Metropolitan Division rivals collide at Madison Square Garden this Saturday as New York Rangers host the the Pittsburgh Penguins. Following the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, both teams are navigating the “Milan Hangover,” but their trajectories couldn’t be more different. Pittsburgh (30-15-12) sits second in the Metro with 72 points, firmly in the playoff hunt despite a devastating blow to their captain. Conversely, the Rangers (22-29-7) have pivoted into “retool” mode after trading superstar Artemi Panarin and are struggling at the bottom of the division. With health concerns and roster shakeups defining the post-break landscape, this matinee matchup is a test of depth and desperation. Continue reading to get my Penguins vs Rangers prediction.
Our Penguins vs Rangers Pick
Pick:
Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
- Date & Time: Saturday, February 28, 2026, 12:30 PM ET
- Venue: Madison Square Garden
- Broadcast: TNT, Max, SN-PIT
Pittsburgh Penguins Injury Report
The Penguins are facing their toughest stretch of the season with their franchise icon sidelined, forcing head coach Dan Muse to lean on his depth scoring.
- Sidney Crosby (C): Out. The captain is on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury sustained during the Olympic quarterfinals and is expected to miss at least four weeks.
- Filip Hallander (C): Expected to miss another week.
- Stuart Skinner (G): Rumor has it that Skinner might be traded, which is surprising
New York Rangers Injury Report
The Rangers are battered and their season is shifting into a long, slow goodbye.
- Igor Shesterkin (G): Returned to action on Thursday night against the Flyers.
- Adam Fox (D): Returned to action on Thursday night against the Flyers.
- Matt Rempe (RW): Out until mid-March Undergoing a second procedure on his thumb; expected to miss several weeks.
- Artemi Panarin (LW): Traded to Los Angeles Kings before the Olympic break.
Key Storylines
The Offensive Vacuum
The Rangers are a shell of their former selves after trading Artemi Panarin to the Kings. The good news is that Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin returned to action this week. Pittsburgh, despite missing Crosby’s 59 points, still possesses significant firepower in Anthony Mantha (20 goals) and Evgeni Malkin, and the Penguin’s are now 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. No one can overestimate the loss of Crosby, but Malkin has done well “on his own”, when Crosby was out in previous seasons.
Penguins vs Rangers Model Projection
Score Projection:
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Final Thoughts
