Rangers Seek Home Victory Against Struggling Wild Tonight

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Rangers host the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on Monday, October 20, at 7 p.m. ET. Both teams hope to break their current scoring woes and improve their season records.

The Rangers (3-3-1) aim to earn their first goal and win at home after suffering three consecutive shutout losses, marking an NHL record. They enter the game off a comeback victory against the Montreal Canadiens, where they scored three goals in the third period to win 4-2. Artemi Panarin led the charge with four points, including his first goal of the season.

Meanwhile, the Wild (2-3-1) have faced their struggles, allowing five goals or more three times in their six games thus far. Their coach, John Hynes, noted that they are currently fighting to solidify their defense, as they hold a 3.67 goals-against average.

Filip Gustavsson will start in goal for the Wild amidst concerns over injuries to key players, including Marco Rossi and Zach Bogosian. Rossi, who just ended a 173-game streak of consecutive games played, will miss this matchup due to a lower-body injury.

Sitting at the other end, Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin has been strong, with a .962 save percentage and allowing only five goals in five starts this season. His performances have helped the Rangers limit opponents to just 1.71 goals per game.

The Rangers anticipate the return of defenseman Carson Soucy from injury, adding depth to their defense. Soucy expressed optimism about his readiness to contribute after missing the previous four games.

With the stakes high, both teams are looking for critical points in the standings. Players to watch include Kirill Kaprizov for the Wild, who has nine points thus far, and Zibanejad for the Rangers, who will aim to generate power-play success after struggling early in the season.

The matchup could turn on how well teams execute on special teams, with the Rangers needing to stay disciplined against a Wild power play that features the talented Kaprizov.

The collision of styles and the urgent need for both teams to find their rhythm will make for an exciting encounter tonight.