The New York Rangers announced their schedule for the 2024-25 NHL season at the beginning of July. After winning the Presidents Trophy last year but once again falling short in the postseason, the Blueshirts will be looking to take the next step and advance to Stanley Cup champions. With all 82 games this season sure to bring excitement, there are five in particular that should be considered must-watch television.
1. Rangers begin their season on October 9th in Pittsburgh
The Blueshirts’ season opener will take place on October 9th at 7:30 PM EST. New York will be on the road to start off the year as they march into Pittsburgh to take on their divisional rivals, the Penguins.
The Penguins had a rough season last year, finishing fifth in the Metropolitan Division and narrowly missing the playoffs for just the second time in 17 seasons. Pittsburgh is still a formidable opponent, however, as they’ve beaten the Rangers seven times in their last 10 matchups (excluding playoffs).
Another exciting factor aside from the start of the season is Reilly Smith’s quick return to Pittsburgh. Smith was acquired by the Rangers earlier in July, and he will not have to waste any time before returning home to face his former team.
2. Rangers’ home opener is their first-ever matchup against Utah on October 12th
Three days after their season opener in Pittsburgh, the Blueshirts will return to Madison Square Garden for their home opener on October 12th at 7:00 PM EST. This time they will take on the currently unnamed Utah Hockey Club for the first time in history.
Utah is joining the NHL after the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes, a team that will no longer exist moving forward. Since being formed, Utah has made strides to become competitive right away. Their most notable acquisition this summer has been defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It will not only be exciting to see the Rangers play at MSG for the first time this season, but also against Utah for the first time in history.
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3. The first Eastern Conference Final rematch will be hosted at MSG on October 24th
The Rangers had a solid playoff run last season, coming within two wins of their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance since 2014. Their dream was cut short as they lost to the Florida Panthers in six games, who would go on to win their first championship against the Edmonton Oilers.
This loss still stings for the Blueshirts, but they won’t have to wait long to seek vengeance on the Panthers. On October 24th at 7:00 PM EST, Florida will make their way north to MSG to face the Rangers for the first time this season. Both teams remain as top contenders in the NHL, and this matchup should possess some of the physicality left over from their hard-fought ECF series.
4. Rangers take on McDavid and the Oilers for Hockey Night in Canada on November 23rd
On November 23rd at 8:00 PM EST, the Rangers will face off against some of the best talent in the world as they travel northwest to Edmonton. Connor McDavid and the Oilers came one win away from winning the Stanley Cup last season, nearly ending a 34-year championship drought.
The Oilers may have star talents like McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman, but the Rangers have the skills to counter them with the support of Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, Igor Shesterkin, and more. It will be an exciting matchup for sure, as either team has the chance to come out on top.
Being a primetime matchup, the first Rangers-Oilers matchup of the season will be shown on Hockey Night in Canada, a television staple for decades. It’s the “Monday Night Football” for hockey, and it should bring in a tremendous audience from fans in both Canada and the United States.
5. Rangers enter the holiday season with a matinee game against their bitter divisional rivals on December 23rd
Two days before Christmas, the Rangers will face the Devils at 1:00 PM EST in New Jersey. The Devils are perhaps the Blueshirts’ biggest rivals currently, setting the stage for a hard-fought battle before entering a holiday season bye week. The two teams faced off in the 2022-23 playoffs, where the Devils beat the Rangers in seven games.
Although New Jersey missed the playoffs last year, they are determined to come back this season with the intention of re-establishing themselves as Stanley Cup contenders once again. They have some dominant stars returning such as Jack Hughes, but also had a solid offseason by signing elite defenseman Brett Pesce. In a game that will surely be rather violent right before the holiday season, the Rangers will have to give it their all to beat their rivals in their second head-to-head matchup of the year.