The New York Rangers vs Seattle Kraken preview begins with a back-to-back for New York, which visits Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday, Nov. 7 one night after beating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. The Rangers (9-7-1) have won consecutive games for the first time in several weeks, while the Kraken (9-5-1) enter off a 2-1 overtime win over the Calgary Flames on Nov. 5. Seattle sits third in the Pacific Division, and New York is third in the Metropolitan, making this an early-season measuring stick between two teams fighting for playoff positioning in their respective conferences.
Rangers Vs Kraken Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 7
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
- Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSG, MSG2, KONG, Prime Video (Local)
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
Rangers Outlook
New York has strung together back-to-back wins, beating the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Nov. 4 and the Flyers 3-2 on Nov. 6, after dropping three straight before that stretch. The Rangers’ .903 save percentage and 2.88 goals-against average both sit ahead of Seattle’s marks, and their 433 shots on goal lead this matchup by 51. Adam Fox leads the team with 21 points, including an NHL-leading 19 assists among Rangers skaters, while Alexis Lafreniere paces the club with nine goals.
Dylan Garand is the projected starting goalie for New York with Igor Shesterkin still on injured reserve recovering from right knee surgery and not expected back before the 2027-28 season opener window, according to his listed return date of Sept. 15, 2027. The Rangers are also without defenseman Sean Durzi (undisclosed, targeting a Nov. 9 return), forward Joe Veleno (right lower body, targeting Jan. 3), forward Aidan Thompson (undisclosed, targeting Nov. 13) and winger Adam Sykora (lower body, targeting Jan. 25), all on injured reserve.
Kraken Outlook
Seattle has alternated wins and losses over its last five games, capped by Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime victory over Calgary. The Kraken’s 52.7% faceoff rate and 11 power-play goals both top New York’s figures, and their 13.6% team shooting percentage is the better mark in this preview. Berkly Catton leads Seattle in points with 12, Kaapo Kakko paces the team with 10 assists, and Frederick Gaudreau’s seven goals lead all Kraken skaters.
Philipp Grubauer is projected to start in goal for Seattle, which is dealing with a lengthy injured reserve list. Forward Jared McCann (lower body) is not expected back until Jan. 2, defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) is targeting Nov. 19, and centers Curtis Douglas (upper body) and Jake O’Brien (lower body) both carry a Nov. 12 target date. Winger Jacob Melanson (chest) is listed for a Dec. 1 return.
Key Matchup
New York’s defensive numbers against Seattle’s offensive depth will decide much of this game. The Rangers allow 2.88 goals per game on a .903 save percentage, while the Kraken have scored 52 goals on a 13.6% shooting rate, the better conversion mark between the two clubs. Seattle also owns a 52.7% faceoff percentage, meaning puck possession off draws could set up more scoring chances against a Rangers penalty-kill unit facing a Kraken power play that has already produced 11 goals. New York’s response comes on special teams of its own and at even strength, where its 433 shots on goal, 51 more than Seattle has generated, suggest a volume shooting approach can offset the Kraken’s finishing edge if Garand holds up in net.
What To Watch
Both teams sit outside their division’s top two spots but within striking distance, with the Rangers at 19 points in the Metropolitan and the Kraken at 19 points in the Pacific. A Rangers win would extend their current streak to three games for the first time this season, while a Kraken win would keep pace with Edmonton and Vegas atop the Pacific. With both starting goalies listed as projected rather than confirmed, any late change to Garand or Grubauer would be worth tracking closer to puck drop.
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