The New York Rangers open their season Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins, and it already feels like an early measuring stick.
After missing the playoffs for the last couple of years, New York spent the offseason trying to push this group forward. The roster looks improved, but the real question is still hanging there: how good can this team actually be? Boston, a playoff team last year, gives the Rangers a solid first crack at finding out.
There hasn’t been much runway for either side to get ready. The condensed offseason left most players with just two preseason games and not many days at training camp, so the early going could be a little rough around the edges. Even so, it should be a lively start to the year.
The expected lineup doesn’t bring many surprises. Matt Rempe looks set to start on the fourth line, a move that had been trending that way for the past week or so. His usage may still shift from game to game depending on the opponent.
Another spot that looked like it might become a real battle, the left side of the third pair, appears settled too. Alberts Smits had the inside track and never gave it back, and the fifth overall pick is set to make his debut alongside Braden Schneider.
The Rangers would love nothing more than to start fast after struggling early last season, especially in the goal-scoring department. They added Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights to help in that area.
It’s only one game, but the opener can shape the mood around the team right away. For a Rangers club trying to take a step forward, beating the Bruins on night one would mean plenty.
In Other News...
Bruins Opening Night Roster Comes With Two Early Concerns
Opening night is finally set for the Bruins, and the roster theyll bring to TD Garden against the Rangers has a different look than the one fans were expecting a few weeks ago. Boston has settled on a group of 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders, with newcomers like JJ Peterka and Will Borgen part of the mix as the club starts the 2026-27 season with some fresh pieces in place.
The early challenge, though, is obvious before the puck even drops. Charlie McAvoy will be unavailable for the first six games, and Matt Poitras is beginning the year on injured reserve, leaving Boston to sort out its lineup balance right away. For a team that wanted a stable start, those absences turn an opening-night home date into an immediate test of depth and adaptability. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Open Season Facing An Early Lineup Test Against The Rangers
The Bruins open their 2026-27 season under the bright lights, with a nationally televised date against the Rangers on ESPN giving the club an immediate measuring stick. It is also a first look at how Bostons reworked roster will hold up after a summer that brought some notable personnel movement between these two teams, setting up a matchup with a little more edge than a typical opener.
Charlie McAvoys six-game suspension leaves Boston shorthanded on the blue line, and Will Borgen is expected to slide into a major role alongside Hampus Lindholm right away. Jeremy Swayman is lined up to start in goal for the Bruins, while Igor Shesterkin is expected to go for New York, making the first night of the season as much about early stability as it is about the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Open With A Roster Tension Fans Can't Ignore
The Bruins open their season at home against the Rangers, and the first night already carries a little extra weight beyond the usual October atmosphere. Boston spent the offseason trying to sharpen the roster with additions like JJ Peterka, Will Borgen and Connor Clifton, signaling a clear push to look more complete right away and give the new group a faster foundation.
Even with those changes, there is still a sense that the roster is not fully settled, which is part of what makes the early stretch worth watching. Peterka and rookie James Hagens are expected to help drive the scoring, but the bigger question for Boston is how the lineup holds together if the results do not come quickly, especially with several players already mentioned in trade speculation around the league. [Read more 🡒]