- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Check out the latest news on your New York Rangers.
Rangers Team Notes
- Thread starter New York Rangers
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Filip Chytil says goodbye to Rangers in latest Instagram post
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/filip-chytil-goodbye-instagram-post/
Bob Frid-Imagn ImagesBob Frid-Imagn Images
Ten days after the New York Rangers traded Filip Chytil to the Vancouver Canucks in a mega-deal for J.T. Miller, the 25-year-old forward penned a goodbye and thank you message on Instagram on Tuesday.
“I would like to thank everyone in the New York Rangers organization, especially my teammates, staff members, and the fans for support throughout the last seven years,” Chytil said. “There are a lot of great memories which I will keep with me for the rest of my life. But, now I am enjoying every single minute in Vancouver and can’t describe how happy I am to be part of the Canucks organization!”
It was a rollercoaster ride over eight seasons in New York for Chytil, after being selected in the first round (No. 21 overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. Over that time, he suited up in 378 games, and scored 75 goals to go along with 89 assists for 164 points. His development took time, but he’s evolved into a very solid two-way player over his career.
Unfortunately, Chytil suffered numerous setbacks due to multiple head injuries. Just when he was coming off of a NHL career-high 22 goal and 45-point season in 2022-23, he sustained his most major setback, which caused him to play just 10 regular-season games in 2023-24.
Related: Igor SHesterkin high standard has been ‘compromised’ this season, Dave Maloney says
Filip Chytil returns to New York to face Rangers in March
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Chytil persevered, and made his return at the start of 2024-25 for the Rangers, scoring in the opening game of the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Chytil had 11 goals and 20 points in 41 games for the Rangers before being dealt to Vancouver in what was a difficult, but necessary move for the Rangers.
In four games thus far with his new team, Chytil has logged one goal and two assists while averaging 18:39 TOI, over four minutes higher than his average with the Rangers this season, 14:20.
Chytil started his Canuck career with a bang, scoring in his first game with them against the Detroit Red Wings to tie the game at two, albeit on the way to an eventual overtime loss.
Chytil will make his return to Madison Square Garden on March 22 when the Canucks visit the Rangers, and the Blueshirt Faithful can return the well wishes that Chytil shared on Instagram on Tuesday.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
- Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad hits his stride heading into 4-Nations Face-off, ‘feel like kid again’
- New York Rangers NCAA prospects report: Gabe Perreault goal not enough for Boston College in Beanpot Final
- Igor Shesterkin’s high standard with Rangers been ‘compromised’ this season, Dave Maloney believes
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/filip-chytil-goodbye-instagram-post/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Why surprising Rangers rival plans to ‘keep this group together’ ahead of NHL Trade Deadline
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-keep-this-group-together-nhl-trade-deadline/
Aaron Doster-Imagn ImagesAaron Doster-Imagn Images
No one figured the Columbus Blue Jackets to be ahead of the New York Rangers in the race for a playoff berth at the break for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, especially after their best player, forward Johnny Gaudreau, was killed in a cycling accident in late August.
But they are – and that has likely turned the Blue Jackets from being projected sellers to buyers as the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline approaches, according to president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell, who was hired just over eight months ago to revive a team that hasn’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs or finished above .500 since 2019-20.
The team Waddell has put together sits one point out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference – and two points ahead of the Rangers, who have a game in hand, despite a disappointing 4-3 loss to New York on Saturday in their final game before the break. Thus, rather than be a seller as the trade deadline nears, he’s looking to add talent — especially with two of his top forwards, Kirill Marchenko (broken jaw) and Sean Monahan (wrist) out week to week.
However, he doesn’t want to sacrifice the future to do it.
“I think right now, short term, I’m looking to see — and this has probably changed in the last week and a half — if we can add something up front to help this group right now because of the Marchenko and Monahan losses,” Waddell told the team’s website.
“Are we going to pay a high price for a rent-a-player? No, but if we get somebody that has some term left or a player that we think would fit well into our roster that we don’t have to give up assets that I’m not willing to give up — I think if we can do that, it would be something that would send a message not only to the players and the coaches but our 5th Line (fan) support, saying that we’re trying to do something.”
Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Salary-cap space shouldn’t be an issue for Waddell. According to Puckpedia, the Blue Jackets are projected to have more than $19 million in cap room.
Related: Why Alexis Lafreniere’s worrisome regression is major Rangers concern
Blue Jackets GM looking to add talent before NHL Trade Deadline
Samantha Madar/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
He also has plenty of draft capital. Columbus has two first-round picks in this year’s NHL Draft, as well as one pick in the third and sixth rounds, and two in the fourth and seventh. The Jackets have nine picks, including their own first-rounders, in the 2026 and 2027 drafts.
With that kind of capital, Waddell said he’s not interested in bringing in any more mid-round picks.
“As far as trading players away, I’m interested in hockey deals,” he said. “We have a lot of draft capital. I don’t need third- and fourth- and fifth-round picks. We have a lot of those. We have to make good decisions, though, if we get offered something that is going to make us better in the future. My job is to manage today but watch out for the future, obviously.
“That’s why I spent so much time on the road the last couple of weeks. I went to a lot of different games, not just our games. It’s going to come quick here. We have the two-week (4 Nations) break, the trade deadline is March 7, with the outdoor game (March 1 against the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium) in between. There’s not going to be much time. Our scouts — we had a call yesterday focused on different teams. They’ll continue to do their jobs. We’ll be ready for it. I anticipate there could be some in and out, for sure.”
Columbus has eight pending unrestricted free agents on its roster, led by top-four defenseman Ivan Provorov, who’s in the final season of a six-year contract that carries a cap hit of $4.725 million. But Wadell doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to part with any of them — barring a major offer. He said he’s more interested in keeping the group he has.
“Getting mid-round picks for players and stuff like that, these players are too important for us as we go down the stretch regardless of where we’re at,” Waddell said. “They’ve helped us get this far. I think we owe it to everybody to try to keep this group together.
“If there’s something that blows our mind away, some kind of offer we can’t refuse, we have to look at that. But where we’re at, you look at the trade deadline. The guys that maybe you thought if you were out of it, you were going to move, they’re almost like your deadline day acquisitions because you haven’t moved them. If we can make this team better, that’s my job to try to do that, but I’m not looking to move guys out for mid-round picks.”
The Rangers, Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins and New York Islanders are among the teams trying to worm their way into a playoff berth down the stretch of the season. The Ottawa Senators currently are the top wild card with 62 points, one ahead of the Detroit Red Wings (61 points) who are the second wild card.
Coming out of the break, the Rangers have seven games before the trade deadline, including two against the Islanders. The Rangers could be seeking a top-six wing, left-shot defenseman or bottom-six forward.
The Blue Jackets need scoring with Monahan and Marchenko sidelined. They will play six games before the deadline.
The Rangers and Blue Jackets play March 9 at Madison Square Garden, two days after the deadline.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-keep-this-group-together-nhl-trade-deadline/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Rangers’ Zibanejad, Sweden lose 4-3 in OT to Canada in 4 Nations Face-Off opener
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...in-ot-to-canada-in-4-nations-face-off-opener/
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...in-ot-to-canada-in-4-nations-face-off-opener/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Top Rangers prospect caps furious comeback with overtime goal in Wolf Pack victory
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...aps-furious-comeback-overtime-goal-wolf-pack/
Hartford wolf pack
It wasn’t enough for Brennan Othmann to score the tying goal late in the third period for the Hartford Wolf Pack in their American Hockey League clash with the Bridgeport Islanders on Wednesday. Nope, the New York Rangers first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft had to score the game-winner, too.
All in all a pretty darn good night for one of the Rangers top prospects. Othmann also assisted on Erik Brannstrom’s goal 2:05 into the second period that cut Bridgeport’s lead to 2-1 at the time. It was Othmann’s second three-point game of the season. The first was against Springfield on Oct. 18, one night before Othmann sustained an upper-body injury that sidelined him more than two months.
“I think we’re starting to see him find his form,” Hartford coach Grant Potulny said postgame. “Two huge goals. Your best players have to be your best players. Tonight, he stepped up.”
Othmann returned to the Hartford lineup Dec. 27 and scored a goal four nights later. The 22-year-old then went eight games without a goal. But now he’s on a heater, with seven goals in his past nine games.
Despite missing all that time, Othmann is fourth on the Wolf Pack with 10 goals in 23 games. As a rookie pro last season, Othmann was second on the team ninth among AHL rookies with 21 goals.
Related: Grading New York Rangers forwards at 4 Nations break in NHL schedule
Rangers top prospect Brennan Othmann looking to be ‘more of a shooter’
Brennan Othmann celebrates OT winner (photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack)
The Wolf Pack trailed the Islanders 3-1 in the third period when defenseman Connor Mackey scored his third goal at 12:34. Then it became the Othmann show. The power forward banged home a rebound of a Brannstrom shot at 18:31 with goalie Dylan Garand pulled for an extra attacker. That tied the game and senit it to overtime.
The goal that forced OTpic.twitter.com/XhWqOtokir
— Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) February 13, 2025
Othmann buried the OT winner off a 2-on-1 rush with Brett Berard at 4:18 to cap the comeback and help the Wolf Pack win their second straight after ending a seven-game skid Saturday.
“[Berard] with a blocked shot, I think that’s his first blocked shot in his career,” Othmann said of the forward’s effort in the defensive zone before the rush back the other way. “It had a nice bounce to me, and I just saw an opportunity to shoot the puck.”
Shoot the puck he did. Othmann wired it past Bridgeport goalie Henrik Tikkanen.
“I think that’s what I need to more, shoot the puck more and be more of a shooter, and get my confidence back doing that” Othmann explained.
Seven goals since Jan. 24 is a good way to build confidence. And feeling better physically sure helps, too.
“Just playing the right way, having confidence in myself,” Othmann shared. “You know, you miss 10 weeks, you got to take a little time to get going. It’s a big injury missing that many games and that many practices.”
But it’s clear Othmann is back on track. And just because Chris Drury is at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal doesn’t mean the Rangers general manager is unaware of the statement the top prospect is making.
It bears watching to see if Othmann, who played three NHL games in January of 2024, might get another NHL look down the stretch with the Rangers in a playoff push.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...aps-furious-comeback-overtime-goal-wolf-pack/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
New York Rangers Daily: Blueshirts contribute to Team USA win; Vladimir Tarasenko on trade block again
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...usa-win-vladimir-tarasenko-trade-block-again/
Aaron Doster-Imagn ImagesAaron Doster-Imagn Images
Neither Vincent Trocheck nor J.T. Miller hit the score sheet despite the United States scoring six times in a 6-1 win against Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday night in Montreal. But each New York Rangers forward helped set a tone that Team USA was going to come in and play with an edge and swagger.
Miller’s first shift featured him in the middle of a mini melee in front of the Finland net. Though he didn’t have a shot on goal in the game, Miller did finish with three hits and was solid on the perfect United States PK.
Trocheck also played a big role on the PK, especially when he and Miller teamed up front to kill the majority of a 4-on-3 disadvantage in the third period. Oh, and Trocheck delivered an absolute bomb of a hit early in the first period. You know, just to let the Finns know that the U.S. was there and serious about this tournament.
It felt like the two Rangers forwards were playing tone-setting playoff hockey. If the Rangers can actually make the final cut into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring, these two wrecking balls will be fun to watch.
As for Adam Fox, it didn’t feel like he was a difference maker over his 18-plus minutes for Team USA. Maybe he was more feeling his way. Perhaps he’s getting used to not being head-and-shoulders better than every other defenseman on his own team. Still, the U.S. power play picked up steam with Zach Werenski running point than when Fox did.
Fox did nothing to hurt Team USA, that’s for sure. He just wasn’t a standout. But in the end, that’s OK in a 6-1 victory, when the U.S. pulled away with four goals in the third period.
On the other side, Urho Vaakanainen logged the fewest minutes — just north of 13 minutes — of any Finnish defenseman. He was minus-2, on ice when Matt Boldy’s perfect deflection make it 2-1 U.S. late in the second period and again when Brady Tkachuk scored his second of the game three minutes into the third period off a feed from Auston Matthews.
Already looking ahead to Saturday, which should be a fun day of great hockey at the 4 Nations Face-Off. First, Sweden and Finland meet in the afternoon at Bell Centre. Then the United States and Canada hook up in the evening.
Subscribe to the Rink Rap podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page
New York Rangers news
Brennan Othmann — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Former Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko was scratched by Finland. Current Rangers forward Chris Kreider was scratched by the United States.
Since we are at a break in the NHL schedule, we handed out report cards for each of the Rangers forwards.
And in case you missed it, earlier in the week, we graded each of the Rangers goalies and defensemen.
Brennan Othmann is on a heater with the Hartford Wolf Pack. The key Rangers forward prospect has seven goals in his past nine games, including the tying and winning goals in a 4-3 OT win Wednesday.
How about Dave Maloney explaining to us why Jacob Trouba was the “spiritual leader” of the Rangers before he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks?
NHL news
Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore is week to week with an upper-body injury that he sustained in Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Sweden at the 4 Nations.
Travis Sanheim will replace Theodore in Canada’s lineup moving forward. Here’s a look at what the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman brings to the opportunity.
Since Canada is down to six healthy defensemen, they reportedly have Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars flying to Boston to be on standby if needed later in the tournament. Per the rules, Harley is not allowed to practice with Canada unless they have fewer than six healthy d-men.
After Juuse Saros allowed six goals Thursday, Finland is mulling a switch to Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen for their clash with Sweden on Saturday.
On the trade rumors front, former Rangers forward Vladimir Tarasenko could be on the move again, this time with the Detroit Red Wings looking into trading the two-time Stanley Cup winner.
The Boston Bruins need to figure out their plan ahead of the trade deadline, with queries reportedly coming in about defenseman Brandon Carlo and forward Morgan Geekie, plus the non-stop Brad Marchand rumors.
Watch the Tkachuk brothers combine to score four goals — two each — for the United States on Thursday.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...usa-win-vladimir-tarasenko-trade-block-again/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Rangers defenseman Adam Fox has gained quick appreciation for U.S. captain Auston Matthews
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...appreciation-for-u-s-captain-auston-matthews/
David Kirouac-Imagn ImagesDavid Kirouac-Imagn Images
New York Rangers’ defenseman Adam Fox has quickly become impressed by the leadership of Team USA captain Auston Matthews at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Matthews has been the NHL’s most prolific goal-scorer since entering the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fall of 2016. But Matthews showed during the United States’ 6-1 win against Finland on Thursday in its tournament opener that he’s more than just a guy who puts the puck in the net.
Finland had the United States on its heels after Henri Jokiharju scored the game’s first goal at 7:31 of the opening period. But Team USA answered in a big way with six unanswered goals, including two within the first 30 seconds of the third period to put the game out of reach.
Though the Tkachuk brothers stole the show, combining for four goals and an assist (Matthew with two goals, Brady with two goals and an assist), Matthews made his presence felt on the ice — and as a leader.
The line of Matthews between Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes quickly showed flashes of what to expect the rest of this tournament — must-see TV. Midway through the first period, Hughes hit Matthews with a perfect pass that sent him through the Finnish defense — but Matthews’ shot rang off the crossbar.
Matthews and his linemates did get on the board 26 seconds into the third period after he intercepted a pass at the USA blue line to set up a quick 3-on-2. Hughes got the puck back to Matthews, who fed Guentzel. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward ripped a wrist shot past Finnish goalie Juuse Saros, extending the USA lead to 4-1. The goal came 11 seconds after Matthew Tkachuk’s power-play goal had given the U.S. a two-goal lead.
Matthews played a solid two-way game while skating in a hostile environment — Montreal fans let the Toronto star hear it during when he was introduced as Team USA’s captain ahead of the Canada-Sweden game, as well as during the game Thursday.
The Montreal crowd tells Auston Matthews exactly how they feel about himpic.twitter.com/Ipd5rhTm83
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 13, 2025
“I was kind of expecting it, so it’s all good,” Matthews said of his reception. “I take it as a good thing or maybe a sign of respect.”
The boos continued once Matthews hit the ice in Team USA’s first game.
They are BOOING Auston Matthews every time he touches the puck in Montreal
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 14, 2025
He may be a target for fans, but Matthews has complete respect within the Team USA locker room amongst foes around the league.
“You can tell the familiarity he has with the guys here and just someone who’s so respected,” Fox said. “I think he’s never going to really seem like the rah-rah yell at you, at least early in the practice here. But the way he is on the ice, the way he is in the locker room, the way around the hotel and everything, he just commands that respect.
“I think everyone has it for him and the way he plays and the way he handles himself.”
Matthews effectively leads by example on the ice, something that comes naturally in a tournament like this.
“These are moments, game situations that you dream of playing in,” he said.
Watching another leader at work presents a valuable opportunity for Fox. The Rangers have not appointed a new captain since trading Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks in early December. They’re the only team in the NHL without a captain, but Fox – one of four alternate captains on the team – has stepped into a more prevalent leadership role in New York.
While fans wait to see who will become the 29th captain in the history of the franchise, Fox will have the opportunity to share the ice with three other captains of NHL teams, and many other alternate captains.
Rangers aim to get on the score sheet in 4 Nations doubleheader
Of the six Rangers taking part in the 4 Nations Face-Off, none recorded a point in the first slate of round. Their next opportunity comes on Saturday when all four teams play in a much anticipated afternoon and night of hockey.
First, Urho Vaakanainen’s Finland squad takes on Mika Zibanejad and Sweden. Each team lost its opening game of the tournament, but Sweden picked up a point in its 4-3 overtime loss to Canada on Wednesday. Still, both teams are in dire need of a victory.
Zibanejad had two shots on goal and was robbed of a potential overtime winner in the loss to Canada; he finished minus-1 but was 12-10 on face-offs. Vaakanainen was minus-2 in Finland’s loss to Team USA.
NHL Morning Skate: #4Nations Face-Off – Feb. 14, 2025
Tkachuk brothers put on show with 2 goals apiece
vs.
; 8 ET:
vs.
)#NHLStats: https://t.co/YFv0I9Y7XV pic.twitter.com/97FCxuyX0J
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 14, 2025
Following the Sweden-Finland game at 1 p.m. ET, Canada and the United States squads take the ice for a heavyweight battle between the tournament’s two favorites at 8 p.m. ET. ABC will televise both games.
“I think I’ve thought about this game for nine years,” Matthew Tkachuk said after Team USA’s win on Thursday.
“It’s going to be the biggest game that I’ve ever played in my career,” Brady Tkachuk added.
Of the three Rangers who suited up for Team USA – forward Chris Kreider was a healthy scratch – none scored a point. Fox and forwards Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller combined for two shots and six hits. Trocheck and Miller provided a physical presence and did an excellent job on the penalty kill.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...appreciation-for-u-s-captain-auston-matthews/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Rangers forward Chris Kreider likely to be scratch again for Team USA vs. Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...o-be-scratch-again-for-team-usa-at-4-nations/
Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images
It looks like New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game when the United States plays Canada at Bell Centre on Saturday night at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal.
Kreider did not dress for the Americans’ 6-1 victory against Finland in its tournament opener on Thursday, and was the extra forward at the morning skate on Saturday.
This season has been a struggle for Kreider, who’s been dropped to the third line with the Rangers in recent weeks and has been plagued by back issues that have sidelined him for eight games and hampered him in others. After scoring 52, 36 and 39 goals in the past three seasons, Kreider has just 16 goals and 20 points in 47 games.
Team USA coach Mike Sullivan, who sees a lot of Kreider in his day job as coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins and previously coached Kreider as a Rangers assistant, said before the tournament opener that he’s talked with all his players about what their roles will be. That included having a conversation with Kreider about sitting out.
“What I’ve tried to do is meet with a lot of players in this first three days of the process, and being very transparent and straightforward with what our game plan is and what their contribution or what their role is in trying to help this team win,” Sullivan said. “I think that’s a really important responsibility that I have as a head coach, and I take it very seriously, and I just have too much respect for these guys to not have those types of conversations. And Kreids is one of those guys.
“He deserves those conversations. All of the guys do. We’re trying to define roles and expectations for all our guys and explaining the whys. But we’re also trying to put players in positions where we can set them up for success, and that’s a conversation we have a lot as a coaching staff. My experience of being part of these tournaments is sometimes what you envision on paper or in theory before you get here, and then what actually plays out can be two different things, and that’s something that’s yet to be seen. And as a coaching staff, we’re going to do our best to try to set these guys up for success.
Related: Why Dave Maloney ‘shed a tear’ in trips to Vancouver years before J.T. Miller trade
Rangers’ Chris Kreider likely healthy scratch again for Team USA at 4 Nations
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Kreider is one of four Rangers on Team USA. The other three – defenseman Adam Fox and centers Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller – all took regular shifts in the win against Finland, though none of the three hit the score sheet. Miller had three hits and was 6-4 on face-offs, Trocheck had two hits and was 7-4 on draws. Fox had four shot attempts, one shot on goal, one hit, two giveaways and took a minor penalty.
Miller was at left wing on the third line with center Dylan Larkin and right wing Matt Boldy at the morning skate, while Trocheck centered the fourth line between Brock Nelson and Kyle Connor. Fox was on the second defense pair with Noah Hannifin and quarterbacked the second power-play unit.
“It’s a game everyone is excited about, and as coaches, we share that excitement with our players, staff and of course the fans,” Sullivan said after the morning skate. “We know it will be an electric atmosphere inside the Bell Centre, and I know our players are very much looking forward to the game.”
Sullivan said Thursday hasn’t ruled out dressing Kreider, a Boston-area native, in the final round-robin game against Sweden when the tournament moves to TD Garden on Monday. A win against either Canada or Sweden would put the United States into the championship game on Thursday, also at TD Garden.
“At the end of the day, performance matters,” he said. “We’re going to see how the team performs, and we’ll make adjustments or decisions accordingly to try to help this team win.”
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...o-be-scratch-again-for-team-usa-at-4-nations/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Team USA gets solid play by three Rangers in 3-1 win over Canada, makes 4 Nations final
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...in-3-1-win-over-canada-makes-4-nations-final/
Eric Bolte-Imagn ImagesEric Bolte-Imagn Images
The United States is headed to the championship game of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off — and the Americans did it the hard way.
Jake Guentzel scored twice, Dylan Larkin got the game-winning goal at 13:33 of the second period and Connor Hellebuyck backed a stifling defensive effort with 25 saves as Team USA shut down Canada 3-1 in front of a pro-Canada crowd of 21,105 at Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday.
After the game began with three fights in the first nine seconds, Guentzel’s first goal tied the game 1-1 midway through the first period; his empty-netter with 1:19 remaining sealed the win.
The three fights “are very indicative of what this means to the players,” Team USA coach Mike Sullivan said. “There’s two teams out there that are very competitive, that have a ton of pride for their respective teams and their countries. For me, when you have an investment like that in trying to win, the way it occurred, that’s an indication of it.
“What an incredible hockey game.”
Team USA defeated Canada in a best-on-best game for the first time in 15 years, dating to the round-robin at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The loss also ended Team Canada’s 17-game winning streak at best-on-best dating back to those Olympics.
Connor McDavid scored 5:31 into the game to give Canada an early lead, but the U.S. checkers shut down the Canadians the rest of the way — and when they didn’t, Hellebuyck showed why he’s the NHL’s best goaltender.
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
The regulation win gives the U.S. six points and a berth in the championship game. Canada, Finland and Sweden each has two points as the tournament moves to Boston’s TD Garden, where the round-robin competition ends Monday. Canada plays Finland in the afternoon, with the United States facing Sweden at night. Finland topped Sweden 4-3 in overtime earlier Saturday.
The most impactful Ranger was J.T. Miller, who was involved in the third of the three early fights, then was the decoy on a 2-on-1 rush that ended with Larkin’s goal. He hit the post while shooting for the empty net in the final minute but finished with two hits, two blocked shots and was plus-1 in 14:26 of ice time.
“There’s definitely a tone to be set in a game like that,” said Miller, who fought Canadian defenseman Colton Parayko after the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady, were involved in the first two. “Having the brothers do that, it’s just exciting.
“I think that’s a good way to get the team to buy in early, and I thought we played a hell of a game from start to finish.”
Miller saw time on the first line during the third period in place of Matthew Tkachuk as the U.S. worked to hold its one-goal lead. Tkachuk appeared to be injured while spinning to attempt a shot early in the third period.
Defenseman Adam Fox played 13:44. His three shot attempts were all blocked, and he had one blocked shot, one takeaway and two giveaways. Vincent Trocheck, who centered the fourth line, played 10:21, had one shot on goal, one blocked shot and one hit.
Canada was without two of its top-six defenseman. Cale Makar was unable to play because of illness, while Shea Theodore is out for the remainder of the tournament after being injured in Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Sweden on Wednesday.
United States 3 – Canada 1
For the second straight game, Rangers forward Chris Kreider was a healthy scratch as coach Mike Sullivan opted to go with the same lineup that defeated Finland two nights earlier.
Many of the 21,105 fans who packed the home of the Montreal Canadiens booed the U.S. national anthem, as they did before the game against Finland.
Any doubts about the intensity of the U.S.-Canada rivalry were quickly dispelled, with three fights in the first nine seconds – for comparison’s sake, just five of the 890 regular-season games this season have had as many as three fights.
Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, one of the stars of Team USA’s 6-1 win against Finland, squared off with Brandon Hagel of the Tampa Bay Lightning two seconds after the opening face-off. Those in-state rivals had barely been seated in their respective penalty boxes when Brady Tkachuk and Canada’s Sam Bennett, a teammate of Matthew Tkachuk’s on the Panthers, squared off one second later.
THREE FIGHTS, NINE SECONDS
WELCOME TO USA VS. CANADA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 16, 2025
“It just happened pretty organically,” Brady Tkachuk told ABC between the first and second periods.
There was actual hockey for six seconds, including a long shot by U.S. defenseman Charlie McAvoy that was held by Binnington, before Miller and Parayko began firing punches off in the third fight. Miller was also called for cross-checking, giving Canada its first power play, but the U.S. allowed just one shot on goal during the man advantage.
“That was pretty fun,” Miller said of the fights. “It was the coolest experience I’ve ever had on the ice — well, one of them. To hear the building like that; it’s something you never forget. There’s a lot of bad blood, but at the same time there’s tons of respect for the other team.
“It’s just a fun environment to be in. You don’t get this opportunity very often.”
Both teams then decided to play hockey, and Canada grabbed the lead at 5:27 on a goal that showed McDavid at his best.
CONNOR MCDAVID
He gives Canada the 1-0 lead!
https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm
— NHL (@NHL) February 16, 2025
Drew Doughty’s superb pass from his own zone caught McDavid in full flight at the red line. No. 97 blew through the defense, weaved to his right and whipped a high backhander past Hellebuyck for his first goal of the tournament.
But a big hit on McDavid a few minutes later helped lead to the tying goal at 10:15.
Charlie McAvoy stepped into McDavid and leveled him in the offensive zone. On the return rush, Jack Eichel carried into the Canadians’ zone and slipped the puck to Guentzel, whose shot along the ice from the lower left circle slipped between Binnington’s skates — it was definitely one he wanted back.
TIE GAME
Jake Guentzel has the equalizer for the USA!
— NHL (@NHL) February 16, 2025
“He’s a high-stakes player,” Sullivan said of Guentzel, a player he coached with the Pittsburgh Penguins until last season’s trade deadline. “He plays his very best when it means the most.”
The U.S. got its first power play at 12:54 when Sidney Crosby was called for hooking Matt Boldy on a -on-1 break. Binnington robbed Guentzel on the best of Team USA’s four shots on goal, and Auston Matthews missed an open short side seconds before the penalty expired.
Guentzel’s tripping penalty at 16:47 put Canada back on the power play. Miller and Trocheck were the first penalty-killing pairing for the U.S., which kept Canada off the board and sent the teams to their locker rooms tied 1-1. Each team had eight shots on goal, but Canada had a 4-0 lead in high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.
The goalies came up big early in the second period. Hellebuyck got his pad on Sam Bennett’s rip from the right circle on a 2-on-1 break; Binnington responded on the return rush by foiling Matthew Tkachuk from close-in. Not long after, he sprawled out to deny Larkin on what looked like a sure goal.
Things quieted down until the 13-minute mark, when a trio of big saves by Hellebuyck, a bad change by Canada’s defense and a smart play by Miller led to the go-ahead goal.
Larkin makes no mistake!#4Nations https://t.co/eUex8GZx9O pic.twitter.com/wUh9JsVGmz
— NHL (@NHL) February 16, 2025
Hellebuyck had gone nearly 10 minutes without facing a shot, then saw three in 10 seconds and stopped them all. After the third stop, Boldy picked off a pass by Crosby and sprung Larkin on what became a 2-on-1 break with Miller because of the bad change on D by Canada.
Miller wisely kept going to the net, taking the lone defenseman with him and leaving Larkin with the time and space he needed to beat Binnington from inside the right circle for a 2-1 lead.
A blocked shot by Miller helped keep the Americans in front after 40 minutes. Doughty had a wide-open opportunity with less than 30 seconds remaining, but Miller sacrificed his body and blocked the shot.
“I thought we defended well, even with the lead, which is hard to do against a team like that,” Miller said. “I thought that even in the third (period), we got up ice and made it hard on them through the neutral zone. We tightened up in the D-zone and broke up a lot of passes.”
With the U.S. clogging things up, neither team generated much offense in the first 12 minutes of the third period before Hellebuyck came out to the top of his crease to deny McDavid. Binnington was largely a spectator until coming up big to stop Brady Tkachuk on a breakaway with 5:49 remaining.
Canada pulled Binnington with more that two minutes remaining but generated little until Guentzel sealed it by taking a pass from Larkin and hitting the empty net.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...in-3-1-win-over-canada-makes-4-nations-final/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
How Rangers forward, Tkachuk brothers plotted Team USA ambush of Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ed-team-usa-ambush-canada-4-nations-face-off/
Eric Bolte-Imagn ImagesEric Bolte-Imagn Images
New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller and the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew of the Florida Panthers and Brady of the Ottawa Senators, prepared themselves ahead of time to help Team USA send a message to Team Canada in their 4 Nations Face-Off showdown at Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday night.
“The message we wanted to send is: It’s our time. We’re in a hostile environment, and we wanted to show that we’re not backing down,” Matthew Tkachuk said after the Americans secured their spot in the championship game by defeating their archrivals 3-1.
“It’s just a group of guys that are fired up to play their biggest rivals in this type of environment, so we had an absolute blast from the start.”
There were hits – 34 by the Americans, 29 by Canada. There were two goals by Jake Guentzel sandwiched around the game-winner by Dylan Larkin in the second period. There were 25 saves by Connor Hellebuyck, who did nothing to dampen his stature as the best goaltender in the NHL.
But what the sellout crowd of 21,105 will remember most is the first nine seconds of the game, when Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk and Miller helped set the tone for the U.S.
The puck had barely hit the ice when Matthew Tkachuk squared off with Brandon Hagel. Those two had barely sat down in the penalty box when younger brother Brady and Matthew’s Panthers’ teammate, Sam Bennett, squared off. Six seconds after that, it was Miller’s turn, as he got into a battle with Canadian defenseman Colton Parayko.
ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC️
THREE FIGHTS TO START CANADA VS. USA.
(: @BR_OpenIce)pic.twitter.com/3wXITz9bYY
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 16, 2025
“There’s definitely a tone to be set in a game like that,” Miller said. “Having the brothers do that, it’s just exciting.
“I think that’s a good way to get the team to buy in early, and I thought we played a hell of a game from start to finish.”
Fighting used to be a common occurrence in the NHL – back in the late 1980s, the average was about one fight per game. But that’s not the case these days; there’s roughly one fight in every 4.5 games. Seeing three fights in less than 10 seconds sent the crowd into a frenzy.
“To us, this is as big of a game as it gets,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “I mean, this is what you dream about, a chance to knock off Canada in Canada, like I said, on a Saturday night in Montreal, in that type of environment. It was incredible. It was fun to start like that.”
ANOTHER ONE
BRADY TKACHUK AND SAM BENNETT DROP THE GLOVES RIGHT AFTER.
(
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 16, 2025
Miller, a rare 100-point scorer who also plays a physical game and can hold his own after dropping the gloves, loved it.
“That was pretty fun,” he said. “It was the coolest experience I’ve ever had on the ice — well, one of them. To hear the building like that; it’s something you never forget. There’s a lot of bad blood, but at the same time there’s tons of respect for the other team.
“It’s just a fun environment to be in. You don’t get this opportunity very often.”
Related: Kaapo Kakko jumps from press box to first-line hero in Finland’s OT win against Sweden
Rangers star J.T. Miller plays physical role in Team USA win against Canada
The game-opening fights came after “The Star-Spangled Banner” was booed lustily by the pro-Canada crowd. But Matthew Tkachuk said the booing had nothing to do with the decision to throw down; rather, it was planned.
"Put this jersey on… it's what dreams are made of."
Dylan Larkin joins @sportsnetkyle to discuss tonight's #4Nations Face-Off matchup between USA and Canada. pic.twitter.com/CObd4iVWzD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 16, 2025
“No. no,” he said. “That’s called me, Brady and (Miller) in a group chat. There was a little discussion during the day, there was a group chat going.”
So, the Tkachuks and Miller had a strategy.
“We had to send a message,” Matthew said.
Team USA coach Mike Sullivan felt the fights showed how much the players were invested in a game they were playing for pride.
The three fights “are very indicative of what this means to the players,” Sullivan said. “There’s two teams out there that are very competitive, that have a ton of pride for their respective teams and their countries. For me, when you have an investment like that in trying to win, the way it occurred, that’s an indication of it.”
The question now is whether there will be a rematch after the tournament moves to Boston’s TD Garden for the final round-robin games Monday and the championship game Thursday night. Each team plays three round-robin games, earning three points for a win in regulation, two points for a win in overtime or a shootout, one point for an OT or shootout loss, and none for a loss in regulation.
The U.S. is assured of a berth in the title game after winning its first two round-robin games in regulation. Each of the other three teams has two points. Canada and Finland, each of which owns a 4-3 overtime win against Sweden in addition to a loss to the United States, meet Monday afternoon. The Swedes play the Americans on Monday night.
“Other than Game 7 last year, this has been the highlight of my hockey career,” said Matthew Tkachuk, who won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers last season but might sit out against Sweden after leaving in the third period Saturday with a lower-body injury — which could give Miller’s teammate, Chris Kreider, his first chance to play. “I’m just going to enjoy it with the guys. We have such a fun group in there.”
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ed-team-usa-ambush-canada-4-nations-face-off/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Former Rangers forward leaps from press box to top line for Finland in massive OT win against Sweden
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...kko-press-box-top-line-finland-ot-win-sweden/
Eric Bolte-Imagn ImagesEric Bolte-Imagn Images
Talk about making the jump from a low to a high. That exactly what former New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko did in a matter of days at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Kakko was scratched for Finland’s first game, a 6-1 loss to the United States on Thursday. But he was in their lineup Saturday for a thrilling 4-3 overtime win against arch-rival Sweden.
Not only that, Kakko played alongside Aleksander Barkov and Mikko Rantanen, two star players, after the first period. And he assisted on Barkov’s goal that tied the game 3-3 at 17:05 of the second period.
“Kaapo, he started really well, so that was the one reason why we needed to put him on the first line,” Finland coach Antti Pennanen said. “Some fresh legs and he can win the battles, and as we saw he can go to the net. That was one change we needed.”
Kakko got to the net on the tying goal and, in fact, it appeared that perhaps he was the one who scored it. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound forward bulled to the net after Finland’s zone entry and got his stick on a hard pass from defenseman Olli Maatta. Apparently, Barkov also got his stick on the puck as it deflected over the goal line.
TIE GAME AGAIN!
Aleksander Barkov makes it 3-3!
pic.twitter.com/VeTnmqzIbM
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) February 15, 2025
It didn’t matter who scored it. Finland carried that tie through a scoreless third period before Mikael Granlund netter the winner at 1:49 of overtime. Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, Kakko’s former teammate, opened the scoring for Sweden with an unassisted goal at 8:35 of the first period.
Kakko earned an assist and had two shots on goal in 13:13 TOI, all but five seconds at even strength.
Related: Why Rangers’ Chris Kreider could get first opportunity at 4 Nations Face-Off
Kaapo Kakko making most of second opportunities after being cast off by Rangers
Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
To Kakko’s credit, there were no complaints from him when he was scratched against the U.S. Perhaps his up-and-down tenure with the Rangers helped prepare him to handle the scratch with the right attitude.
“I get it. It’s a lot of good players. I’m happy to be here. I’m just trying to enjoy my time,” Kakko told Mollie Walker of the New York Post last week. “I’m also ready all the time. If they need to change something, I’m ready to go.”
Kakko proved that Saturday. And now he’s an important piece for Finland, which plays a must-win game Monday at TD Garden against Canada. The United States secured a spot in the 4 Nations championship game, set for Thursday. But Finland, Canada and Sweden each have two points. So Monday is a massive day.
The 24-year-old forward is ready for the challenge. His confidence is much higher now after the Rangers traded him in December to the Seattle Kraken as part of a deal where the Blueshirts landed defenseman Will Borgen.
Kakko has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 24 games playing in the Kraken’s top six. His 17:35 average TOI with the Kraken is more than four minutes per game higher than what he averaged this season in 30 games with the Rangers. He had four goals and 14 points with the Rangers before the trade and never had more than 18 goals and 40 points on Broadway.
“They really want me there,” Kakko said about the Kraken. “They’re going to give me a chance; that’s what they told me.”
But before he returns to Seattle to keep building on his new opportunity, there’s a chance to make incredible memories this week at the 4 Nations. And he’s already making the most of this latest opportunity on the international stage.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...kko-press-box-top-line-finland-ot-win-sweden/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Rangers defenseman, Finland have tough afternoon being eliminated in 4 Nations loss to Canada
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-tough-afternoon-in-4-nations-loss-to-canada/
Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesRon Chenoy-Imagn Images
New York Rangers defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and the rest of Team Finland had a nightmarish Monday afternoon at TD Garden in Boston, where they saw their hopes of advancing to the championship game in the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off disappear in a 5-3 loss to Canada in the final round-robin game for both teams.
Vaakanainen, acquired by the Rangers on Dec. 6 in a trade that sent Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, was minus-3 in just 11:14 of ice time, beginning with the game’s first goal by Connor McDavid 4:13 after the opening face-off.
CONNOR MCDAVID OPENS THE SCORING AGAIN!
— NHL (@NHL) February 17, 2025
NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon made it 2-0 just 46 seconds after McDavid’s goal and added another goal early in the second period for a 4-0 lead. Canada survived a late three-goal surge by Finland and advanced to the final on Thursday against the United States.
“It got a little scary at the end,” MacKinnon, named the Player of the Game, admitted on TNT.
The title game will be a rematch of Canada’s 3-1 loss to the Americans in Montreal on Saturday. That win assured the U.S. of a berth in the final regardless of what happens in its game against Sweden on Monday night. Vaakanainen’s Rangers teammate Chris Kreider will make his first appearance of the tournament in that game. Kreider replaces Matthew Tkachuk, who has a lower-body injury.
Vaakanainen and third-pairing partner Nikolas Matinpalo, a rookie defenseman with the Ottawa Senators, each had a game he’d like to forget. They were on the ice for two of Canada’s three goals in the first period, as well as MacKinnon’s second of the afternoon at 5:03 of the second.
46 SECONDS LATER, IT'S 2-0 CANADA!#4Nations
— NHL (@NHL) February 17, 2025
That goal spelled the end of the afternoon for Kevin Lankinen, the Finnish goaltender who got the win Saturday in a 4-3 overtime victory against Sweden. He allowed four goals on 13 shots and looked little like the goalie who’ s helped save the Vancouver Canucks’ season while starter Thatcher Demko battled injuries.
Jordan Binnington made his third start in as many games for Canada, finishing with 23 saves. He lost his shutout with 6:41 remaining in the third period on a goal by Esa Lindell, and the Finns made it close on two sixth-attacker goals by Mikael Granlund before Sidney Crosby hit the empty net with 56 seconds remaining.
Related: Ryan Lindgren decision, Rangers options on defense ahead of NHL Trade Deadline
Canada 5 – Finland 3
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Finland actually got off to a decent start, mounting some pressure on Binnington in the first couple of minutes before things fell apart.
McDavid opened the scoring with his second of the tournament. Finnish center Roope Hintz made an awful clearing pass that McDavid picked off just inside the blue line. Vaakanainen had a good view as McDavid toyed with his partner and was given loads of time and space to cut in from the left boards before whipping a shot from the circle past Lankinen.
MacKinnon doubled the lead at 4:59 after a slick play by Sam Reinhart just inside Finland’s zone. His little chip pass sprung MacKinnon into open space inside the right circle, and the Colorado Avalanche star was left alone to beat Lankinen from the lower right circle.
The Vaakanainen-Matinpalo was victimized again at 13:02, when Canada made it 3-0 on a goal by Brayden Point. McDavid raced down the right wing and fed defenseman Travis Sanheim, who was coming down the middle. Lankinen stopped Sanheim’s shot but was left helpless when the rebound came right to Point for an easy putaway.
BRAYDEN POINT
Canada is firing on all cylinders right now! #4Nations
— NHL (@NHL) February 17, 2025
Canada continued its dominance through the remainder of the period, outshooting Finland 11-5.
The Nova Scotia duo of MacKinnon and Crosby combined to make it 4-0 just after the five-minute mark in the middle period. Crosby controlled the puck in the corner to the left of Lankinen and threaded a pass to MacKinnon, who had found a small gap in the defensive coverage. MacKinnon one-timed the pass behind a helpless Lankinen; Vaakanainen slammed his stick against the boards while Canada celebrated.
Sidney Crosby#4Nations https://t.co/g3nK6X2AO8 pic.twitter.com/mKOMosnysM
— NHL (@NHL) February 17, 2025
Juuse Saros, the losing goaltender in Finland’s 6-1 loss to the United States on Thursday in Montreal, replaced Lankinen. It didn’t help.
Finland got the game’s first power play when Devon Toews was sent off for slashing Finland’s Joel Armia but managed just one shot on goal. Former Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko, who was traded to the Seattle Kraken just before Christmas, was denied twice from close-in just after the power play ended.
Lindell got the Finns on the board at 13:19 of the third, beating Binnington with a shot from the right circle that caught the far corner. Finland pulled Saros for an extra skater with more than four minutes left and made it close when Granlund, the OT hero against Sweden, beat Binnington with 1:40 remaining and again with 1:17 to play.
But Crosby’s empty-netter from the red line, his first goal of the tournament, eased any anxious nerves among Canadian fans and sent Canada into the championship game.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-tough-afternoon-in-4-nations-loss-to-canada/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
New York Rangers Daily: Hockey grabs sports spotlight; Charlie McAvoy injury concern for Bruins
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...otlight-charlie-mcavoy-injury-concern-bruins/
Bob DeChiara-Imagn ImagesBob DeChiara-Imagn Images
It was quite the day for the New York Rangers at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday. Chris Kreider played his first game and scored a goal on his first shift. Mika Zibanejad was stricken by the flu and could not play in Sweden’s final game. Vincent Trocheck may, or many not, be hurt. Urho Vaakanainen’s pride might be a bit bruised. Adam Fox was again pretty quiet. And J.T. Miller? Yeah, he just keeps chugging along for Team USA.
When all was said and done Monday at TD Garden, Vaakanainen and Zibanejad were headed back to New York, their respective countries eliminated from the tournament. The four Rangers on Team USA will play in the 4 Nations Final on Thursday despite a 2-1 loss to Sweden on Monday night. And Canada made sure to punch their ticket to the championship game rematch against the U.S. with a exciting finish and 5-3 win against Finland.
Then there’s the plethora of injuries for the United States. And Canada’s vow to avenge a 3-1 loss to the U.S. during the prelims of the 4 Nations.
No shortage of storylines in this compelling mid-season international tournament.
On Tuesday, NHL players return to their teams ahead of getting back to game action Saturday. That means a whole new round of storylines will crop up. Then there’s the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline 2 1/2 weeks away. Yup, rumors and more storylines.
It’s a super busy time of year. And it’s awesome to see hockey grab the sports spotlight.
Subscribe to the Rink Rap podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page
New York Rangers news
David Banks-Imagn Images
No lie, it was pretty cool that Chris Kreider scored 35 seconds into the U.S. game Monday after being a healthy scratch the first two. And to do it at home in Boston in front of so many family and friends? Bravo.
Urho Vaakanainen was minus-3 and Finland was knocked out by Canada 5-3, despite a late surge in the third period threw a scare into the Canadians.
Turning our attention to the upcoming trade deadline, a close look at the difficult Ryan Lindgren decision the Rangers face. Plus, breaking down New York’s options to upgrade the defense corps ahead of the deadline.
In our Hartford Wolf Pack weekly we focus on Ben Harpur’s latest extended injury, and how Brett Berard and Brennan Othmann are taking off playing on the same line together.
NHL news
Peter Casey-Imagn Images
The Boston Bruins will have an update on defenseman Charlie McAvoy on Tuesday morning. He missed Team USA’s game against Sweden Monday because of an upper-body injury, and reportedly was taken to the hospital for further tests.
Brady Tkachuk left the 2-1 loss for the United States in the first period with an unspecified injury after colliding with the goal post. Team USA coach Mike Sullivan said the forward was held out for “precautionary reasons” and his status is unknown for the Final on Thursday.
Brady’s brother, Matthew, did not play Monday because of a lower-body injury. Joining him in the press box was Auston Matthews, who was out with upper-body soreness.
Canada coach Jon Cooper couldn’t praise Sidney Crosby enough Monday, not only for his big-game performance against Finland, that included a big hit, takeaway and empty-net goal to ice thew win, but for how humble and decent a person he is. “You can see why he arguably is one of the most respected people in this game,” Cooper said.
Despite being eliminated after three games at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Finland believes it set the groundwork for a better result at the 2026 Milano Olympics.
Longtime Montreal Canadiens beat reporter Stu Cowen of the Montreal Gazette believes they are in “hard sell” position ahead of the trade deadline, meaning Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and David Savard should all be in play.
The Utah Hockey Club may not need to make many moves ahead of the trade deadline. That’s because they’re expecting a slew of injured players to return after the 4 Nations break, including center Logan Cooley, defenseman Sean Durzi and goalie Connor Ingram.
Jordan Eberle was recalled by the Seattle Kraken from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League, where he was on a conditioning loan. The Kraken veteran should be good to go when NHL games resume Saturday. He’s been out months following pelvic surgery.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...otlight-charlie-mcavoy-injury-concern-bruins/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
New York Rangers injury update: Igor Shesterkin skates on own, doesn’t practice
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...pdate-igor-shesterkin-skates-doesnt-practice/
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
When the New York Rangers reconvened on the ice for the first time in more than a week Tuesday, Igor Shesterkin was not among those participating. The 29-year-old goalie remains day to day with an upper-body injury sustained before the 4 Nations Face-Off break in the schedule.
Shesterkin reportedly is skating on his own but not yet practicing with his teammates. Goalie Dylan Garand was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League and took part in practice along with veteran Jonathan Quick.
“He’s still day to day,” was all that Rangers coach Peter Laviolette offered up about Shesterkin.
The Rangers’ No. 1 goalie was hurt in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 7. He didn’t travel with the Rangers to Columbus the next night, when Quick backstopped an exciting 4-3 comeback victory in New York’s final game before the break.
Before that game it was revealed that Shesterkin will miss 1-2 weeks with an upper-body injury, seemingly a fortunate timeline considering the two-week break for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Though it’s an unspecified injury, it appeared that Shesterkin hurt his hand or wrist during the second period against Pittsburgh. After a scramble by his net when he got tangled with another player’s stick, Shesterkin took off his blocker and appeared to be in pain. He was checked out by the Rangers trainer, remained in and finished the game.
It’s the second time Shesterkin’s been injured since late December. He sustained an upper-body injury against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 30 and missed four games. Shesterkin returned Jan. 9 against the New Jersey Devils, a 3-2 overtime win, and was in top form, posting a 6-0-1 mark to help the Rangers vault back into the Eastern Conference playoff race.
However, his results were mixed after that. Shesterkin has lost four of his past five starts, allowing 17 goals in the four defeats.
It’s part of an uneven season for Shesterkin, who landed the richest contract for a goalie in NHL history in November but has had his share of highs and lows in 2024-25. Overall, Shesterkin is 18-19-2 in 39 games with a 2.87 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and three shutouts. Though he’s had dominant stretches, Shesterkin also has struggled at times behind a leaky defense. He’s allowed four or more goals 13 times this season.
On a recent Rink Rap podcast, Rangers radio analyst and former captain Dave Maloney was critical of Shesterkin’s season, though hopeful that he’ll come up big over the final 27 games.
“We will set the parameters that he is in the top three goaltenders in the League still. But the standard that he set has been compromised this season,” Maloney explained. “There’s no question, you don’t get to the playoffs without quality goaltending. Does he need to be Igor in the last [27] games? Yes, he does. Has he been consistently? No he hasn’t been.”
Later Maloney added, “The numbers haven’t been great. But he’s built a pedigree that you have to believe that coming down the stretch he’ll be closer to who he’s been than what he’s been this season.”
Related: Chris Kreider makes 4 Nation debut honoring Johnny Gaudreau: ‘He’s here in spirit’
Mika Zibanejad, Urho Vaakanainen set for Rangers return Wednesday
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
The Rangers resume play Saturday when they begin a three-game road trip in Buffalo against the Sabres. They visit the Pittsburgh Penguins the next day and then play the New York Islanders at UBS Arena next Tuesday. A four-game homestand follows.
They’ll enter the stretch drive sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference, three points out of the second wild card.
Laviolette explained that the practice Tuesday was simply a chance to get the players back on the ice, “get some touches” and do some skills work. Each day forward will ramp up to game day Saturday.
Neither Mika Zibanejad nor Urho Vaakanainen was present at practice. Each was playing at the 4 Nations Face-Off, but their teams were eliminated Monday. They’re expected to be in New York on Wednesday, though Laviolette said not to expect either to practice since each player has been going full out practicing and playing at the international tournament.
“We’ll probably give them a minute here,” is how Laviolette phrased it.
Zibanejad scored one goal in two games for Sweden, but he missed a 2-1 win against the United States on Monday because he was ill. Vaakanainen played three games for Finland.
The championship game is Thursday at TD Garden in Boston, when the United States faces off against Canada. Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider all play for Team USA, and Kreider scored 35 seconds into his 4 Nations debut on Monday after being a healthy scratch in the first two games.
Laviolette said with these players rejoining the Rangers right ahead of that game Saturday, he’s unsure yet how their lines will be deployed.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...pdate-igor-shesterkin-skates-doesnt-practice/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
New York Rangers Daily: Not all good playing in 4 Nations; More bad injury news for Canucks’ Thatcher Demko
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...tions-bad-injury-news-canucks-thatcher-demko/
David Kirouac-Imagn ImagesDavid Kirouac-Imagn Images
The New York Rangers were back on the ice Tuesday, and Wednesday they’ll continue to ramp back up after the 4 Nations Face-Off break. The Blueshirts return to action this weekend with a pair of road games in Buffalo against the Sabres on Saturday and a Sunday matinee against the Pittsbirgh Penguins.
Coach Peter Laviolette said he took it slow with the players Tuesday, “get some touches,” he called the practice plan. But things will ramp up as the week progresses.
Mika Zibanejad and Urho Vaakanainen are expected to be in the Rangers facility Wednesday, though don’t look for either to be back on the ice after participating in the 4 Nations.
As for the 4 Nations, Laviolette said he’s not surprised by the high level of play nor the intensity of the NHL players representing their native countries. Also not a surprise was Laviolette’s concern over players being hurt in these games during the middle of the NHL schedule.
Mollie Walker of the New York Post reported that Vincent Trocheck confirmed he was fine Monday night after Team USA’s 2-1 loss to Sweden. But he didn’t look fine during the game, shaking his right hand and heading to the dressing room late in the first period.
Trocheck finished the game, but lost four of seven face-offs — unusual for him — and seemed to be bothered by the hand/wrist issue at different times.
Maybe it’s nothing. But if it’s something, then that puts a damper on this entire feel-good tournament from a Rangers perspective.
Subscribe to the Rink Rap podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page
New York Rangers news
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Igor Shesterkin was absent from practice Tuesday, and Laviolette said the goalie is still day to day with an upper-body injury. Shesterkin reportedly skated on his own, however.
John Kreiser handed out reports cards Wednesday morning, grading each of the six Rangers who participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off ahead of the championship game Thursday.
Johnny Gaudreau is not far from Chris Kreider’s thoughts at the 4 Nations.
The Rangers are set up with a pretty favorable schedule after the 4 Nations Face-Off. Now, will they take advantage of it?
EJ Emery’s suspension and Gabe Perreault’s hot streak highlight this week’s Rangers NCAA prospects report.
Tip of the hat to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, who polled the Rangers dressing room Tuesday to find out how the Canadian players are viewing the 4 Nations Face-Off and who’ll be tuned in to the championship game against the United States, which features four of their Blueshirt teammates.
NHL news
Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Charlie McAvoy is week to week for the Boston Bruins after undergoing a procedure to clear an infection.
Will Quinn Hughes join Team USA for the championship game to replace McAvoy in the lineup? It’s complicated.
Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel came out firing with his words against Team USA, stoking the fires for what should be a very emotional and intense championship game Thursday.
Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko is out week to week with a lower-body injury and will miss their entire five-game road trip coming out of the break.
The Canucks signed recently-acquired forward Drew O’Connor to a two-year, $5 million contract.
The family of Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull released a statement Wednesday stating that the Golden Jet had CTE, a degenerative brain disease, when he died two years ago.
After missing 52 games with a shoulder injury, defenseman Sean Durzi should be good to go for the Utah Hockey Club coming out of the break.
The Edmonton Oilers recalled top prospect Matthew Savoie and the forward will be in the lineup on their upcoming road trip.
It appears the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a pair of key forwards back from injury when the season resumes this weekend. Both Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust practiced full Tuesday and are “good to go.”
The New Jersey Devils had a mixed bag of injury news Tuesday. On the positive side, captain Nico Hischier appears healthy and ready to return to the lineup. But defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler had a procedure done during the break and will be reevaluated in 2-34 weeks.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...tions-bad-injury-news-canucks-thatcher-demko/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Igor Shesterkin takes next step in return from injury for Rangers
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/igor-shesterkin-next-step-injury/
Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Igor Shesterkin was back on the ice practicing with the New York Rangers on Wednesday but it remains unknown if the 29-year-old goalie will be ready to play when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
Shesterkin was sidelined right before the 4 Nations Face-Off break with an upper-body injury sustained in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 7. When the Rangers reconvened for practice Tuesday, Shesterkin skated on his own and coach Peter Laviolette stated he was day to day.
A day later, Shesterkin took part in the first 30 minutes of practice before he left the ice, which was pre planned. Dylan Garand, called up from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Tuesday, took over Shesterkin’s net and finished practice with Jonathan Quick working the other end of the rink.
Shesterkin was expected to miss 1-2 weeks because of this latest injury. Friday marks two weeks since he was hurt.
The Rangers play back-to-back games this weekend, traveling from Buffalo to Pittsburgh for a Sunday matinee against the Penguins on Sunday. They visit the Islanders at UBS Arena on Tuesday, making it three games in four days coming out of the break.
Shesterkin is 18-19-2 in 39 games this season with a 2.87 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and three shutouts. Though he’s had dominant stretches, Shesterkin also has struggled at times behind a leaky defense. He’s allowed four or more goals 13 times this season.
Related: Rangers ‘set up’ to land playoff spot after J.T. Miller trade but there’s a catch, Neil Smith believes
Rangers coach decides to ‘avoid that question’ regarding key prospect Brennan Othmann
Brennan Othmann — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Since there are still four Rangers at the 4 Nations Face-Off and two who just returned, several Hartford players took part in practice Wednesday. None were officially recalled, unlike Garand, who was brought up Tuesday.
Taking part in the up-tempo practice were forwards Brennan Othmann, Brett Berard, Jake Leschyshyn and defenseman Matthew Robertson.
Berard played 19 games earlier this season with the Rangers and totaled the first seven points (three goals, four assists) of his NHL career. At least some of those games might have gone to Othmann, but the 2021 first-round pick missed more than two months this season with an upper-body injury sustained Oct. 19 in Hartford’s third game.
Othmann returned Dec. 27 but has really found his stride the past few weeks. The 22-year-old power forward has nine goals in the past 11 games, including a pair of two-goal games in his past three contests.
So, might the Rangers give him a look during their stretch run?
“I’m going to avoid that question and just stay away from it,” Laviolette said, mentioning that it’s not fair to the three other Hartford players who also practiced with the Rangers on Wednesday.
“It’s good that he’s back and that he’s healthy and that now he’s contributing and scoring goals. I think all that are good signs and good steps for him.”
Laviolette summed up any future recalls by saying, “at some point there’s a chance we might need somebody and we’ll take the player that’s playing well at that time.”
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
- Rangers ‘set up’ to land playoff spot after J.T. Miller trade but there’s catch, 1994 Stanley Cup GM believes
- Rangers stars on Team USA ready for 4 Nations rematch vs. Canada: ‘This is what we came here for’
- New York Rangers Daily: Not all good playing in 4 Nations; More bad injury news for Canucks’ Thatcher Demko
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/igor-shesterkin-next-step-injury/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Rangers star ‘jacked’ to help United States purge 2010 loss in 4 Nations Face-Off Final vs. Canada
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...es-purge-2010-loss-4-nations-face-off-canada/
Eric Bolte-Imagn ImagesEric Bolte-Imagn Images
As Team USA readies itself for the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game against Canada, there are glaring similarities between this tournament and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The United States has not finished first in a best-on-best international tournament since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey; now, they are just 60 minutes away from accomplishing that feat, if they can get past Canada.
However, the last time the U.S. came this close to winning was 2010 Vancouver Olympics when Canada crushed Team USA’s dreams in a 3-2 overtime final with Sidney Crosby scoring the Golden Goal.
The beginning of both tournaments started the same; USA marched into Canada to win a statement two-goal victory in preliminary round/round-robin action, ultimately to match up again in the championship game. This time around, Team USA aims to write a different ending.
“This is probably the most jacked up I’ve been for a game,” New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox said.
The 2010 Gold Medal game is one of the most iconic moments in international hockey history. Trailing by a goal late in the third period, Zach Parise netted the equalizer at 19:35 for the United States to stun the Canadian crowd and send the game to overtime. However, it set the stage for Crosby to become a national hero in Canada, when he scored the iconic goal 7:40 into overtime.
Though under a different format featuring only four teams as opposed to the 12 at the 2010 Winter Games, this tournament has played out the same for the United States and Canada, so far. In 2010, the U.S. defeated Canada in the preliminary round 5-3 – former Rangers captain and current general manager Chris Drury scored Team USA’s third goal.
Similarly, last Saturday, the United States defeated Canada 3-1 in their second game of round-robin play. None of the three Rangers who played tallied a point, but J.T. Miller took part in one of three fights in the game’s opening nine seconds, setting the tone for a physical game that followed.
Most hockey fans don’t remember the preliminary victory in 2010 due to what happened in the gold medal game. And if Team USA is to lose to Canada in the 4 Nations Faceoff final, their round-robin victory won’t be as memorable either.
There is one important difference that should help the United States this time: home-ice advantage. Canada hosted the Olympics in 2010, and both head-to-head matchups were played in Vancouver. The first half of the 4 Nations Faceoff was played in Montreal – Team USA was able to silence a rowdy Canadian crowd at Bell Centre – but the championship game will take place on U.S. soil in Boston at TD Garden.
Related: Daily — Finally the Final at 4 Nations Face-Off; Seth Jones trade chatter
USA, Canada share high expectations for high stakes matchup
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
There’s nothing quite like representing your country on the biggest stage, something that NHL hockey can not replicate. Sure, winning the Stanley Cup is every hockey player’s dream. But for those participating in the game Thursday, many agree that it’s one of the most important games of their life.
“It’s the biggest game I’ve played in in quite some time, maybe ever,” said Jack Eichel, who won the Stanley Cup in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights.
In that Stanley Cup Final, Eichel’s Golden Knights defeated Matthew Tkachuk’s Florida Panthers. One year later, the Panthers won a Stanley Cup of their own in a seven-game series against the Edmonton Oilers. Still, the magnitude of the 4 Nations Faceoff final stands out to Tkachuk.
“Maybe Game 7 aside, this is probably the biggest game we’ve all played up until this point,” he said. “I’m expecting the best environment I’ve ever played in Thursday night.”
On the losing side of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final was Connor McDavid of Team Canada.
“Obviously having just been there a few months ago, playing in big games is what I love to do. Everyone loves to do. And [Thursday’s] a big game,” McDavid explained.
Canada coach Jon Cooper believes that loss can help prepare McDavid for another winner-take-all scenario, less than a year later.
“Many times you think you’ll be right back there. But it doesn’t work that way,” Cooper said “That’s why you have to embrace those moments like they’re going to be your last. And I know for sure Connor is doing that.”
There’s only one player left on either team from the 2010 gold medal game, and it just so happens to be Crosby, Team Canada’s captain. Crosby knows what it is like to play in a game like this, and more importantly, he knows how to excel under the white hot spotlight.
Will Team USA be able to keep Crosby and Team Canada in check to reverse that outcome in 2010?
We will find out shortly.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...es-purge-2010-loss-4-nations-face-off-canada/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Connor McDavid overtime goal lifts Canada past United States in 4 Nations championship game
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...da-united-states-4-nations-championship-game/
Brian Fluharty-Imagn ImagesBrian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime to lift Canada to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the United States in the scintillating 4 Nations Face-Off championship game at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday.
The loss denied the U.S. its first best-on-best international title since Mike Richter of the New York Rangers led them past Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It also mirrored the outcome of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when the U.S. defeated Canada in preliminary-round play, only to lose the gold medal game 3-2 to Canada on Sidney Crosby’s overtime goal.
The game-winning sequence began when McDavid won an offensive-zone face-off in the left circle and quickly wristed a shot wide of the net. Cale Makar collected the puck on right wing and sent the puck around the boards to Mitchell Marner on left wing. Rangers defenseman Adam Fox was late getting to Marner, Auston Matthews strayed out of position, and no one picked up McDavid, wide open in the slot. Marner found him with a pass, and McDavid wired the OT winner into the top of the net over the glove of goalie Connor Hellebuyck, quieting the partisan United States crowd.
THERE IT IS! THE GAME WINNER! THE TOURNAMENT WINNER!
CONNOR MCDAVID HAS WON IT FOR CANADA!!! #4Nations pic.twitter.com/nDneA2e26K
— NHL (@NHL) February 21, 2025
All four Rangers on the Team USA roster dress for the championship game, including Chris Kreider who was a healthy scratch the first two games in this tournament. Kreider had the lowest ice time of any player Thursday, logging just 6:25 TOI, though he was credited with three hits.
Fox was held pointless for the fourth straight game and was on ice for the tying and winning goals. J.T. Miller had a strong game, but like Fox, didn’t record a point in the tournament. Miller logged 19:34 TOI on Thursday, won seven of 10 face-offs and had three hits. Vincent Trocheck lost all four of his face-offs and played just 10:03 amid concerns that he might have sustained a hand or wrist injury Monday in a 2-1 loss to Sweden.
The United States played most of the game without star forward Matthew Tkachuk, who remained on the bench but did not take a shift from late in the second period until the end of the game due to an unspecified injury.
Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the U.S. and Hellebuyck made 24 saves.
Nathan MacKinnon scored his fourth goal of the 4 Nations and Sam Bennet netted the tying goal for Canada. Jordan Binnington was outstanding in net, finishing with 31 saves, including six in overtime.
Related: J.T. Miller delighted President Trump called Team USA before championship game against Canada
Canada 3 – United States 2 (OT)
Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Chants of “USA! USA!” bellowed through TD Garden a good 45 minutes before warmups. And the fans were at a fever pitch by time Wayne Gretzky (Canada) and Mike Eruzione (United States) were introduced as the game’s honorary captains. There was mild booing of the Canadian national anthem and a rousing sing-a-long of the Star Spangled Banner.
Then it was finally time for hockey. And these teams didn’t disappoint. Instead, they lived up to the massive hype, and probably surpassed with a heart-stopping 68 minutes of back and forth hockey.
Despite an early push by Team USA, it was Canada that scored first. MacKinnon took a feed from defenseman Thomas Harley in the offensive zone, floated to his right and mid-motion wired a shot through a maze of players that beat Hellebuyck above the blocker to make it 1-0 at 4:48 of the first period.
NATHAN MACKINNON OPENS THE SCORING!#4Nations
— NHL (@NHL) February 21, 2025
Hellebuyck was strong the rest of the period after surrendering the first goal. He was especially good when Canada went hard to the net trying to jam shots home from in tight, including a pair of Seth Jarvis attempts early on and then tight pad stops on Bennett and Brad Marchand at 13:46.
Kreider was on ice for each of those shifts.
The United States tied it at 16:52 when Brady Tkachuk skated into the low slot and chipped a Matthews pass just past Binnington’s blocker for his third goal of the tournament. Two minutes later, Tkachuk kept the building rocking when he smoked Harley into the back boards with a massive hit.
The physical play went both ways. Fox was leveled to the ice on a Bennett check at 5:45; and Sidney Crosby was buried trying to get to a rebound by U.S. defenseman Brock Faber.
Canada had a slight 11-10 shots advantage in the first period. Team USA flipped it in the second, up 9-8 in shots.
Sanderson buried a rebound at 7:32 of the second to give the United States a 2-1 lead. Zach Werenski fired a long shot off Binnington’s pads and Matthews’ rebound try was blocked by the stick of Colton Parayko. The puck caromed into the slot where Sanderson made no mistake, scoring his first goal of the tournament.
JAKE SANDERSON, THE KID PUTS THE USA IN THE LEAD
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 21, 2025
Trocheck took the game’s first penalty, a tripping minor in the offensive zone, at 8:57. Canada pressed but the U.S. killed off the penalty. Before doing so, Miller set up Dylan Larkin for a right-wing blast off a 2-on-1 short-handed rush at 10:43.
It remained 2-1 at the 12-minute mark because U.S. defenseman Jaccob Slavin tied up Crosby in front and then quickly swatted a loose puck away in the slot just as Crosby was going to poke it into the open net.
But two minutes later Canada was not to be denied. Bennett beat Hellebuyck with a short-side snipe past the blocker to tie the game 2-2 at 14:00. Marner created space by skating down the middle before dishing to Bennet on left wing and the rugged center finished for his first goal at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
SAM BENNETT TIES THE GAME FOR CANADA
WHAT A HOCKEY GAME
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 21, 2025
It remained tied less than two minutes later because Fox made an adept block on McDavid’s shot off a 3-on-2 rush by Canada. Right afterward, Kreider crushed Jarvis with a big hit. Brady Tkachuk put a bow on the second period when he smoked Drew Doughty with another huge hit at 17:20.
Tied 2-2, the intensity ratcheted up in the third period, with some excellent chances at each end of the ice. Canada just missed taking the lead when a bouncing puck hit the post, and the United States had a string of chances, including at least three by Jake Guentzel.
MacKinnon nearly won it for Canada with 1:29 to play in regulation, taking a long pass from Devon Toews on left wing, bursting into the U.S. zone and hammering a left-wing shot off the rush that was stopped by Hellebuyck.
With under a minute to go, Miller made a brilliant play when he hustled back to his own net to pick off a cross-crease pass by Marner looking for McDavid at the far post.
It was Team USA that nearly won the game just 2:54 into overtime when Matthews powered to the net and had his one-timer denied by Binnington’s blocker. Then at 4:30, Binnington robbed Matthews again of the rush and dove to his left to stone Brady Tkachuk with a quick glove on a rebound try.
Binnington made a terrific glove save on Matthews from the slot a bit later. And shortly thereafter McDavid ended this fiercely-competed mid-season international tournament with his third goal in four games.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...da-united-states-4-nations-championship-game/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Grading four Rangers on Team USA after OT loss to Canada in 4 Nations championship game
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...oss-to-canada-in-4-nations-championship-game/
Brian Fluharty-Imagn ImagesBrian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Adam Fox, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck returned to the New York Rangers on Friday after one of the biggest disappointments of their respective hockey careers. All four played for Team USA at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday night, when the Americans lost 3-2 in overtime to Canada in the championship game at the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.
None of the four had a tournament to remember. Kreider, who was a healthy scratch for the first two games, was the only one to score a goal or record a point. He and Miller were the only players among the four to finish on the positive side in plus-minus.
Now it’s back to the NHL grind, beginning with a road game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, followed by a visit to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. The Rangers resume play three points out of the second wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference with 27 games remaining.
Here’s a report card on the four Rangers who played for the United States at the 4 Nations.
Adam Fox (4 games; 0-0-0, -2)
Grade: C
Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Fox is one of the NHL’s top half-dozen defensemen, but he didn’t look like one at the 4 Nations event.
Maybe it was playing a second-pair role (mostly with Noah Hanifin of the Vegas Golden Knights) and quarterbacking the second power-play unit rather than the first one as he does with the Rangers. Maybe it was the fact that Team USA’s defense didn’t have much of a physical presence, especially after Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins was injured and had to miss the championship game.
Whatever the reason, Fox rarely looked like a No. 1 defenseman, the role he’s played with the Rangers throughout his career. He was on the ice for Canada’s game-tying goal by Sam Bennett in the second period and was late picking up Mitchell Marner in overtime, allowing Marner to find Connor McDavid for the OT winner. That left him at minus-2 for the game and the tournament.
The Rangers hope Fox doesn’t have any carryover after what has to be a disappointing performance at the 4 Nations.
Chris Kreider (2 games; 1-0-1, +1)
Grade: C
Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Kreider got off to an electric start, scoring on his first shift against Sweden on Monday after sitting out the first two games as a healthy scratch. He played 17:01 and scored the only U.S. goal in a meaningless 2-1 loss — the Americans had already clinched a berth in the championship game,
That performance earned Kreider a spot in the lineup for the championship game; he replaced Kyle Connor, who was a healthy scratch, and played mostly on the fourth line — when he played at all.
Kreider played only 11 shifts and saw just 6:25 of ice time against Canada, the lowest of any U.S. player in both categories. He did have one shot on goal and three hits, but with only one minor penalty in the game (a tripping call on Trocheck midway through the second period), all but two minutes were played at even strength. Coach Mike Sullivan didn’t put him on the ice for the final 4:29 of regulation and all 8:18 of overtime.
It’s been a disappointing season for Kreider. The Rangers are hoping his goal in the 4 Nations will be a spark.
J.T. Miller (4 games; 0-0-0, +1)
Grade: B
Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Miller played mostly as a third-line left wing and didn’t have a point in four games. But he compensated for his lack of scoring in other ways.
The recently reacquired forward was a physical presence throughout the tournament, finishing with 13 hits. He was involved in the third of three fights in the opening nine seconds of the 3-1 round-robin victory against Canada. Miller also played a role in Dylan Larkin’s game-winner in that game, despite not getting an assist — by going to the net on a 2-on-1 break, he gave the Detroit Red Wings’ captain the time and space he needed to score the winning goal.
He was also a monster in the face-off circle, winning 61.0 percent of his draws — including seven of 10 in the championship game.
Miller finished plus-1 in the four games, although he was on the ice in the second period when Canada’s Sam Bennett tied the score 2-2. All in all, he was the Rangers’ most impactful player despite not having a point in the tournament.
Vincent Trocheck (4 games; 0-0-0, -1)
Grade: D
Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The Rangers are hoping that Trocheck didn’t come back from the 4 Nations tournament with any physical issues. He’s won more than 60 percent of his NHL face-offs this season but lost all four in the championship game and won just 46.7 percent during the tournament.
He also played just 10:03 in the championship game, the third-lowest total ice time on Team USA, and averaged 11:11 in the four games. That’s just over half of his 21:19 average TOI with the Rangers this season.
Trocheck appeared to injure his hand/wrist in the loss to Sweden — The Athletic, citing Team USA sources, reported that he sustained a broken finger. But even before that, he didn’t look like the player Rangers fans are used to seeing.
Admittedly, as the fourth-line center, Sullivan and his staff weren’t counting on Trocheck to put up big offensive numbers, and the veteran center was more than willing to take on a lesser role. But aside from some effective penalty-killing shifts (often with Miller), Trocheck barely made an impression during the tournament.
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...oss-to-canada-in-4-nations-championship-game/
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2025
- Messages
- 22
Rangers defenseman hopes to lean on 4 Nations experience as NHL season resumes
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...n-4-nations-experience-as-nhl-season-resumes/
David Kirouac-Imagn ImagesDavid Kirouac-Imagn Images
Team Finland failed to reach the championship game in the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, but New York Rangers defenseman Urho Vaakanainen says he learned valuable lessons at the highest level of hockey that he’s ready to apply to the rest of the NHL season.
Less than two weeks before the tournament began, Vaakanainen and Henri Jokiharju were both added as injury replacements to Finland’s roster when Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpaa dropped out. Vaakanainen appeared in all three of Finland’s games, playing a third-pair role, but struggled as the Finns went 1-2-0.
Vaakanainen has been a useful third-pairing defenseman during the Rangers’ resurgence. He’s gotten acclimated after the trade that brought him to New York along with two draft picks while sending defenseman and captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks.
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
“He’s a real good defender that closes quick and plays with a little bit of attitude out there,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “I think he’s come in here and played really well for us, so it’s nice that he got recognized to be a part of that.”
Vaakanainen, usually paired with Ottawa Senators rookie Nikolas Matinpalo, went scoreless in the three games and finished minus-5, including minus-3 in a 5-3 loss to Canada on Monday that kept Finland out of the championship game. However, the experience of playing in a best-on-best event is undoubtedly valuable for the 26-year-old defenseman.
While some may say that having the two weeks off to relax and reset is more useful for a player on a team in a playoff race, Vaakanainen believes the tournament leaves him better prepared for the must-win stretch to come.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
“I think it’s a great thing,” Vaakanainen said of his participation in the 4 Nations Face-Off. “Those are probably the hardest games you could play anywhere in the world, against the best players with high intensity and high skill level. It’s only a positive for you if you get to play those games.”
Vaakanainen has played seven NHL seasons but has yet to participate in a Stanley Cup Playoff game. Representing his country in the 4 Nations Face-Off gives him valuable big-game experience to take with him — nearly every player who took part in the tournament compared the intensity to playoff hockey.
“That’s what my teammates said. It felt like a playoff atmosphere, for sure,” Vaakanainen said.
The Rangers need to bring playoff intensity for their final 27 games if they want to grab one of the two wild-card spots. They resume their season against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, three points out of the second wild card.
Overtime win vs. Sweden was ‘top two’ in Vaakanainen’s career
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Finland’s lone win in the 4 Nations Face-Off was unforgettable for its players and fans: a come-from-behind, 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden, their biggest rival.
That win kept them in contention before the loss to Canada knocked them out of the tournament. For Vaakanainen, the victory against the Swedes was one of the favorite games of his career.
“It’s up there, for sure. It’s probably top two with the World Juniors win,” said Vaakanainen. “Awesome game, great to be a part of it.”
Vaakanainen was a member of Finland’s 2019 squad that took home the gold medal at the World Junior Championship, defeating Team USA in the final. Finland won 3-2, thanks to a game-winning goal by his eventual Rangers teammate Kaapo Kakko, with 1:26 remaining in the third period.
He may have been a late addition to the 4 Nations Face-Off, but Vaakanainen has his sights set on representing Finland again at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which will feature NHL players for the first time since 2014.
“I think after that tournament, you want to be a part of it even more,” Vaakanainen said. “That’s definitely a big goal for next year.”
Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!
More must-reads:
Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...n-4-nations-experience-as-nhl-season-resumes/