Rangers Limp Into Pittsburgh as Penguins Stay Hot: 3 Key Storylines to Watch
The New York Rangers head to Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon to close out what’s been, frankly, a brutal January. The month started with promise - a 5-1 statement win over the Florida Panthers at the Winter Classic in Miami - but quickly spiraled into one of the roughest stretches in recent franchise memory.
Since that outdoor showcase, the Rangers have gone just 3-9-1, dropping 10 of their last 12 games. And the hits haven’t just been on the scoreboard.
Losing both Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox to lower-body injuries in the same game on January 5 was a gut punch. Neither player has suited up since, and their absence has been felt in every zone.
Now, with the team sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings (22-27-6), the Rangers have pivoted toward a roster retool. Artemi Panarin, their top scorer, will sit for a third straight game Saturday as the team explores trade options.
Meanwhile, the Penguins have gone in the complete opposite direction. Pittsburgh has caught fire since the NHL holiday break, going 12-2-2 since December 28 and riding a five-game winning streak into this weekend.
Their latest effort? A dominant 6-2 win over Chicago on Thursday that kept them rolling in second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Saturday’s matinee is the third of four meetings between these division rivals this season. The series is split so far - Pittsburgh blanked New York 3-0 on opening night at Madison Square Garden, while the Rangers responded with a 6-1 drubbing in Pittsburgh just four nights later. Interestingly, the Rangers have won five straight games at PPG Paints Arena, but they’ll need a near-perfect effort to extend that streak.
Let’s break down the three biggest storylines heading into this one:
1. Coaching Crossroads: Sullivan Returns to Pittsburgh
Saturday’s game will carry more emotional weight than most for Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan. Before taking over behind the bench in New York, Sullivan spent a decade in Pittsburgh, leading the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. The team will honor the 2016 championship squad with a pregame ceremony - a celebration that’s sure to stir up some mixed emotions for the man who helped build that legacy.
Now, Sullivan finds himself steering a Rangers team that’s fallen hard in his first season at the helm. Injuries, inconsistency, and underperformance have all plagued the Blueshirts, and Sullivan’s challenge is no longer about contending - it’s about reshaping the future.
Across the ice, Dan Muse is thriving in his first NHL head coaching gig. Muse, who spent two seasons as an assistant with the Rangers under Peter Laviolette, has quickly made his mark in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins are playing with structure, confidence, and pace - and Muse’s name is already being floated in Jack Adams Award conversations. He may not have Sullivan’s pedigree just yet, but he’s got the Penguins playing their best hockey in years.
2. The Core That Still Carries Pittsburgh
While the Rangers are in the midst of an identity shift, trying to figure out who their next core will be, the Penguins are still riding the steady hands of their championship trio: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.
Crosby, now 38, continues to defy time. He leads Pittsburgh with 27 goals and 57 points in 52 games, once again averaging over a point per game - something he’s done every single season of his 20-year NHL career. He’ll be captaining Team Canada at the upcoming 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina, and he's showing no signs of slowing down.
Malkin and Letang, both pushing 40, remain vital pieces as well. Malkin, who missed time earlier this season with a shoulder injury, is second on the team with 41 points in just 37 games.
He recently hinted at playing one more season after this one, and he’s still producing like a top-six center. Letang, meanwhile, is second among Penguins defensemen in scoring and continues to log heavy minutes - over 22 minutes per game.
Both are questionable for Saturday’s game after missing Friday’s practice for medical reasons, but their presence in the lineup, when healthy, remains massive.
3. Is This Trocheck’s Last Game in Pittsburgh as a Ranger?
Vincent Trocheck has been one of the few constants for the Rangers this season. Since signing in 2022, the Pittsburgh native has become a cornerstone of the team - a gritty, two-way center who wins faceoffs, plays in all situations, and leads by example. But with the Rangers shifting into seller mode ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, Trocheck’s days in New York may be numbered.
He’s arguably the team’s most valuable trade chip, even more so than Panarin. At 32, Trocheck still has three years left on a team-friendly $5.625 million cap hit and carries only a limited no-trade clause. That kind of control, combined with his playoff experience and versatility, makes him a prime target for contenders looking to add a battle-tested center.
Trocheck hasn’t scored in his last 10 games, but he’s still contributed seven assists during that span. Whether that’s a sign of the trade rumors weighing on him or just a cold streak is anyone’s guess. But if this truly is his final game in his hometown as a Ranger, it’ll be one to watch.
Projected Rangers Lineup
Forwards:
Gabe Perreault - J.T.
Miller - Mika Zibanejad
Will Cuylle - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Brennan Othmann - Noah Laba - Taylor Raddysh
Brett Berard - Sam Carrick - Matt Rempe
Defense:
Vladislav Gavrikov - Braden Schneider
Matthew Robertson - Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen - Scott Morrow
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Spencer Martin
Game Info
Matchup: New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
When: Saturday, Jan. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
How to Watch: ABC
The Rangers are limping into this one, both literally and figuratively, while the Penguins are surging with confidence. Whether it’s an emotional return for Sullivan, a potential farewell for Trocheck, or another chapter in Crosby’s ageless brilliance, this game has no shortage of storylines. Buckle up.