MetLife clash set for Feb. 18 vs. Islanders

The Rangers have presumably been thinking about the 2023-24 season for longer than they would’ve liked to, after they bowed out of the first round of the playoffs nearly two months ago.

Now, they have the regularseason roadmap for their next campaign to win the Stanley Cup.

To open next season, the Rangers will start with two games on the road. They venture to Buffalo on Oct. 12 before facing the Blue Jackets in Columbus two days later.

Of their first 10 opponents, the Rangers face only three teams (the Kraken, Oilers and Hurricanes) who competed in the most recent postseason.

The Rangers were chosen to participate in the NHL’s Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium, where they will take on the Islanders on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. This is relatively soon after the All-Star break, when the Rangers will not play from Jan. 28-Feb. 4.

All-Star Weekend will be hosted by Toronto from Feb. 2-3.

Getting their longest road trip of the season out of the way early, the Rangers will head out west to play the Kraken, Flames, Oilers, Canucks and Jets from Oct. 21-30.

They have just two other longer stretches on the road, in late November and late January. Both of which are four-city swings.

All four of the Rangers’ meetings with the Islanders are in the second half of the season.

The first time the teams meet will be at the Stadium Series, while the final three are packed into the regular-season’s final five weeks. Those contests could have some serious playoff implications and make for some riveting competition.

Only one Rangers-Islanders game will take place at UBS Arena, however.

The Rangers play the Devils for the first time since they were eliminated in seven games in Round 1 on Nov. 18 at Prudential Center.

That’s a game that should be circled on the Rangers’ calendar.