Rangers vs. Kraken: Lineups, storylines seeking rare 3-game win streak

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Rangers vs. Kraken: Lineups, storylines seeking rare 3-game win streak

Rangers vs. Kraken: Lineups, storylines seeking rare 3-game win streak — Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Cerny · Forever Blueshirts

Sat, Nov 1, 2025 ·

6 min read

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It's been nearly a full year since the New York Rangers last won three games in a row. They can swat that monkey off their back with a victory against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena.

Ironically, their most recent three-game win streak Nov. 14-19, 2024, included a 2-0 shutout victory on the road over the Kraken . So, perhaps it's meant to be that the Rangers extend their winning streak to three games Saturday against this particular opponent.

OK, that's a bit of a reach. But not as crazy as the fact that the Rangers failed 10 times since — nine times last season and once this one — to win a third consecutive game.

Baby steps. But important ones for the Rangers to fully re-establish a winning culture after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history in 2024-25. In an another plot twist, there's a chance that this specific road trip to Western Canada and Seattle is a turning point — in a positive way — for the Rangers, just as this same trip a year ago was the beginning of the end for them.

The Rangers (5-5-2) rallied for a thrilling 4-3 overtime win Thursday in Edmonton against the Oilers. They overcame a 3-1 third-period deficit, when Braden Schneider and Taylor Raddysh scored clutch goals to pull them even, and J.T. Miller won it in OT.

That came on the heels of a 2-0 shutout win against the Vancouver Canucks . Of course, those two most recent victories followed a three-game winless skid (0-2-1), which included a pair of embarrassing losses to the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames .

So, there's nothing simple nor clearcut with this team. But there's no question that returning to Madison Square Garden next week on a three-game winning streak and taking three of four on an important road trip is a big deal, if the Rangers can get past the Kraken on Saturday.

"Hopefully [the win Thursday] can help propel us and keep this things going a little bit more in this road trip," Miller said . "We have a good chance to finish it off in the right way."

The Kraken (5-2-3) come off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. They did earn a point for the third straight game (2-0-1), scoring three goals in the third period to wipe out a 3-0 deficit and force overtime, before Cole Caufield won it for the Canadiens. Their 13 points through 10 games are most in franchise history.

Seattle's played six one-goal games out of their first 10, winning three in regulation and losing three in overtime (3-0-3). The Kraken have points in each of their seven games decided by two goals or fewer (4-0-3).

The Rangers are 6-1-1 all-time against the Kraken, though they lost the most recent meeting, 7-5 at Madison Square Garden last Dec. 8.

3 storylines when Rangers visit Kraken

NHL: New York Rangers at Seattle Kraken — Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

1. Powerful opportunity

The Rangers power play has been more disadvantage than advantage this season. New York dropped to 30th in the League (13.3 percent) and has one power-play goal in its past five games (11 opportunities). Mika Zibanejad has two of the Rangers' four power-play goals in 12 games. Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere are among those sitting on goose eggs.

Perhaps this is the night the Rangers will break through, however. The Kraken surrendered a pair of power-play goals against the Canadiens, and are 29th in the NHL on the penalty kill (64.0 percent). They've given up at least one power-play goal in seven of 10 games.

2. Where there's a Will

NHL: New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins — Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

All the attention seems to be on Ryan Lindgren and Kaapo Kakko ahead of this contest. It'll be Lindgren's first game against the Rangers since they traded him to the Colorado Avalanche last season, and subsequently signed as a free agent with the Kraken in the offseason. Kakko could return from a broken hand in time to make his season debut against the Rangers, which would also be his first game against them since they dealt him to the Kraken last December.

But let's not forget about Will Borgen . The Rangers defenseman was a member of the Kraken's inaugural team in 2021-22 and played four seasons with them, before he was included in the Kakko trade 11 months ago. This is his first game against his old club, too.

The 28-year-old's been a staple on the second defense pair with the Rangers ever since arriving on Broadway. Reliable in his own end, and with a serious compete level, Borgen quickly landed a five-year, $20.5 million contract with the Rangers after the trade. This season, he averages a career-high 18:51 TOI, has two assists in 12 games, and is third on the Rangers with 16 blocked shots and tied for seventh with 18 hits.

It'll be a flashback for Kraken fans when they see Borgen paired with Carson Soucy on Saturday. They formed a solid defense pairing for the Kraken in 2022-23, the only season Seattle reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

3. Keeping his Cool

Will Cuylle has just one goal this season, none at even strength, and hasn't hit the back of the net since Oct. 11. That was nine games ago. And this is despite a bump up into the top-six forward group and averaging 17:29 TOI, nearly two and a half minutes more per game than last season, when he scored 20 goals, mainly on the third line.

But Cuylle is finding ways to make a difference for the scoring-challenged Rangers. He carries a three-game point streak into Saturday, and was a force all night in the comeback win against the Oilers. He helped start the comeback in the third period, when he powered to the net, beginning the play that resulted in Schneider's goal that made it 3-2. The game before in Calgary, Cuylle made a brilliant pass off the rush to set up Zibanejad's game-opening goal.

The 23-year-old also has 44 hits, eighth-most in the NHL , after setting a Rangers record with 301 last season. In other words, he's doing a lot of really good things, and not letting his lack of goal scoring get in the way. With that approach, the goals should come soon enough for Cuylle.