The New York head into their March 29, 2025, road matchup against the San Jose Sharks sitting in the middle of the Eastern Conference wild card race with a 35-30-7 record. It’s a precarious position that leaves little room for error down the stretch, and this meeting with the struggling Sharks presents an opportunity the Rangers can’t afford to squander. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, every point becomes vital, and a matchup against one of the league’s bottom-tier teams like San Jose is a chance to bank two much-needed points. The Rangers have played relatively well on the road of late, covering the puck line in six of their last ten games, and will be looking to capitalize on their favorable historical performance against the Sharks — they’re 8-2 in their last 10 head-to-head meetings and have collected points in 10 straight matchups (8-0-2) going back to 2018. Offensively, New York is powered by the dynamic Artemi Panarin, who has led the team throughout the season with 75 points, including 31 goals and 44 assists. Panarin remains one of the league’s most creative forwards, and his ability to generate plays off the rush or from the half wall on the power play makes him the focal point of the Rangers’ offensive strategy. Alongside him, Chris Kreider continues to be a net-front menace, tallying 28 goals this season, many coming from redirections and rebounds on the power play or in close. The continued growth of Alexis Lafrenière has provided the team with another scoring option, and Vincent Trocheck’s two-way game has brought stability to the middle six.

The Rangers are averaging just under three goals per game and operate a power play that ranks in the league’s middle tier at 21%, but with players like Panarin and Adam Fox on the point, they remain a threat on every man-advantage opportunity. Defensively, New York has had stretches of strong play mixed with bouts of inconsistency. They allow an average of 3.0 goals per game, a number they’d like to trim down as the postseason approaches. Adam Fox anchors the blue line, providing elite puck-moving skills and sound positional play, while Ryan Lindgren and K’Andre Miller round out the top four. Injuries and inconsistent performances from the bottom-pairing defensemen have occasionally led to high-danger chances against, particularly late in games. In net, Igor Shesterkin remains the team’s backbone. Though his overall numbers have dipped slightly compared to past seasons, he still carries a strong 2.65 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Shesterkin is more than capable of stealing games, and his ability to handle a heavy workload will be critical during this playoff push. As they prepare to face the Sharks, the Rangers will look to jump out to an early lead and assert control over a team that has struggled to play from behind. Defensive discipline and managing the puck in the neutral zone will be key, especially against a Sharks team that, while underperforming, still boasts young talent capable of creating chances in transition. The Rangers know the stakes, and if they play to their identity — tight structure, opportunistic offense, and strong goaltending — they should walk out of SAP Center with two points and their postseason hopes intact.