While the Ottawa Senators made a blockbuster agreement, the New York Rangers operated along the margins at the trade deadline and made their big move a few weeks ago.
Two teams with different approaches at the deadline meet for a competition that has the feeling of a game after the season afternoon when Ottawa hosts New York in a matchup of teams with 67 points.
Ottawa is trying to reach the season for the first time since 2017. With 21 matches left, the senators acquired Dylan Cozens and defender Dennis Gilbert from Buffalo Sabers for Josh Norris, who scored 20 goals.
Cozens is two years in a seven -year agreement 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 is the unfortunate reality that this is a company,” said Captain Brady Tkachuk. “We get back important pieces that will really help us. It sucks and that is part of it. With (Cozens and Gilbert) we will welcome them with open arms.
“I feel a little bit because this is the first reaction. They will understand why it is a bit of a whirlwind for me personally. As I said, it’s about being a good captain and a good teammate and make sure they have everything they need.”
Ottawa is 2-5-1 in its last eight matches after going 10-2-1 in its previous 13 competitions. Tim Stutzle scored his 20th goal 46 seconds to overtime in Wednesday’s 4-3 road victory over the Chicago Blackhawks and has five goals and 14 assists in a 13-game point.
Rangers have earned a couple of home victory over the senators, which they track in score but owns another six regulatory winners.
“It’s a huge game,” said New York defender Will Borgen after training Friday. “We both fight for a playoffs. It will be a playoff-like game. They will press and we are too.”
New York made its biggest move on January 31 when it acquired JT Miller from Vancouver Canucks.
On the days before the deadline, New York filed defender Calvin De Haan and Carson Souny together with the Center Juuso Parsinen while shopping for Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith.
Souy was obtained for a draft from Vancouver Canucks and could be reunited with the castle on the blue line after being teammates with him for the Seattle Kraken.
Rangers is 15-7-4 since they fell 15 of 19 from November 21-Dec. 30 In a distance that saw them shop Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko.
Rangers could not win a third straight match on Wednesday when they blew a third period lead and took a 3-2 overtime home loss to Washington Capitals after earning the following 4-0 wins.
Artemi Panarin made in a third straight match for the first time this season and has five goals during its last 11 games. Sam Carrick also scored, but Rangers produced 17 shots on goal, their third lowest total.
Rangers was 0-for-4 on Power Play and is 3-for-25 on the men’s advantage in the last ten matches.
New York was going forward Chris Kreider, who has missed the last six games with an upper body injury. Kreider can miss Saturday’s game but fly with Rangers to Ottawa.
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