On Sunday, January 5, 2025, the New York Rangers are set to face off against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center at 3:00 PM ET. This matchup not only features two Original Six teams but also highlights the contrasting fortunes of each franchise this season.
Both teams come to this encounter with struggles prominently on their minds. The New York Rangers, once celebrated as defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, currently find themselves mired at the bottom of the league standings, with just 17 wins against 20 losses. The situation has grown dire considering they have dropped five of their last six games, including a regrettable 7-4 loss to the Washington Capitals just the day prior to this game. This loss has contributed to their poor record of 16 losses out of 21 games, which brings their points percentage to .226 — the worst stretch they’ve faced all season. Clearly, the Rangers are desperate to find their feet again against the league's last-placed team, Chicago Blackhawks.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks, with their 13-24-2 record, are optimistic about building upon their recent performances, even though they too have won only once of their previous six encounters. Led by young sensation Connor Bedard, who has accrued 34 points this season—ranking him among the league leaders—the Blackhawks are eager to seek another victory after managing to snap their five-game losing streak with the win against the Montreal Canadiens on the previous Friday night.
Fans eagerly anticipating this matchup should keep their eyes on Bedard, whose prowess not only encompasses scoring but also includes playmaking—evidenced by his impressive 24 assists this season. According to ESPN, he has proven to be the top offensive contributor for his team and is central to their strategies as they face the Rangers.
For the Rangers, they may have to tackle this game without superstar goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who is currently on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. That leaves the responsibility to veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick and promising netminder Louis Domingue, who is likely to make his first start of the season. Quick posted solid numbers this season, but his recent performance against the Capitals leaves room for concern. The Rangers have had noticeable struggles on the defensive end, which typically has been their strong suit. They’ve allowed five or more goals multiple times, with their defensive lapses casting doubt upon the entire team's cohesiveness.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette has been upfront about finding solutions. He stated, "We’re still trying to find ways to win, and this is one match we need to take seriously," hinting at the urgency both for his job security and the team’s playoff aspirations. The Rangers desperately need to right their ship before it completely sinks, particularly against weaker opponents like the Blackhawks.
Another element to watch will be the defense. With players like Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren struggling of late, Laviolette faces choices on whether to insert Zac Jones to provide fresh energy within the back end. Jones has been healthy yet uninvolved recently, which raises questions about his future with the team. Many fans and analysts are curious whether the time has come for the coach to experiment with Jones on the ice again, particularly following the Rangers’ disastrous outing against the Capitals.
Taking this all under consideration, the Rangers’ options and lineup variability suggest they might be able to exploit the Blackhawks’ own defensive flaws. They must find ways to sustain any momentum they capture during the game, as historically, they have struggled to maintain leads or capitalize effectively after scoring.
Reflecting on their previous match on December 9, when the Rangers fell 2-1 at Madison Square Garden, they will surely aim for redemption. This loss lingered as yet another point of pain during what has already been described as season-threatening. Now, with pressure mounting to perform and turn out positive outcomes, the stakes have never been higher.
How do the Rangers navigate this treacherous pathway? With six teams currently between them and the second wild card position, they must muster everything they have to turn this season around against the lowly Blackhawks. A victory could aid the Rangers' confidence—and perhaps spark the streak they’ve been searching for.
The game will be broadcasted on ABC and may also be streamed via Fubo, where fans can catch every exhilarating moment of what's shaping up to be not just another game but perhaps one of their most pivotal matchups of the season.
It's certainly one the Rangers cannot afford to take lightly.