Rangers Limp Into San Jose as Sharks Eye Playoff Push Behind Celebrini's Star Power
Two teams on very different trajectories meet Friday night at the SAP Center, as the New York Rangers visit the surging San Jose Sharks in what could be a telling matchup for both franchises.
Let’s not sugarcoat it - the Rangers (21-24-6) are in a tailspin. After entering the season with playoff aspirations, they’ve hit the skids hard and officially hit the reset button last week, signaling a retooling phase that fans hoped wouldn’t come this soon.
They’ve dropped seven of their last eight and currently sit dead last in the Eastern Conference. Offensively, it’s been a grind - they’re 27th in the league in scoring, managing just 2.66 goals per game, and their -21 goal differential is the worst in the East.
The issues run deeper than just the numbers. The Rangers look outmatched most nights - not just in execution, but in pace and energy.
There’s a lack of depth, and the roster often looks a step behind the play. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that was supposed to be building toward something bigger this season.
On the other side, the Sharks (25-21-3) are flipping the script. A team that many pegged as a year or two away from serious contention is right in the thick of the Western Conference wild card race, tied with the Seattle Kraken for the second spot. If they can hold on, it would mark their first playoff appearance since the 2018-19 season - and it’s not hard to see why they’re trending up.
Despite allowing 3.51 goals per game - third-most in the NHL - San Jose is finding ways to win. They’ve leaned into their young core, and the energy is palpable.
The Sharks have been road warriors lately, playing nine of ten away from home, and Friday’s tilt is their lone home game in that stretch. They split their last four on the road, including a 4-1 loss to the Lightning on Tuesday.
After this, they’re off on a five-game road trip that runs right up to the Olympic break.
The Rangers, meanwhile, wrap up a four-game road swing of their own. They started it with a win in Philly, but then dropped back-to-back one-goal games in Southern California, including a 4-3 loss to the Kings on Tuesday.
This is the second and final meeting between these two teams this season. The first? A wild 6-5 overtime win for San Jose at Madison Square Garden back in October - a game that saw rookie phenom Macklin Celebrini set up Will Smith for the OT winner.
3 Storylines to Watch Friday Night
1. Sharks Trying to Break the Rangers Hex
Despite their current struggles, the Rangers have historically dominated the Sharks. Including that OT loss in October, New York has earned points in 14 straight games against San Jose (11-0-3). Since the Sharks joined the league in 1991-92, the Rangers are 35-10-3 with four ties against them - that .740 points percentage is their second-best against any NHL franchise.
There’s also a bit of a reunion theme in this one. Rangers assistant coach David Quinn returns to San Jose, where he served as head coach for two seasons from 2022 to 2024. And for head coach Mike Sullivan, this trip is personal - he made his NHL debut with the Sharks back in 1991, playing three seasons in teal.
San Jose’s roster features a few familiar faces for Rangers fans, too. Forwards Barclay Goodrow, Ryan Reaves, and Alex Wennberg all spent time in New York.
2. Braden Schneider Under the Microscope
Braden Schneider’s been thrown into the deep end this season, and lately, the water’s been rough. The 22-year-old defenseman was serviceable when filling in for Adam Fox during a 14-game absence in December, but with Fox sidelined again, Schneider’s recent play has taken a hit.
Against the Kings on Tuesday, he was on the ice for three goals against and took two penalties in the second period that stalled any Rangers momentum. No Rangers player has been on the ice for more five-on-five goals against this season than Schneider (45), and his expected goal share sits at a concerning 44.24%, per Natural Stat Trick.
That said, there’s still plenty of league-wide interest in the young blueliner. Several teams are reportedly circling, including - you guessed it - the Sharks. With the Rangers in retool mode, Schneider's name could surface in trade talks, making his performance Friday night at SAP Center particularly interesting.
3. Celebrini: The Sharks’ Rising Star
Macklin Celebrini is quickly becoming must-watch hockey. The 19-year-old is putting together a rookie season for the ages, with 73 points (24 goals, 48 assists) in 49 games - trailing only Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Nikita Kucherov in the scoring race.
Sharks head coach Mike Sullivan, who spent a decade coaching Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh, didn’t shy away from the comparison.
“I think they have a young Sidney Crosby in Celebrini,” Sullivan said Thursday. “He not only has elite skill, but he’s got an elite work ethic. And that’s most specifically what reminds me of the way Sid approached the game.”
That’s high praise - and not unwarranted. Celebrini lit up the Rangers in their previous meeting, posting a season-high eight points (three goals, five assists). While he’s cooled off slightly with just two assists in his last five games, you can bet he’ll be circled in red on every Rangers scouting report.
Projected Rangers Lineup
Forwards:
- Gabe Perreault - J.T.
Miller - Mika Zibanejad
- Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafrenière
- Brennan Othmann - Noah Laba - Will Cuylle
- Anton Blidh - Sam Carrick - Taylor Raddysh
Defense:
- Vladislav Gavrikov - Braden Schneider
- Carson Soucy - Will Borgen
- Matthew Robertson - Scott Morrow
Goaltenders:
- Jonathan Quick
- Spencer Martin
Game Info
Matchup: New York Rangers vs. San Jose Sharks
Date: Friday, January 23
Time: 10:00 p.m.
ET
Location: SAP Center, San Jose
Watch: MSG
With the Sharks surging and the Rangers searching for answers, Friday’s game offers more than just two points - it’s a snapshot of two franchises heading in very different directions.