New York’s stronger season profile meets a Kings team desperate to stop its early-season drift.
New York has a chance to steady its course at Madison Square Garden, while Los Angeles needs points to climb from the bottom end of the power index. The Rangers are 7-5-1 with 15 points but have lost two straight; the Kings are 2-5-2 with six points and fell 3-1 to New Jersey in their latest game. The scoring matchup features Alexis Lafrenière and Adam Fox, tied for New York’s lead with 15 points apiece, against Artemi Panarin, who has nine points in nine games for Los Angeles. New York’s .906 team save percentage and No. 11 power-index rank top the Kings’ .890 and No. 28 marks, so the Rangers’ edge depends on turning that profile into a steadier performance.