Predators at Rangers
The Nashville Predators have ascended into the upper echelon of NHL teams while the New York Rangers have slipped out of that group and face a steep climb to find their way back. The Predators are among the favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup as they prepare to kick off the season against the rebuilding Rangers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
Nashville made a surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016-17 and proved it was no fluke by winning the Presidents' Trophy last season, only to be bounced in the second round of the playoffs by Winnipeg -- which had the league's second-highest point total. "I think we've taken some steps in the right direction," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "There's some good things that we've done. There's some positive things that we've done. But at the end of the day, it's about winning that last game and being ahead until the last minute of a season ticks off." Meanwhile, the Rangers tumbled to the bottom of the Metropolitan Division following three straight 100-point seasons and started their roster overhaul with a flurry of deals leading up to the trade deadline last season. “It’s a honeymoon for everybody right now,” said first-year coach David Quinn, who was hired away from Boston University to replace Alain Vigneault and oversee the expected growing pains. “I’m fully aware of that.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (2017-18: 53-18-11, 1ST IN CENTRAL): Having the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and a defensive corps that is the envy of most NHL teams is reason enough for lofty expectations. Netminder Pekka Rinne struggled mightily in the postseason versus Winnipeg but Nashville has a capable backup in fellow Finn Juuse Saros, who had a .925 save percentage last season. Both goalies have the luxury of being fronted by a blue-line unit that added Dan Hamhuis to the stellar foursome of P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm. Filip Forsbeg and Viktor Arvidsson flank Ryan Johansen on a top-flight No. 1 line while Kevin Fiala is coming off a 23-goal season.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (2017-18: 34-39-9, 8TH in METROPOLITAN): Henrik Lundqvist has been the one constant for New York since he arrived on Broadway, but he is now 36 and posted the worst goals-against average (2.98) of his career last season. "I’ve used this training camp to go back to my roots by being patient, playing deep in my net," Lundqvist said. "It’s what I trust. It’s my game. It’s who I always was as a goalie.” Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich form the No. 1 line for a team that is hoping for the emergence of young centers Filip Chytil and Brett Howden. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk will be counted on after playing in just 46 games last season.
OVERTIME
1. Rinne was 17-7-2 with a 2.07 GAA on the road last season.
2. Zibanejad notched a career-high 27 goals last season, including 14 on the power play.
3. Nashville scored 10 short-handed goals last season -- twice as many as New York.