The New York Rangers will be without star winger Artemi Panarin, who is sidelined with an illness, and top defenseman Adam Fox, who has missed the last eight games due to a shoulder injury but has recently returned to practice in a non-contact jersey. Fox's return is expected to boost the Rangers, who have struggled without him, posting a 3-3-2 record and a goal differential of -7 during his absence. Panarin has been a key offensive player, with eight points in games he played without Fox. The Rangers are set to face the St. Louis Blues in an out-of-conference game on December 18, with the Blues hosting at Enterprise Center. The Blues, currently 13-15-7, are on a four-game homestand and aim to improve their record. They will have Jordan Binnington in goal, and coach Jim Montgomery has made lineup adjustments, including replacing Robby Fabbri with Matt Luff and Tyler Tucker with Matthew Kessel. The projected lineup includes forwards such as Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jake Neighbours, with defensemen like Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk. The game is a critical matchup, with the Blues seeking to capitalize on their home advantage and the Rangers aiming to bounce back from recent struggles. The Blues' recent performance includes a win against the Winnipeg Jets and a series of roster moves, including recalling Stenberg from Springfield and signing Dube to an AHL tryout. The game promises to be an exciting contest between two teams with recent roster changes and injury concerns.