Game Preview: New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins, 10/9/2024

Who: New York Rangers (0-0-0, 0 points) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (0-0-0, 0 points)

When: 7:30 p.m. ET

How to Watch: Nationally televised game on TNT, streaming on Max

Pens’ Path Ahead: It’s going to be a sprint right out the gate for the Pens. They play again tomorrow then have a dreaded three games in four days (and four games in six, five in eight and all the way up to 10 games in the first 17 days) right off the bat. And an early road trip with Pittsburgh going to Detroit tomorrow night, followed by Toronto on Saturday night and then in Montreal on Monday and it’s going to be a whirlwind right from the jump. The Pens are back home again a week from today to host the Sabres.

Opponent Track: Today is also the Rangers’ first game of the 2024-25 season. Their starting schedule is not nearly as hectic, NYR is off after today until a home game on Saturday night against Utah.

Season Series: The Pens and Rangers link up again on December 6th in New York, followed by another meeting at Madison Square Garden on February 7th. After that, NYR comes back to Pittsburgh on Feb. 23rd and the two rivals will be done playing each other somewhat early on for divisional foes that will have no March or April games this year.

Hidden Stat: Pittsburgh is 30-16-10 all-time in home openers, including a 7-3-1 mark in its last 11 games (stick tap to Pens PR).

Getting to know the Rangers

Projected lines

Chris Kreider - Mika Zibanejad - Reilly Smith