Revenge Game Canceled: Mats Zuccarello Out Against Rangers
The revenge game is officially on ice. Mats Zuccarello will not be suiting up for the Los Angeles Kings tonight against his old squad, the New York Rangers, thanks to an upper-body injury reported by Daily Faceoff.
Missing your veteran right winger is never ideal, especially when you are walking into Madison Square Garden trying to get back in the win column. Anyone holding a ticket on Kings player props tonight just got a forced pivot, as Los Angeles will have to shuffle their top six to replace his production.
The Kings are trying to wash out the taste of a 3-1 loss to the on Saturday. Before that offensive disappearing act, Los Angeles had been comfortably rolling through the Metro division, picking up solid road wins against the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals.
On the other side of the rink, the Rangers are dealing with an absolute mess in their own zone. New York just surrendered seven goals to the Ottawa Senators in a 7-4 blowout, which came right after dropping a 5-4 game to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Rangers' defense has been leaking oil like a neglected commuter sedan, making Zuccarello's absence a massive missed opportunity for the Kings. When a team is giving up five-plus goals a night, you want every offensive weapon you have on the ice to take advantage of the chaos.
Los Angeles will have to figure out their line combinations quickly before tonight's puck drop. If Zuccarello cannot get right by Wednesday, the Kings will be missing a key piece when they pack up and head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks.