The New York Rangers kick off their 2025-26 campaign at Madison Square Garden, squaring off against a familiar foe — the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It’s fair to say the Rangers are one of the bigger wild cards heading into the new season. After a disappointing year that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, GM Chris Drury decided it was time to shake the tree once again. Out went Peter Laviolette after just two years behind the bench, and in came two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Mike Sullivan, a move many around the league saw coming for months. Sullivan’s arrival brings a sense of credibility and discipline — two things this roster desperately needs after last year’s late-season collapse.

As for the Penguins, last season was one to forget. Pittsburgh stumbled to a 34-36-12 record, including a 9-13-4 mark within the Metro Division, and while their 25.8% power play efficiency looked solid on paper, it masked plenty of issues beneath the surface. Sure, Erik Karlsson still flashed moments of brilliance, and Tristan Jarry had his nights, but the cracks were too deep — especially in the bottom six.

The Penguins find themselves at a crossroads. They can either keep chasing the ghosts of their championship past or embrace the reality that a reset may be their best route forward. Realistically, their sweet spot this season might be developing young talent, competing hard every night, and, yes, quietly positioning themselves for a lottery pick in a loaded draft. Unless several veterans suddenly rediscover vintage form, Pittsburgh simply doesn’t stack up to the heavy hitters in the Metropolitan Division.

Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Rangers vs Penguins NHL game, plus plenty more.

Rangers vs Penguins: Date and puck-drop time

New York Rangers will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in a highly anticipated NHL game on Tuesday, October 7, at 8 pm ET or 5 pm PT, at Madison Square Garden in New York, USA.

DateTuesday, October 7, 2025Puck-Drop Time8 pm ET or 5 pm PTVenueMadison Square GardenLocationNew York, USAHow to watch Rangers vs Penguins on TV & stream live online

TV channel: ESPN

Streaming service: Fubo

Streaming the game with a VPN

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Rangers vs Penguins team newsNew York Rangers team news

Mike Sullivan arrives in New York with a wealth of experience and two Stanley Cup rings to his name, the kind of pedigree that instantly commands respect. He’s been through the wars, knows how to win, and if anyone can steady the ship at Madison Square Garden, it’s him. Whether he can pull off that turnaround, though, remains to be seen.

The first concern for the Rangers? Health. Both Artemi Panarin (upper-body) and K’Andre Miller (lower-body) missed time during camp, and that’s no small issue. Losing either for any stretch of the regular season could derail New York’s playoff ambitions before they even gain momentum.

For this team to bounce back, several boxes need to be checked. First and foremost, they must adapt quickly to Sullivan’s system — a more aggressive, free-flowing style that could reignite an offense that sputtered far too often under Peter Laviolette. That means Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere have to rediscover their bite. Both have been streaky, but when they’re clicking, the Rangers’ attack hums.

Zibanejad will once again be paired with Miller, hoping to recapture the spark that fueled a strong finish to last season after an uneven start. With Panarin and Miller leading the charge, the Blueshirts boast a high-octane, if top-heavy, offensive core capable of turning games on their head. Panarin, entering a contract year, has every reason to turn it up a notch, a motivated Panarin is a dangerous Panarin.

Meanwhile, the pipeline in Hartford is bubbling with promise. Prospects like Gabe Perreault, Brett Berard, Noah Laba, and Brennan Othmann all flashed during the preseason, and it wouldn’t be shocking if one or two forced their way onto the main roster before long.

Pittsburgh Penguins team news

As for the Penguins, it’s still the Sidney Crosby show — and at 38, he’s somehow showing no signs of slowing down. Another 90-plus point season was business as usual for the captain, who continues to be the heartbeat of a team stuck between chasing one last run and hitting the reset button.

The whispers of a potential Crosby trade hover like a storm cloud, but as long as he’s in Pittsburgh, he’ll be the standard-bearer — the one constant amid the uncertainty. New head coach Dan Muse will lean heavily on him to establish stability, while veterans Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust could serve as valuable trade chips if the front office decides to continue dismantling the roster.

Rangers vs Penguins Head-to-Head RecordDateResults02/24/25Penguins 3-5 Rangers02/08/25Rangers 2-3 Penguins12/07/24Rangers 4-2 Penguins10/10/24Penguins 0-6 Rangers04/02/24Rangers 2-5 Penguins