Rangers vs Golden Knights projected lineup November 18, 2025: Eichel faces Zibanejad as both clubs chase 23rd point

The New York Rangers roll into T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night looking to snap a mini-slide, while the Vegas Golden Knights hope to end a four-game home losing streak when the puck drops at 10 p.m. ET. Both teams sit on 22 points in the standings, so the Rangers vs Golden Knights projected lineup November 18, 2025 carries extra weight: the winner grabs sole possession of a wild-card spot and early-season momentum out of the tightly-packed West.

Head coach Mike Sullivan is back behind the Rangers bench after missing Sunday’s 2-1 defeat in Detroit for personal reasons, and he’ll ice the same 12 forwards that out-chanced the Red Wings. Vegas counterpart Bruce Cassidy, meanwhile, confirmed he will dress the identical 18 skaters from Sunday’s 3-2 OT loss in Minnesota, hoping familiarity breeds a quicker start in front of goalie Akira Schmid.

Rangers vs Golden Knights projected lineup November 18, 2025: New York sticks with balanced top-nine

Sullivan has finally found a blend that drives possession without over-taxing his stars. The most eye-catching trio remains the big-bodied Cuylle flanking Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller—three forwards who combined for 14 points during the club’s recent 7-3-0 stretch. Zibanejad, in particular, has owned Vegas historically: four points (1-3—4) in two meetings last season and a 56.8 face-off percentage inside T-Mobile Arena since 2022.

Second-line duties stay with Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière. Panarin’s 5-on-5 shot share of 56 percent leads all Rangers wingers, while Lafrenière has already matched his November goal total from last year (4) in only nine games. Expect that unit to see plenty of Vegas’ Hanifin-Korczak pairing, which has struggled with cycle teams below the dots.

The bottom six is where Sullivan believes he can tilt special-teams play:

• Conor Sheary – Noah Laba – Jonny Brodzinski
• Adam Edstrom – Sam Carrick – Taylor Raddysh

Laba, the 20-year-old rookie, has won 52 percent of his shorthanded draws and adds a right-handed option to a penalty kill that sits eighth in the NHL (84.1%). Carrick, signed specifically for late-game draws, is 12-for-18 over the last three contests.

Defensive pairs remain unchanged, anchored by Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox. Fox logged 28:14 in Detroit, the third straight game he’s crested 27 minutes, but the workload hasn’t hurt his offense—he’s riding a four-game point streak. Carson Soucy and Braden Schneider draw the heavy lifting versus Eichel’s line, while Urho Vaakanainen and Will Borgen (if cleared) give New York a 6-foot-5 third pair that kills plays off the wall.

In goal, Igor Shesterkin gets the call after Jonathan Quick back-stopped Sunday’s loss. Shesterkin owns a .930 save percentage in the second half of back-to-backs since 2023, a trend Sullivan clearly values on a four-game road trip.

Rangers vs Golden Knights projected lineup November 18, 2025: Vegas shuffles star power amid injury wave

The Golden Knights are still without captain Mark Stone (upper body), William Karlsson (lower body) and top goalie Adin Hill, yet Cassidy’s group has manufactured points in three straight. The biggest addition came last week when Mitch Marner arrived in a blockbuster; he slots in immediately on the right of Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev, giving Vegas a legitimate play-driver on the flank.

Jack Eichel centers the top line between Ivan Barbashev and rookie Branden Bowman. Eichel’s two goals versus the Rangers last season were both scored off the rush, a concern for a New York defense that has allowed 10 transition goals in its last eight games. Bowman, only 19, was promoted from the AHL on Sunday and responded with a primary assist on the game-tying goal in Minnesota.

Vegas’ forward depth chart rounds out like this:

• Brandon Saad – Brett Howden – Reilly Smith
• Cole Reinhardt – Colton Sissons – Keegan Kolesar

That fourth line has produced only one even-strength goal in the last nine games, so Cassidy may double-shift Eichel or Hertl if the score is tight late.

On the blue line, Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore draw the shutdown role versus Panarin’s trio. Theodore has four points in his last five and leads Vegas defensemen in controlled entries. Noah Hanifin partners with Kaedan Korczak on a second pair that will see soft-zone starts, while Ben Hutton and Zach Whitecloud provide a physical third pairing that has combined for 57 hits through 18 games.

Akira Schmid earns consecutive starts with Hill still day-to-day. Schmid’s .908 save percentage through five appearances doesn’t jump off the page, but his 2.02 goals-against average at even strength ranks top-10 among goalies with 200-plus minutes. If he falters, Swedish rookie Carl Lindbom is ready for his NHL debut after posting a .937 SV% in the AHL.

Key matchups and storylines for Rangers vs Golden Knights projected lineup November 18, 2025

1. Face-off battle: Zibanejad (54.8%) vs Eichel (53.1%) could decide possession in a one-goal game. Each club has scored first only nine times in 20 starts, so the opening draw carries psychological weight.

2. Special teams: New York’s power play clicks at 25.9% on the road (5th), while Vegas’ penalty kill is a middling 79.8%. The Rangers went 2-for-3 with the man advantage in last year’s trip to Nevada; Fox and Panarin quarter-back a top unit that loves the drop-pass entry at T-Mobile’s wide neutral zone.

3. Rookie watch: Noah Laba and Branden Bowman were teammates on the U.S. world-junior squad two years ago. Their head-to-head minutes will be limited, but whichever youngster wins their matchup could swing third-period energy.

4. Goaltending fatigue: Shesterkin played 13 games in 24 nights, yet the Rangers are 7-3-1 when he starts the second half of back-to-backs. Schmid, meanwhile, has never faced the Rangers’ skill level; New York averages 3.47 expected goals per 60 when Panarin is on the ice, the highest rate Schmid will have confronted this season.

Injury report and lineup notes

• Rangers: Matt Rempe (upper body) skated in a non-contact jersey Monday but remains on IR; Scott Morrow and Matthew Robertson are the taxi-squad options if Borgen can’t go.
• Golden Knights: Jeremy Lauzon (undisclosed) missed the final 27 minutes Saturday and will sit again; Alexander Holtz is a healthy scratch for the second straight contest. William Carrier (lower body) took rushes Tuesday morning but was not cleared for contact.

What the coaches are saying

Sullivan on reuniting Zibanejad and Miller:
> “We like the size-skill combo against Vegas’ big top six. If we can establish wall play, we think Mika’s shot opens up lanes for Will’s net drive.”

Cassidy on Marner’s quick chemistry:
> “Mitch wants the puck in transition; Tomas gives it to him. We’re asking them to play 200 feet, but the instinctive stuff you can’t teach—those two have it.”

Betting angle & analytics

Oddsmakers opened Vegas -135 on the moneyline with the total at 6 (-105 over). The even-strength metrics lean slightly toward New York (52.3% shot share since Nov. 1), yet the Golden Knights’ 9.8% shooting clip at home suggests positive regression. Model-based projections from MoneyPuck forecast a 3.6-3.3 final, tilting the over.

Final takeaway for Rangers vs Golden Knights projected lineup November 18, 2025

With standings parity and mounting injuries, Tuesday night shapes up as an early litmus test for both conferences. The Rangers seek their first regulation win in Vegas since 2021; the Knights need a home victory before embarking on a season-long six-game road trip. Expect a tight, special-teams affair decided by which star center—Eichel or Zibanejad—capitalizes on a late turnover. Whoever walks out of the desert with two points will own more than bragging rights; they’ll hold the inside track to a playoff berth when the calendar flips to 2026.