Youthful Penguins and Hungry Rangers Collide on Opening Night
After a long offseason, opening night kicks off tomorrow night in Madison Square Garden. Tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. EST, the Blueshirts begin their season of redemption, looking to put last season's collapse behind them for good. This game also marks Mike Sullivan's official debut as the Rangers' head coach, and how poetic it all begins against the very franchise he led for almost a decade. Just like last season, New York and Pittsburgh begin their seasons against each other, so fans at MSG can certainly expect something wild to kick things off. As the two division rivals look to start their seasons, neither is the same team they were just a few seasons ago, so how exactly do they match up?
There's no doubt the spotlight will be on Mike Sullivan, admitting there will be "mixed emotions" as he coaches against players he knows well. Though the emotions may be there, something like this may give New York the early advantage. Sullivan has familiarity with Pittsburgh; he knows this team better than anyone. Let's hope they can use that to their advantage. This game also marks the beginning of an identity reset for the Blueshirts, as they look to adopt a more hard-nosed and aggressive identity with the help of their new captain, J.T. Miller.
Meanwhile, this season marks the beginning of a new era for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Teenagers Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke earned spots on the Pittsburgh roster, signaling the Penguins' new goal of investing more in youth. Staying true to this goal, Pittsburgh even waived veteran defensemen Ryan Graves in favor of giving its younger players a shot on the ice. Although this may provide the Blueshirts with an even greater advantage, it's an excellent start for the Pittsburgh team as they look to rebuild at long last.
As both enter the start of the season, both also enter with a few injury concerns. Pittsburgh will be without its veteran winger, Bryan Rust, for at least two weeks due to a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, the Blueshirts continue to monitor J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin, who are both day-to-day with lower-body injuries. Fortunately, both players entered practice today in regular jerseys, a good sign for fans who hope at least one of them can be on the ice to open the season. Absences like this are an early test for depth scoring and special teams units on both sides.
As of now, the Rangers remain the safer bet, with many predicting a 4-2 victory for New York. Despite New York having the better chance, Pittsburgh's young roster could surprise a few if they get off to a strong start. The veteran leadership from Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang may be able to set the tone, especially with the Rangers looking for secondary scoring options to step up if Miller is unavailable. New York fans know the duo of Crosby and Letang all too well; it's safe to say they'll still be giving them trouble tomorrow night.
For now, fans will look to see if New York can execute Sullivan's system effectively for the first time, as well as the Penguins' mix of youthful energy and veteran savvy. Whether it's the regular season or the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a game with these two is always destined to be one to remember. Either Sullivan earns himself a warm welcome from these New York fans, or Pittsburgh's new mix spoils the debut. A rivalry with history and star power, what a perfect way to kick off the NHL season.
