While the Ottawa Senators made a blockbuster deal, the New York Rangers operated along the margins at the trade deadline and made their big move a few weeks ago.
Two teams with differing approaches at the deadline get together for a contest that has the feel of a postseason game Saturday afternoon when Ottawa hosts New York in a matchup of teams with 67 points.
Ottawa is trying to reach the postseason for the first time since 2017. With 21 games left, the Senators acquired Dylan Cozens and defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Buffalo Sabres for Josh Norris, who scored 20 goals.
Cozens is two years into a seven-year deal and is about two years younger than Norris. He scored 31 goals two seasons ago, finished with 18 last season and has 11 goals and 31 points this season.
“It’s the unfortunate reality of this being a business,” captain Brady Tkachuk said. “We’re getting back important pieces that are really going to help us. It sucks and it’s part of it. With (Cozens and Gilbert), we’re going to welcome them with open arms.
“I feel bad a little bit that this is the initial reaction. They’re going to understand why it’s a little bit of a whirlwind for me personally. That being said, it’s all about being a good captain, and a good teammate and making sure that they have everything that they need.”
Ottawa is 2-5-1 in its past eight games after going 10-2-1 in its previous 13 contests. Tim Stutzle scored his 20th goal 46 seconds into overtime in Wednesday’s 4-3 road victory over the Chicago Blackhawks and has five goals and 14 assists in a 13-game point streak.
The Rangers have earned a pair home wins over the Senators, whom they trail in points percentage but own six more regulation wins.
“It’s a huge game,” New York defenseman Will Borgen said after practice Friday. “We’re both fighting for a playoff spot. It’s going to be a playoff-like game. They’re going to be pushing and so are we.”
New York made its biggest move on Jan. 31 when it acquired J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks.
In the days before the deadline, New York added defensemen Calvin de Haan and Carson Soucy along with center Juuso Parssinen while trading Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith.
Soucy was obtained for a draft pick from the Vancouver Canucks and could be reunited with Borgen on the blue line after being teammates with him for the Seattle Kraken.
The Rangers are 15-7-4 since dropping 15 of 19 from Nov. 21-Dec. 30 in a stretch that saw them trade Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko.
The Rangers were unable to win a third straight game on Wednesday when they blew a third-period lead and took a 3-2 overtime home loss to the Washington Capitals after earning consecutive 4-0 wins.
Artemi Panarin scored in a third straight game for the first time this season and has five goals in his past 11 games. Sam Carrick also scored but the Rangers produced 17 shots on goal, their third-lowest total.
The Rangers were 0-for-4 on the power play and are 3-for-25 on the man advantage over their past 10 games.
New York held onto forward Chris Kreider, who has missed the past six games with an upper-body injury. Kreider may miss Saturday’s game but is flying with the Rangers to Ottawa.
–Field Level Media
