Rangers Look to Regroup Against Red-Hot Stars After Tough Weekend
After a weekend that delivered a gut punch on multiple fronts, the New York Rangers are back on home ice Tuesday night, trying to shake off a rough loss and a major injury blow as they host one of the NHL’s most complete teams - the Dallas Stars.
Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning wasn’t just a scoreboard defeat - it was a performance the Rangers themselves admitted lacked spark. Outside of a solid showing from Igor Shesterkin in net, the team looked flat.
And then came the real stinger: defenseman Adam Fox, one of the Rangers’ most important players, was placed on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury. He’s now set to miss at least 10 games.
The injury appeared to occur when Fox’s left arm got tangled up in a collision with Tampa’s Brandon Hagel. It didn’t look good in real time - and the news since has only confirmed that.
That’s a tough one-two punch for a Rangers squad that had just matched its season-high with a three-game win streak heading into that game. Now the question becomes: how quickly - and how effectively - can they bounce back?
“We laid an egg last game and it wasn’t good,” defenseman Will Borgen said Monday. “It’s time to respond.”
And respond they must - against a Dallas team that’s been one of the NHL’s steadiest performers over the past several seasons.
A Tale of Two Teams
The Rangers (13-12-1) have been streaky all season. They’ve strung together three separate three-game winning streaks, but they’ve also been bogged down by inconsistency - including a four-game losing streak and a pair of three-game skids.
One of the more glaring issues? Their home record.
While they’ve been excellent on the road (11-4-1), they’ve struggled mightily at Madison Square Garden, going just 2-8-1.
Now they’re up against a Dallas squad (17-5-4) that’s currently on a four-game win streak and has picked up points in six straight (5-0-1). Since November 8, the Stars are 10-1-1 - a blistering pace.
They’ve made the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons and have reached the Western Conference Final in each of the last three years. This team knows how to win - and they know how to do it consistently.
The Rangers did manage to split the season series with Dallas last year, with each team winning on the road. In fact, New York has points in eight of its last nine games against the Stars (6-1-2). But this version of the Stars is humming, and the Rangers are entering the game with more questions than answers.
3 Key Storylines to Watch
1. Shuffling the Deck Without Fox
Replacing Adam Fox is no small task. He’s not just a top-pair defenseman - he’s the engine behind so much of what the Rangers do, especially on the power play. With Fox out, the Rangers are shaking up their blue line.
Braden Schneider moves up to the top pair alongside Vladislav Gavrikov, while rookie Scott Morrow steps in on the third pair for his NHL debut. Morrow’s got upside, but this is a trial by fire against one of the league’s best offensive teams.
On the forward side, there’s another change. Adam Edstrom is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and either veteran Conor Sheary or 2021 first-round pick Brennan Othmann - just called up from AHL Hartford - will slot into the lineup. Sheary has been a healthy scratch for the last three games, while Othmann brings energy and scoring touch from the minors.
Taylor Raddysh, who missed Monday’s practice for personal reasons, is good to go and will play.
2. Power Play Goes All-In on Offense
With Fox unavailable to quarterback the top power-play unit, the Rangers are going with a bold look: five forwards.
Artemi Panarin will take over the point duties, flanked by Will Cuylle in front of the net, and the trio of Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck rounding out the unit. It’s a high-skill group, and Cuylle’s presence adds a gritty edge in front of the crease.
So why not plug in a defenseman like Morrow, Schneider, or Gavrikov?
“Because we don’t think that’s the strength to their games at this point,” head coach Mike Sullivan explained. **“Foxy is elite in that role - his vision, his puck distribution, his instincts.
We don’t necessarily think those other guys bring the same dynamic.” **
Still, Sullivan left the door open for adjustments. If the five-forward setup doesn’t click, Morrow is the likely next man up to get a shot on the top unit.
3. Dallas Brings Balance - and Firepower
The Stars don’t just win - they do it on both ends of the ice. They’re averaging 3.50 goals per game, third-best in the NHL, while allowing just 2.65, good for seventh. Their +22 goal differential trails only the Colorado Avalanche.
Braden Schneider didn’t mince words when asked about what the Rangers are up against.
“Talented, fast, hard group,” he said. **“They’ve been close in the playoffs a couple times.
They play fast and they can score goals. So, we have to make sure that we’re being the aggressor and taking it to them.”
**
One stat worth circling: Both the Rangers and Stars are 11-2-0 when scoring first. The first goal could go a long way in determining how this one plays out.
Projected Rangers Lineup
Forwards
Artemi Panarin - Mika Zibanejad - Alexis Lafreniere
J.T. Miller - Vincent Trocheck - Jonny Brodzinski
Will Cuylle - Noah Laba - Brett Berard
Conor Sheary - Sam Carrick - Taylor Raddysh
Defensemen
Vladislav Gavrikov - Braden Schneider
Carson Soucy - Will Borgen
Matthew Robertson - Scott Morrow
Goaltenders
Igor Shesterkin
Spencer Martin
Game Info
Matchup: New York Rangers vs. Dallas Stars
When: Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
Watch: MSG2
The Rangers don’t have time to dwell on what went wrong last weekend. With the Stars in town and Fox sidelined, this is a moment for the rest of the group to step up - and show what kind of resilience they really have.