Road-Tested Rangers Look to Rebound in Salt Lake City Showdown
An impressive road team clashes against a solid home team as the New York Rangers finish off their road trip west. Coming off a rough 6-3 loss to Colorado, New York searches for any even-strength momentum to get themselves back in the win column. After a rough 4-1 loss against Vegas, Utah looks to please their fans and defend home ice against a ferocious road team. The battle to protect Delta Center continues as the New York Rangers head down to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Mammoth tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. EST.
Don't let their .500 record fool you, the Rangers have been one of the league's strongest away from Madison Square Garden. With an away record of 9-3-1, the Rangers find a different kind of energy, something that needs to return after their previous two away games in Vegas and Colorado. If they're to return that magic on the road, they'll need more from their captain, J.T. Miller. Scoring twice in Colorado on the power play, Miller looks to carry that momentum into Utah and show those New York fans why he's the captain. Their offense remains steady, but their goal differential shows room for improvement. A big offensive game from them tomorrow night would be huge.
Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth have been quite inconsistent. They've struggled recently, going 2-5-3 in their last 10, averaging just 2.3 goals per game while allowing 3.3. Still, their high-end talent, led by Clayton Keller, along with a recent scoring surge from John-Jason Peterka, makes them a team that won't go down so easily. Utah's most significant vulnerability may just be discipline: they're 2-4-1 in games where they take more penalties than their opponents.
It would seem the Blueshirts may have the slight edge based on how they play on the road, but it comes down to a few key factors. Igor Shesterkin, as always, is expected to be the better goaltender, but Utah can be expected to throw more shots at the net. Based on New York's defense, both teams will need to avoid defensive breakdowns if they're to have a chance. If New York is to have a bounce back, they'll need to remain out of the box; taking six penalties isn't exactly gonna bring them back into the win column.
Overall, this matchup can once again come down to special teams, goaltending, and composure. If New York can maintain their road magic and avoid any dumb penalties, they hold the advantage. One shouldn't sleep on Utah, though; their home crowd and top-line talent give them a real chance, especially if they can dictate pace. First matchup of the season for these two teams. Can New York bounce back, or will Utah defend Salt Lake City against one of the league's strongest road teams?
