrow wasn’t the big part of the deal for miller
The big part are the picks
Morrow passed it to an opposing winger standing alone in the slot after causing the breakdown and subsequent defensive fire drill with an initial turnover
So far, no good.
Robertson and Borg have not been very good lately. Both on same side, late to move over
Only 26 games to go…
D zone coverage horrible on the 2nd goal. This could be another embarrassment. They shouldn’t be on national broadcasts again this season.
26 is the magic number.
So we claim a kid D off the wire … meanwhile Mackey?
Coolio…such a disappointment
This should be 4 nothing already..we suck.
Otter is absolutely clueless out there
Next time NYR win will be Casino Night
The Borg has been in decline ever since losing partner Seven of Nine
So Brodude is out of chateau bow-wow. Is Berard hurt or just sucks?
As always – one pass too many…
Robertson just got railed in the head
Really like Purro’s game. Takes an extra second to make the right read
Laba hurt?
SN you’re mean to our poor otter!
I assume they sent Berard down for the D they claimed.
GGMM on the job!
Yes Berard sent down
Likely will stay so he can play during Olympic break
Does the new D get into the next game?
That’s not even a penalty
Sullivan looks like he got his Jacket from the Roxbury Guys
Schneider gets jack rabbited by Cindy..no call
Open yer eyes refs
The puck turned over and they reversed directions and ran into one another. Play on.
This Ben Amazon Kindle kid looks good..our pick
We’re getting to the point in the game when we need to ask will they score today?
I guess someone has to take Panarin’s place and make horrible cross ice passes.
Approx 75 minutes from now we will get the I thought we played well..I thought we got some good looks
They look like they are playing a preseason game. Lots of running around.
Lazy but follow through?
Lavas shoulder will need the off-season rest after that Wilson hit
Dive! Dive! They are heading to the bottom.
I never thought that this team would rip out of my soul, some of my love of hockey. I’m not even watching it and I’m losing interest every time I look at the box score.
Would anyone take Borgen and his deal? Vanilla Ice
I’m at the Panther game and I’m barely watching. They’re playing Winnipeg, so this game is actually relevant to us too.
17 minutes 0 Shots
Tear this mess down
Have they mentioned when was the last time a team got no shots in a period yet?
J-E-T-S Jets! Can pass the Rangers with a win.
I hope the cat buries this game. It’s starting to smell.
and 93 sucks. He has got to go..but he has no pride ..would rather cash checks wear zebra pajamas and spin disc’s than win. ZERO FIRE.
I dont care how many PP goals this panzie scores..cmon Meeka waive.
You get rid of Zika in addition to other guy’s they’re going to get rid of and the team doesn’t score more than 2 goals in a single game for the next two seasons. He’s been one of the only bright spots of this anal wart of a season.
This team is the worst Ranger team in more than half a century. A centennial embarrassment.
Just turned the game on…..& now turning it off.
Gavrikov 🤦♂️
Absolutely disgusting. The Rangers are probably the most least qualified team to play hockey. My only joy is watching Sharon give an update after a Isles loss. They’ve done wonders over on the Island and should manage a round. Just not deep enough
I hope Muse wins the Jack Adams just to ok make Drury look even dumber.
Miller wtf
A lot can happen in seven minutes.
Most of it bad.
How many horrible giveaways has Miller had today?
These guys are freakin brain dead.
Oh please. Don’t make it look close. You’re not fooling anyone.
Quick is about to go all Hexall on someone
Sully will pull Quick soon just to give up the ENG.
I’m starting ro remember how maddening Miller 1.0 was.
ORF gets the cigar
Sully is an a$$hole.
Winnipeg just took the lead with less than 4 to go
LaCoast going to go home to his hottie GF thinking he’s a stud again
Good play by Coolio
They got to 20 shots. Pens aren’t very good.
Pens fell asleep during garbage time
Time for some reverse scoreboard watching.
Drury should go full tank and put Igor and Fox on LTIR for the rest of the season.
Jets win and Flames ahead with 3 minutes left. WTF is wrong with the Canucks?
If the Rangers win out they could still make the playoffs.
If everyone voted for me I could be president.
In pre game they saluted 2016 pens
Including sully and sheary
I’m assuming sheary didn’t wear his pens jersey but I could be wrong
Sorry Eli
Isn’t losing good for long-term greater good? Why the long faces?
I’ve never felt more hopeless about the leadership and direction this team, and that includes the dark days of the late 90s-early 2000s. As long as we have that smug douche as our GM, this team is hot garbage. You cannot convince me otherwise. He has NO FUKING CLUE how to build a team.
Losing is good for draft position and,for the blog to complain ..win/win
Not sure it’s real – is pulled from a Caps’ fans group:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10162374017923602&set=gm.4280362312109182&idorvanity=751744588304323
That looks like the same trade that has been floating around for a couple of days.
What do you guys think of that possible trade with Washington?
I hope it’s fake. That would be the Caps off loading a lot of garbage, and a protected first round pick. No thanks.
That would be a typical butt stupid Drury maneuver.
For me it starts with Ryan Leonard and a 1st anything else and the Caps can eat crow!
I would hope that Drury could do much better. Three at best bottom 6 players and a protected first is not much for the best player available at the deadline.
Drury will get more than that
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