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[New York Rangers]

Reformed Rangers ‘buying in’ to changes in order to make serious playoff push

Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images

Don’t look now, but the New York Rangers are tied for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after back-to-back 4-0 shutouts against the Nashville Predators on Sunday and the New York Islanders on Monday.

This despite the Rangers coming out of the 4-Nations Face-Off break with some brutal play in an 8-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres and a fortunate 5-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Since then, the Rangers have really reformed their game, with a willingness to do the dirty work. That includes increased physicality, blocking shots, and committing to team defense. That was all on display when they blocked 22 shots in the win over the Islanders. The overall result has been winning four of their past five games, the past two in convincing fashion.

“We want to make sure that we have an identity that’s hard to play against,” Braden Schneider said following the win Monday. “Not everyone’s going to score a goal or get an assist, but if you can get some hits and block some shots, it gets the bench going. It creates energy, and the next guy wants to do it too. It’s huge that we have everyone buying in and playing hard.”

The Rangers will need to have everyone buying in as the race for the playoffs remains tight. The Rangers are now tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card spot with 66 points, and trail the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first wild card by two points. Both the Red Wings and Blue Jackets have one game in hand, and will make it up when they each play Tuesday night.

Things took a noticeable turn for the better for the Rangers when they matched up against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Friday. Even though they lost 3-2, their defensive play took a considerable jump, and the team started to build momentum that was desperately needed after playing sub-par at best coming out of the 4 Nations break.

“That first game after the break we came back and we gave up eight,” explained Schneider. “I think we really wanted to focus on making sure that we’re communicating in our own end and sorting things out as quick as we can. I thought we’ve done a really good job of that. We’ve been able to keep things to the outside for the most part. Blocking shots, taking guys out of the play when we can, everyone’s buying in.”

Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from another shutout victory as momentum builds

Rangers ‘not panicking as much’ amid playoff push​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It hasn’t all been great for the Rangers over their stretch of seven wins in their past 10 games. There’s been some brutal defensive lapses, especially in the games against the Sabres and Penguins. On top of that, the Rangers have still yet to string three wins together since Nov. 14-19.

However, they seem to have hit a turning point in the Toronto game, and will have a chance to win three straight in their next game on Wednesday. That’ll be no easy task since they take on the Washington Capitals, who are first in the Eastern Conference and second in the overall standings.

“We did a good job after that Toronto game even though we lost,” Mika Zibanejad explained. “We looked at that game and said that we’re happy with a lot of things, and a lot of things in our effort in that game. We’ve been bringing that the last couple games here.”

They certainly have brought that effort in their past couple games. Matching up against two sub-par teams in the Predators and Islanders meant two games that the Rangers absolutely needed to win, and they made no mistake of doing so by shutting out each just 24 hours apart.

“We’re playing simple,” Zibanejad continued. “We’re not panicking as much. If they have momentum, alright, let’s try to break it. Bend don’t break. It doesn’t hurt to have two elite goalies back there too.”

The Rangers netminders have been nothing short of outstanding in this recent stretch. Jonathan Quick came up with his 63rd career shutout in his 800th NHL game Sunday, making 35 saves which included 20 in the third period alone when Nashville was pushing and had the better of the play.

Shesterkin followed it up with a shutout of his own, making 21 saves against the Islanders. Some of which were very timely in terms of swinging the momentum in favor of the Rangers.

Whether it’s blocking shots, playing physical, or simply just executing, there’s a newfound sense of confidence in this Rangers lineup. Whatever it is, it’s working, and the Rangers are going to need a lot more of it over their final 21 games of the regular season if they want to find themselves in the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

“I think it’s maybe vague, but we give ourselves a chance to win,” Zibanejad said. “I don’t think we shoot ourselves in the foot in the same way we’ve maybe done it before. The intentions that we’re playing with, the attention to detail. The two points, getting wins, that just kind of builds confidence in the room.”

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• Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Jaroslav Chmelař, Dylan Roobroeck step up in rookie pro seasons
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Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/reformed-buying-in-serious-playoff-push/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Capitals: 3 things to watch for trying to avoid season-series sweep

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

After defeating lesser teams their past two games, the New York Rangers step up in class to host the Washington Capitals on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

The Capitals (39-14-8) are first in both the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference, second overall in the NHL and defeated the Rangers twice already this season. With a win Wednesday, the Capitals would complete a sweep of the season-series against the Rangers, a bit of a twist after the Blueshirts swept them in the first-round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.

Much has changed since that playoff series. The Capitals made a series of smart off-season moves and been remarkably consistent this season, among the biggest surprises in the League. They are 10 points clear of the second-place Carolina Hurricanes in the division and 20 up on the Rangers.

On the flip side are the Rangers, the 2024 Presidents’ Trophy winners who resided near the bottom of the conference in December, but retooled making four trades in-season and now sit in the second wild card in the East.

The Rangers (31-26-4) have won four of their past five games and seven of 10. They’re coming off consecutive 4-0 shutout victories against the Nashville Predators and New York Islanders and seek their first three-game winning streak since Nov. 14-19.

Washington is coming off a wild 5-4 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators on Monday, that ended a season-long three-game losing streak.

The Capitals have outscored the Rangers 12-7, winning twice at Capital One Arena earlier this season.

Related: Reformed Rangers ‘buying in’ to changes to make serious playoff push

3 things to watch for when Rangers host Capitals​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

1. Time to step up against the big boys​

In winning four of their past five games, the Rangers feasted against weaker opposition. They defeated the Islanders twice and the Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins once each. Good on the Rangers. Good teams should fatten up on lesser opponents and the Rangers, desperate for every point they can get, did just that the past week.

Considering points squandered against the Buffalo Sabres coming out of the break and earlier in the season against teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken and Predators, it’s high time the Rangers take care of business against these lower-echelon opponents.

But now that their game is coming together, the Rangers must start adding some wins against the better teams in the League. They do have a pair of victories against the Vegas Golden Knights in the New Year, but really not much else. The Rangers played well but lost 3-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs last Friday and haven’t defeated a top-tier team since knocking off the Dallas Stars 3-1 on Dec. 20.

The Rangers could also play better in the division. They’re 10-9-0 against Metropolitan Division rivals. The Capitals, by contrast, are 13-4-0 within the division.

2. Fill the net​

Since Jan. 2, the Rangers are second in the NHL with 85 goals scored. They’ve netted three or more in 17 of 25 games, including four or more in 14 of those games. When the Rangers score four or more goals this season, they’re 20-3-3. Despite losing twice to Washington, New York scored four goals in one game and three in the other.

They’ll need to keep filling the net Wednesday. The Capitals lead the NHL by averaging 3.59 goals per game, including 12 in two games against the Rangers. Washington has already scored three more goals this season (219) than all of the 2023-24 campaign (216) in 21 fewer games so far.

Artemi Panarin is warming up for the Rangers with goals in consecutive games and now has 25 on the season. J.T. Miller has seven goals in 11 games since coming over Jan. 31 in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks. And power forward Will Cuylle has four goals in his past six games and is tied for second on the Rangers with 17 goals.

3. Gr8 chasing down The Great One​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Alex Ovechkin arrives on Broadway 11 goals from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894. The ageless 39-year-old has 31 goals in 45 games, second in the League with an average of 0.69 goals per game. It’s his 19th 30-goal season, most in NHL history, and he’d have a lot more this season if the Capitals captain hadn’t missed 16 games with a fractured fibula.

Ovechkin has one goal in his past three games after recording four in his previous two. He also comes in Wednesday two points away from becoming the 11th NHL player to reach 1,600 points.

In 75 games against the Rangers, Ovechkin’s scored 45 goals, including three this season. He’s scored four goals against the Rangers starting goalie on Wednesday, Igor Shesterkin.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere

Cuylle – J.T. Miller- Zibanejad

Othmann – Parssinen – Brodzinski

Berard – Carrick – Rempe

K. Miller – Borgen

Vaakanainen – Schneider

Jones – de Haan

Shesterkin

Quick

Rangers vs. Capitals: When, where, what time, how to watch​

Who: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

When: Wednesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: TNT

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More must-reads:

• New York Rangers Daily: Trent Frederic traded, Yanni Gourde return fuels rumors before deadline
• Reformed Rangers ‘buying in’ to changes in order to make serious playoff push
• Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Jaroslav Chmelař, Dylan Roobroeck step up in rookie pro seasons

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...eview-capitals-try-avoid-season-series-sweep/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers pick up point, blow 3rd-period lead in frustrating 3-2 overtime loss to Capitals

Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers picked up one point in the tight Eastern Conference standings, but let a second slip away in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

The Rangers were nine minutes and change away from securing an inspiring victory over the first-place Capitals. But leading 2-1 midway through the third period, the Rangers allowed Alex Ovechkin to tie the score with a power-play goal. Then with 53 seconds remaining in overtime, Tom Wilson finished off another Capitals comeback victory, beating Igor Shesterkin for his 28th goal of the season.

TOM WILSON AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN… OT GAME WINNER pic.twitter.com/Lj8mtDxvyk

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 6, 2025

With the loss, the Rangers (31-26-5) again failed to win a third consecutive game after back-to-back shutout victories over the Nashville Predators and New York Islanders on Sunday and Monday. New York last won three games in a row Nov. 14-19.

The overtime loss, coupled with a 4-3 overtime win by the Ottawa Senators over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday, dropped the Rangers to ninth place in the conference. They are tied with the Senators in points (67) but have played one more game. The Rangers visit the Senators in their next game, Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre.

Shesterkin finished with 23 saves for the Rangers, including a beauty with his glove to rob Ovechkin on a wicked snap shot 2:02 into overtime. His counterpart, Charlie Lindgren of the Capitals, made 16 saves, including a one-on-one stop to rob Zac Jones point blank 54 seconds into OT.

Artemi Panarin and Sam Carrick scored for the Rangers, who have points in eight of their past 11 games (7-3-1).

Ovechkin moved within 10 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894, when he tied the game at 10:28 of the third period. It was also the 1,599th point of his illustrious career.

Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for Washington, which is now 6-10-5 when trailing after two periods this season. Wilson, who relishes playing the role of heel at Madison Square Garden, added an assist for a two-point night.

The Rangers were swept in the season series against the Capitals (0-2-1).

Related: Rangers should chase down Devils ‘not just wild card,’ Marty Biron tells Forever Blueshirts

Washington Capitals 3 – New York Rangers 2 (OT)​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Though the Rangers allowed a goal just 64 seconds into the game, they rebounded quickly and gave as good as they got in an evenly-played spirited game, where emotions ran high with a playoff-type feel.

Dubois opened the scoring, giving the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 1:04 of the first period, when he whipped a pass from Wilson past Shesterkin for his 16th goal of the season. The goal came after a face-off to Shesterkin’s right and and good work by Wilson down low.

Washington nearly coughed up the lead at 8:30 following a turnover in its own end. But Lindgren took Vincent Trocheck’s wide-open look in the midsection and then lunged to his right to make a toe save on Panarin’s rebound attempt.

Two minutes later it was Shesterkin’s time to shine. No one picked up Lars Eller flying down the center, accepting a pass and driving to the net, but the Rangers goalie stretched to his left for the pad save.

Panarin’s deflection of a pretty feed into the middle by Jones tied the game 1-1 at 13:37. It was Panarin’s team-high 26th goal and extended his goal-scoring streak to three games.

Artemi Panarin steers Zac Jones' shot in to tie the game! pic.twitter.com/BxVF9iwA8o

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 6, 2025

Shortly before picking up the secondary assist on Panarin’s goal, Alexis Lafreniere leveled Washington’s Nic Dowd with a reverse check, one of his three hits in the first period and one of 16 credited to the Rangers in the first 20 minutes.

The Rangers added 12 more hits in the second period, one that saw an uptick in physical and chippy play on both sides and featured a pair of fights. Plus the Rangers scored the only goal in the second period to take a 2-1 lead.

Carrick scored the go-ahead goal at 8:05, though it came with a hint of mild controversy. On a Rangers zone entry, Carrick collided with Connor McMichael in the neutral zone, knocking the Washington forward down, creating a 5-on-4 for a bit in the offensive zone. Carrick could’ve been called for interference, but instead scored seconds later.

K’Andre Miller made an excellent keep at the left point on a Capitals clearing attempt. The Rangers defenseman then made a heads-up pass into the slot to Carrick, who skated around Matt Rempe in front before sending a backhand shot just out of the reach of Lindgren. It was Carrick’s sixth goal of the season, which extended his point streak to three games.

K'Andre Miller keeps the puck in the zone and Sam Carrick buries the backhand pic.twitter.com/GtX5F00SBC

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 6, 2025

That 2-1 lead carried to the second intermission after Shesterkin made one really sharp save against Rasmus Sandin, and Lindgren had a pair of beauties on open looks for Panarin and Trocheck. That latter chance came on a rare power-play scoring chance; the Rangers were 0-for-4 on the power play, including a failed four-minute advantage late in the first period following a double minor high-sticking penalty when Brett Berard was clipped by Ethen Frank.

Carrick and Brandon Duhaime squared off for a fight at 12:54 of the second period, one that was more wrestling match than boxing. Then at 14:58, Juuso Parssinen got into a scrap with Matt Roy, and after missing with a pair of wild swings, the recently-acquired Rangers center was sent to the ice by the Capitals defenseman.

That second fight broke out when Roy roughed Brennan Othmann — who had five hits through two periods in limited ice time — from behind by the boards. Roy received an extra minor penalty, but the Capitals killed that one off, too.

Juuso Parssinen drops the gloves with Matt Roy after Brennan Othmann took a big hit pic.twitter.com/TkhR2vOkFO

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 6, 2025

The Rangers had to like their start to a low-event third period. But with Jones in the penalty box serving a hooking minor, the Capitals tied the game 2-2 when Ovechkin buried a power-play goal from in tight at 10:28. It was his 32nd goal in 46 games played this season, and fourth in three games against the Rangers.

ALEX OVECHKIN DOES IT AGAIN!

HE'S NOW JUST 10 GOALS AWAY FROM BREAKING GRETZKY'S GOAL-SCORING RECORD pic.twitter.com/ecMdmMvc1Q

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 6, 2025

To make matters worse for the home team, Will Borgen was assessed a hooking penalty as Ovechkin was shooting the puck into the net, and Washington went right back to the power play. Shesterkin had to make a sharp glove save on Ovechkin’s patented one-timer from the left circle at 12:10 but the Rangers killed off the rest of the penalty.

Playing with extra jump after tying the game, the Capitals nearly took the lead at 14:51, but a left-wing shot by Taylor Raddysh off a 2-on-1 rush kissed the near post.

There were five shots combined in overtime, with, first Jones then Ovechkin, getting Grade-A looks. But Washington scored on its third shot of the extra session, after Dylan Strome carried the puck in on a 2-on-1, slowed to let a diving Braden Schneider slide by, before zipping a pass to Wilson, who chipped it past Shesterkin.

This was New York’s fifth loss (22-2-3) when leading after two periods, dropping the Rangers to 2-5 in OT this season.

They’ll have two days to sit on this one — including the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday — before playing that crucial games in Ottawa on Saturday and then an equally as important home game Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold the top wild card in the East.

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More must-reads:

• Rangers look to put the Great Chase on hold in massive game against Capitals
• Rangers should chase down Devils ‘not just wild card,’ Martin Biron believes
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Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-blow-3rd-period-lead-overtime-loss-capitals/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers trade veteran back to Vegas where he won Stanley Cup for prospect, 3rd-round pick

Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The makeover of the New York Rangers continued Thursday, when they traded Reilly Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Brendan Brisson and a third-round draft pick. The move was made roughly 24 hours before the NHL Trade Deadline arrives Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

It’s the fifth trade made by the Rangers this season, and second straight this week involving a veteran player who’s a pending unrestricted free agent and wasn’t going to be re-signed. Per Vince Mercogliano of Gannett, the Rangers retained 50 percent of Smith’s salary cap hit ($1.875 million).

Smith surely should be happy with the trade. A healthy scratch three straight games for roster management purposes, the 33-year-old forward returns to Vegas, where he helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023.

In fact, Smith played six seasons with the Golden Knights, including their inaugural season in 2017-18 when they reached the Stanley Cup Final, ultimately losing to the Washington Capitals in five games.

Original misfit, Stanley Cup champ Reilly Smith is headed back to Vegas

Golden Knights are reportedly trading 2020 1st-rd pick Brendan Brisson and a 2025 3rd-rd pick to the Rangers for the 33 y/o winger.

3rd in goals in VGK history, Smith returns after 1½ seasons away.… pic.twitter.com/vgTNSXCGEJ

— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) March 6, 2025

After one season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Smith was traded to the Rangers this past July 1. In 58 games this season with the Rangers, Smith played up and down the lineup and was one of their top penalty killers. He had 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists), seventh most on the team, and was tied for second with two short-handed goals.

Just five days ago, the Rangers traded two other pending UFAs — defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Jimmy Vesey — to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Calvin De Haan, center Juuso Parssinen and a second- and fourth-round pick in this year’s draft.

Brisson is an intriguing acquisition from Vegas, where he was a first-round pick (No. 29 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old is in the final year of his entry-level contract and can be a restricted free agent at season’s end. He’s only played 24 NHL games and has eight points (two goals, six assists). In nine games with the Golden Knights this season, Brisson is pointless and averaging just 9:52 TOI.

Though his professional resume is not eye-catching, Brisson is an intriguing prospect. He did score 19 goals in 52 games with Henderson of the American Hockey League last season and 18 in 58 AHL games the season prior.

His amateur career was more impressive. Brisson had 21 goals and 42 points in 38 games with the University of Michigan in 2021-22 and scored two goals in four games for the United States at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. He also helped the U.S. capture the gold medal at the 2021 World Junior Championship, where he was teammates with current Rangers forwards Brett Berard and Arthur Kaliyev.

Related: Rangers trade grades after acquiring Calvin de Haan, Juuso Parssinen from Avalanche

Newest Rangers prospect Brendan Brisson has unique tie to Sidney Crosby​

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Brisson’s father is NHL super agent Pat Brisson, from the CAA Sports Agency. Among his dad’s clients are Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Elias Pettersson, John Tavares and all three Hughes brothers — Jack, Quinn and Luke.

Brendan Brisson actually has a unique tie with Crosby, thanks to his father’s professional relationship with the future Hall of Famer. Crosby was Brisson’s babysitter for a bit as a youngster himself, when he’d stay with the agent and his family in California.

Rangers just got Brendan Brisson in the Smith trade. Sidney Crosby uses to babysitting him. #NYR pic.twitter.com/kcG0afIM7Y

— David (@DaveyUpper) March 6, 2025

It’s not clear when or if Brisson will skate against Crosby and the Penguins again since the Rangers concluded their season series against them already. Plus, Brisson likely will be sent to Hartford of the AHL.

His addition does add depth at the center position, a spot that needed better options organizationally. Parssinen was acquired to help beef up the middle as well, and centered the third line the past three games.

As for the third-round pick in this year’s draft, that’s a good get for the Rangers because it’s actually the San Jose Sharks selection, meaning it will be high up in the third round, closer to the second round, considering their place in the overall NHL standings.

The Rangers now have nine picks in the 2025 draft, including two in each of the third, fourth and sixth rounds. They do not have a first-round pick this season, having traded that to the Vancouver Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade on Jan. 31.

Since the start of the season, the Rangers have traded their captain Jacob Trouba, two young forwards once considered cornerstones in Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil and now three veterans they weren’t going to re-sign this offseason in Lindgren, Vesey and Smith.

Still fighting for a playoff spot in the tight Eastern Conference race, the Rangers (31-26-5) could still make a move or two fill holes on defense and in their forward group ahead of the deadline, especially considering how many draft picks they’ve stockpiled. It’s unlikely they’d have interest in a rental, however. A player they like with term on his contract is preferable.

Perhaps more likely is that the Rangers could use their ample cap space to retain salary for other contenders making big moves in order to land more prospects or picks.

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More must-reads:

• New York Rangers NCAA prospects report: Brody Lamb, Ty Henricks capture regular-season titles
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• What’s next for Rangers rival after crushing season-ending injury to Jack Hughes

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-traded-vegas-brendan-brisson-3rd-round-pick/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers acquire defenseman Carson Soucy in trade with Canucks

Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn ImagesTimothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

With the NHL Trade Deadline less than 24 hours away, the New York Rangers made their second deal of the day Thursday by acquiring defenseman Carson Soucy from the Vancouver Canucks for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

That pick was acquired by the Rangers earlier in the day from the Vegas Golden Knights, along with center prospect Brendan Brisson in exchange for veteran forward Reilly Smith. The pick is the San Jose Sharks’ selection in the third round this year, so it’s closer to the second round since the Sharks are at the bottom of the NHL standings.

In essence, Rangers general manager Chris Drury added Soucy and Brisson for Smith, a pending UFA whom the Rangers had no interest in re-signing this coming offseason.

Per multiple reports, Carson Soucy has been traded to the Rangers for a third-round pick pic.twitter.com/mtOEydyC5M

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 6, 2025

Soucy is a big (6-foot-5, 208 pounds), physical, left-shot defenseman, who’s not a rental. The 30-year-old has another season to go on a three-year contract that averages $3.25 million annually.

In the midst of a down season, that includes a minus-13 plus/minus mark, Soucy was made available by the Canucks after they acquired defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins and then signed him to a five-year contract that begins next season and has an AAV of $4.025 million.

Soucy averaged an NHL career-high 18:22 TOI in 59 games this season. He has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and 42 penalty minutes, and was second on the Canucks with 92 blocked shots and fifth with 86 hits.

The veteran of 349 NHL games played two seasons with J.T. Miller, whom the Rangers acquired in an earlier trade with the Canucks on Jan. 31. He also was teammates with Rangers defenseman Will Borgen with the Seattle Kraken for two seasons (2021-23). Borgen came to the Rangers in a December trade with Seattle for forward Kaapo Kakko.

The Soucy trade is the sixth made this season by the Rangers and third in the past week heading into the trade deadline Friday. The Rangers acquired defenseman Calvin de Haan, center Juuso Parssinen and two draft picks from the Colorado Avalanche this past Saturday for defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Jimmy Vesey. Like Smith, each of those players was a pending UFA the Rangers were not going to re-sign this summer.

WATCH: Marty Biron talks Rangers moves, NHL Trade Deadline and memories of being Henrik Lundqvist’s goalie partner on RINK RAP podcast

Rangers have glut of left-shot defensemen after trading for Carson Soucy​

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Soucy is the fourth defenseman acquired by the Rangers this season, joining Borgen, de Haan and Urho Vaakanainen. All but Borgen are left-hand shots, and now the Rangers have a glut of lefties on the roster since they also have K’Andre Miller and Zac Jones.

So, where does Soucy fit? He’s here this season and next, so Drury is counting on Soucy being a mainstay on the blue line. Miller is due a big raise as a pending RFA with arbitration rights this summer, but it appears he’ll be part of the core moving forward. Vaakanainen and Jones are restricted free agents at season’s end. De Haan is a pending UFA who’s not expected to be part of the Rangers after this season.

When Adam Fox returns from IR later in the season, the right side seems set with him, Borgen and Braden Schneider. That threesome should be back intact next season. But perhaps that’s in question, too, since righty Chad Ruhwedel was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Thursday.

Does Drury have another trade up his sleeve, perhaps flipping de Haan before the deadline now that the Rangers have Soucy? Or could Jones, in the lineup now because Fox is injured, be the odd man out? Remember, he’s spent most of the season in the press box as a healthy scratch. And Jones did say two months ago he might approach the Rangers for a trade.

Some of those answers could come tomorrow by 3 p.m. ET or before, when coach Peter Laviolette speaks with reporters and will surely be asked about his lineup plan with the defense corps.

Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!

More must-reads:

• Rangers trade veteran back to Vegas where he won Stanley Cup for prospect, 3rd-round pick
• New York Rangers NCAA prospects report: Brody Lamb, Ty Henricks capture regular-season titles
• New York Rangers Daily: ‘Compelling’ offers for Mikko Rantanen leads list of trade rumors before deadline

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...cquire-defenseman-carson-soucy-trade-canucks/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers sign Urho Vaakanainen to two-year, $3.1 million contract

Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images

After making a pair of moves Thursday, the New York Rangers turned their attention to signing Urho Vaakanainen to a two-year, $3.1 million contract Friday, shortly before the NHL Trade Deadline arrived at 3 p.m. ET.

The 26-year-old could have been a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after this season. Instead, the Rangers locked him into a nice price point for a trusted third-pair defenseman.

Vaakanainen has played well in that role since he was acquired in an early December trade with the Anaheim Ducks for former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba. With the Rangers, Vaakainen has two goals — he only had one in 141 NHL games prior to landing on Broadway — and nine points, averaging 15:59 TOI in 30 games.

He’s also ninth on the Rangers for players who’ve appeared in at least 20 games averaging 3.25 blocked shots per 60 minutes.

The little pats on the arm from Urho Vaakanainen here absolutely killed me. #NYR pic.twitter.com/vDWJ2obKUG

— Snark Messier (@NYRFanatic) January 20, 2025

Since Adam Fox sustained an upper-body injury five games ago, Vaakanainen took on a bigger role 5v5 and displayed his versatility by playing on both the left and right side. Last season with the Ducks, Vaakanainen played a top-four role and averaged 17:29 TOI.

A first-round pick (No. 18 overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins, Vaakanainen has been somewhat of a late bloomer. He played an NHL career-high 68 games with the Ducks last season, when he recorded a career-best 14 points (one goals, 13 assists).

He’s been a solid fit with the Rangers, where he even notched the first three-point game (one goal, two assists) of his career when they defeated the New York Islanders 5-1 on Feb. 25.

Related: Rangers trade grades after acquiring Carson Soucy from Canucks

Rangers revamped defense corps this season​

Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Vaakanainen is the second defenseman acquired by the Rangers this season who went on to sign a new contract. Will Borgen, who was picked up from the Seattle Kraken in the Kaapo Kakko trade shortly after Vaakanainen arrived in New York, agreed to a five-year, $20.5 million contract. Borgen would’ve been an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

The Rangers traded for four defensemen during the season. Along with Vaakanainen and Borgen, New York also added Calvin de Haan last week from the Colorado Avalanche and Carson Soucy on Thursday in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

The two most recent moves created a glut of left-shot defensemen on the roster. Five of New York’s seven healthy defensemen (Fox, a righty, is sidelined) shoot left-handed.

It’s still to be determined how it all shakes out when Fox returns. For now, Zac Jones switched to his off side, and Vaakanainen did so previously.

Soucy is meeting the Rangers in Ottawa for their game Saturday against the Senators. Coach Peter Laviolette said he expects Soucy to be in the lineup even though he didn’t practice with his new team Friday.

More must-reads:

• New York Rangers injury update: Will Cuylle sick, Chris Kreider travels, Adam Fox skates on own
• Rangers archrival finally gets it, throws in towel with Brock Nelson trade
• Rangers ‘super impressed’ with impactful veteran on fourth line

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/urho-vaakanainen-two-year-contract/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Senators: 3 things to watch for in game with massive playoff implications

Marc DesRosiers-Imagn ImagesMarc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Fresh off the NHL Trade Deadline the day before, the New York Rangers play perhaps their most important game of the 2024-25 season Saturday when they visit the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.

Each team has 67 points, with Ottawa sitting in the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, percentage points ahead of New York, which has played one more game (62-61). This is the final head-to-head meeting between the Rangers and Senators this season, adding to its importance.

There are too many games left in the season to call this a must-win. But there’s no denying that a regulation victory for either team carries substantial weight. For the Senators, it would give them a two-point cushion on the Rangers with a game in hand. For the Rangers, not only would they jump past the Senators but it’d feel like big brother flexing his muscle against little brother.

Already this season, the Rangers are 2-0-0 against the Senators, winning 2-1 and 5-0 at MSG. A win Saturday would complete a sweep of the season series. Plus, with the playoff-race pressure ramping up, the Senators are just 2-3-0 since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, which was preceded by a three straight losses before the break.

“It’s a huge game,” Rangers defenseman Will Borgen said after practice Friday. “It’s going to be a playoff-like game. They’re going to be pushing and so are we.”

The Rangers are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday but have points in eight of their past 11 games (7-3-1). They are also 6-2-2 in their past 10 road games. The Senators are 17-9-2 on home ice this season.

Related: Rangers trade grades after acquiring Carson Soucy from Canucks

3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Senators​

Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

1. ‘Got to be ready’​

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette admitted that starting this game at 12:30 in the afternoon is an adjustment for routine-oriented hockey players. But it’s not an excuse. This is a hugely important game and the Rangers, notorious slow starters anyway, can’t be on their heels against a young energized opponent playing its biggest game in years.

“An early game, you’ve got to be ready,” Laviolette said Friday. “It happens real quick. You’re leaving for the game at 10 in the morning, so that’s not normal business inside of what we do. That’s where we’re at but we’ve got to be ready for it. It’s a big one.”

2. New faces, new places​

Carson Soucy is expected to make his Rangers debut after the 30-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks for a third-round draft pick Thursday. He didn’t practice in New York on Friday and instead met the team in Ottawa later in the day. It’s not yet known who would come out of the lineup for him. Likely could be Calvin de Haan — who’s been really good in his first three games since arriving from the Colorado Avalanche — and less likely Urho Vaakanainen, who’s played well, too, and just signed a two-year contract with the Rangers on Friday.

There are other new faces in new places for this game. Notably Dylan Cozens should make his Senators debut roughly 24 hours after he was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. The 24-year-old center scored 31 goals two seasons ago, landed a massive seven-year contract and has struggled to live up to it since. He had 18 goals last season and only 11 this season with the Sabres. Cozens has one goal in his past 17 games and will face the pressure of replacing the popular Josh Norris, who was sent to Buffalo in the trade.

Rugged defenseman Dennis Gilbert was also part of that trade and could debut with the Senators on Saturday. And winger Fabian Zetterlund, who’s got 17 goals this season after he scored 24 last season, was acquired by the Senators shortly before the deadline from the San Jose Sharks. It’s unknown if he’ll be available to play Saturday.

3. Friends no more​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

J.T. Miller and Brady Tkachuk were tight teammates with the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off. SO much so, that they — and Brady’s brother Matthew, of the Florida Panthers — had a group text between them, when they plotted a physical start against Canada in a tournament prelim game. That led to three fights — one for each member of the text chain — in the opening nine seconds of the game.

Well, that’s in the past. Now Miller and Brady Tkachuk, a pair of talented, intense gritty players, are on opposite sides and you can bet each will give as much as he’ll get Saturday. Simply, each is the heartbeat of his respective team. And since there’s a good chance they’ll be on the ice often at the same time, look for fireworks setting the tone for what should be an intense clash between the Rangers and Senators.

Matthew Tkachuk. Brady Tkachuk. JT Miller.

3 fights in 9 seconds to get this USA/Canada game started. Unbelievable.

Hockey is the greatest sport on the planetpic.twitter.com/f4dbIGOf5o

— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) February 16, 2025

Tkachuk, Ottawa’s captain, has goals in four straight games and 24 on the season to go along with 112 penalty minutes. Miller, who had a six-game point streak end against the Capitals, has seven goals, 14 points but not a single penalty minute in 12 games with the Rangers, since he was acquired in a trade with the Canucks on Jan. 31.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere

Cuylle – J.T. Miller- Zibanejad

Parssinen – Carrick – Berard

Othmann – Brodzinski – Rempe

K. Miller – Borgen

Soucy – Schneider

Vaakanainen – Jones

Shesterkin

Quick

Rangers vs. Senators: When, where, what time, how to watch​

Who: New York Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators

When: Saturday, March 8 at 12:30 p.m. ET

Where: Canadian Tire Centre

How to watch: MSG

More must-reads:

• Why Rangers playoff hopes brighter after rival trades Mikko Rantanen to Stars
• Rangers sign Urho Vaakanainen to two-year, $3.1 million contract
• New York Rangers injury update: Will Cuylle sick, Chris Kreider travels, Adam Fox skates on own

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...review-senators-massive-playoff-implications/

 

[New York Rangers]

3 Rangers takeaways after blowing two-goal lead in 4-3 OT loss to Ottawa Senators

Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesCharles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers were less than 10 minutes away from coming home with a win against the Ottawa Senators and possession of the first wild-card playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. But as has been a problem all season, they couldn’t close the deal.

New York led the Senators 3-1 with the final period more than halfway done on Saturday, only to allow goals by Ridley Greig and Michael Amadio that sent the game into overtime. Brady Tkachuk, a thorn in the Rangers’ side all day, needed just 33 seconds of overtime to get the game-winner in a 4-3 victory, capitalizing after New York (31-26-6) misfired on a pass in its own zone.

Instead of going into Sunday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square as the first wild card, the Rangers will come in tied in points with the Jackets (30-24-8), who have played one fewer game, for the second spot. The Senators, who were less than 10 minutes away from sending the crowd of 18,224 at Canadian Tire Centre home disappointed, now own the first wild card.

Having to settle for one point after being so close to a vital win is a disappointment, but the Rangers can’t dwell on it – not with the Blue Jackets coming to MSG in the second game of a stretch that will see them play nine times in 15 days. That’s a lot of hockey, so the Rangers have to look ahead to the points they can earn, not the ones that got away.

Related: Rangers blow two-goal lead, wild-card berth in 4-3 OT loss to Senators

Three takeaways from Rangers disappointing OT loss to Senators​

Here are three takeaways from the Rangers’ 4-3 overtime loss to Ottawa on Saturday

1. Another blown lead turns into OT loss​

If the Rangers don’t make the playoffs, games like this one and the 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals will be the reason why.

The Rangers are now 1-6 in overtime. In the last five of those six losses, they wasted third-period leads. This might have been the most painful, both because of the stakes and because it was the first time they had to settle for a single point after leading by two goals in the final 20 minutes.

“That’s disappointing. We were in control of the game,” coach Peter Laviolette said in a very brief postgame media conference. “We didn’t finish it, so it’s disappointing we leave a point on the table and not get the win.”

It had to be especially disappointing because the Senators are one of the teams the Rangers are battling in the scramble for a playoff berth in the East. A win Saturday would have moved them past the Senators and Blue Jackets and put them within three points of the Jack Hughes-less New Jersey Devils, who are third in the Metropolitan Division.

Call it a missed opportunity – and a painful one.

2. No time to mope​

March is perhaps the busiest month of the season in the NHL — especially after the trade deadline passes. Teams know that the guys they’re with in the locker room after the deadline are the ones who’ll be with them through the battle for a postseason berth and throughout the playoffs.

The Rangers began the toughest grind of their season on Saturday. The game at Ottawa was the first of nine in a stretch of 15 days. They visit the League-leading Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday to start a three-game road trip, then begin a four-game homestand by hosting the Edmonton Oilers on March 16 in the second of back-to-back games after playing at Columbus the night before.

That kind of compact schedule makes the game against the Jackets on Sunday even more important – and means they can’t spend Saturday night pondering the disappointment of a lost opportunity.

CORNER = PICKED. pic.twitter.com/PcJDj4DbaV

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 8, 2025

“We don’t have time [to be] frustrated for too long,” said forward Artemi Panarin, whose third-period goal gave the Rangers the 3-1 lead they couldn’t hold. “We have a very important game tomorrow. We have to be ready.”

3. Soucy scores in Rangers debut​

Carson Soucy, the defenseman acquired by the Rangers from the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, had scored the game-winning goal in his final game with his former club on Wednesday. At 6-foot-5, Soucy makes his living keeping pucks out of his own net; any that he puts into the other team’s cage are an extra benefit.

The Rangers got one of those benefits in Saturday when the 30-year-old’s first-period shot leaked through Ottawa goaltender Linus Ullmark’s legs and into the net to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. The puck actually crossed the goal line after the whistle had blown, but after a video review, the play was ruled to be continuous and the goal counted.

Soucy gets his first as a #NYR. pic.twitter.com/Tslb5yhZc4

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 8, 2025

“No,” he said when asked if he knew the shot was a goal. “I think (Alexis Lafreniere) pointed at it first. Honestly wasn’t too pleased with my shot originally. But just trying to get pucks on net.”

Soucy finished the game having scored on his only shot on goal. He was also credited with one hit and one blocked shot in 15:39 of ice time. After scoring twice in his first 58 games, he has goals in back-to-back games.

“Not bad,” he said when asked about his play in his first game as a Ranger. “Unfortunately, not the win. (I) felt better as the game went on, think some things just going to take a little bit of time to get used to just [with the] systems change. But overall, the first game, I thought it felt pretty well.”

More must-reads:

• Rangers blow two-goal lead, chance to take wild-card berth with 4-3 OT loss to Senators
• New York Rangers Daily: NHL Trade Deadline fallout, including massive Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand deals
• Rangers vs. Senators: 3 things to watch for in game with massive playoff implications

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-goal-lead-in-4-3-ot-loss-to-ottawa-senators/

 

[New York Rangers]

Winners, losers from Rangers deflating overtime loss to Senators

Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images

For the second consecutive game, the New York Rangers squandered a third period lead and were unable to win in overtime, leaving another valuable point on the table at a time when points have never been more crucial. Up 3-1 early in the third period, the Rangers gave up two goals, and lost in overtime 4-3 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

While it’s not the end of the world for the Rangers, the loss warrants plenty of concern going forward. Failing to close out a game with a two-goal lead in the third period is not the characteristic of a team fighting for their playoff lives.

Nonetheless, the Blueshirts won’t have much time to dwell. They’ve got another game Sunday that carries even more significance against the Columbus Blue Jackets, whom the Rangers can overtake in the standings with a win.

Now, lets take a look at the winners and losers from the overtime loss in Ottawa:

Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from another brutal overtime loss

Winner – Carson Soucy – Rangers​

Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images​

It was about as good of a Rangers debut as it could get for newest acquisition Carson Soucy, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a third-round pick ahead of the trade deadline. While not known for his offensive capabilities, Soucy scored a big goal in the first period to put the Rangers ahead 1-0. He finished the day with that goal and 15:39 of ice time.

Loser – K’Andre Miller and the Rangers at 3-on-3​

Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images​

When the Rangers desperately needed to find an extra point in overtime, K’Andre Miller gave a brutal cross-ice pass that was intended for J.T. Miller, but it was far behind him as he was streaking up the ice. The end result, a 2-on-1 opportunity and the overtime winner for Brady Tkachuck. In games decided in the five-minute overtime, the Rangers now have a 1-6 record. Turn half of those losses into wins, and the playoff picture looks a little different right now.

Winner – Brady Tkachuk – Senators​

Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images​

In his 500th NHL game, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk came up with a big-time performance. He scored two goals for Ottawa including the overtime winner less than 24 hours after an emotional interview following the trade of one of his closest friends in Josh Norris. Tkachuk had an incredible nine shots on goal against the Rangers, showing why he is one of the most dominant power-forwards in the NHL.

Winner – Rangers penalty kill​

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images​

While it’s certainly not ideal that the Rangers found themselves short-handed five times in this contest, their penalty kill came up big once again. Among the top-three in the League, the PK unit went a perfect 5-for-5 on the night, although the third Ottawa goal came just as a Ranger penalty was expiring. Still, this game could have easily been a regulation loss if not for the outstanding work of Igor Shesterkin and the Rangers man-down unit.

Loser – Columbus Blue Jackets​

Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images​

The worst-case scenario for the Columbus Blue Jackets was for this game to go to overtime, and that’s exactly what happened. Columbus, inactive on Saturday, entered the day hanging onto the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. With the Senators getting two points, they leapfrog the Blue Jackets and bring their season total to 69 points. The Rangers earn the single point by getting to overtime, and tie the Blue Jackets for the second wild card at 68. The game Sunday between New York and Columbus will be another huge four-point swing.

Winner – Artemi Panarin’s goal streak​

Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images​

If there’s any positives to take away from this game for the Rangers, it’s that Artemi Panarin continues to stay red-hot as he extends his goal streak to four consecutive games. Panarin scored New York’s third goal of the game to put them ahead 3-1 roughly seven minutes into the third period. On top of his four goals, he has three assists for a total of seven points in his past four games, heating up at the perfect time for the Rangers.

Loser – Rangers’ inability to put games away​

Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images​

Once again, the Rangers threw away a golden opportunity to earn important points. While they were the comeback kings last season, they now seem to lack the killer instinct that it takes to put games away. They’ve blown third period leads in back-to-back games, and have had trouble hanging onto games throughout the season. Their inability to win in overtime only makes matters worse. All in all, this is a trend that will have to stop if the Rangers want any chance at a playoff berth.

More must-reads:

• 3 Rangers takeaways after blowing two-goal lead in 4-3 OT loss to Ottawa Senators
• Rangers blow two-goal lead, chance to take wild-card berth with 4-3 OT loss to Senators
• New York Rangers Daily: NHL Trade Deadline fallout, including massive Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand deals

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-rangers-deflating-overtime-loss-to-senators/

 

[New York Rangers]

Carson Soucy makes immediate impact in Rangers debut, ‘felt better as the game went on’

Marc DesRosiers-Imagn ImagesMarc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Just two days after the New York Rangers acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks, Carson Soucy was in Ottawa on Saturday, playing his first game after the trade despite having just met the team and staff mere hours before taking the ice

With just a short briefing on defense pairs, systems, and how things are expected to work, the veteran defenseman went out and played a pretty solid game for the Rangers against the Senators, and even chipped in with the first goal of the game.

“Not bad, unfortunately not the win, but felt better as the game went on,” Soucy said postgame. “I think some things are just going to take a little bit of time to get used to, just systems changes. Overall, the first game I thought it felt pretty well.”

Soucy logged 15:39 TOI in the deflating 4-3 overtime loss, playing alongside Zac Jones at even strength and also getting 43 seconds of PK work. This has the potential to be a nice pairing for the Rangers, since Soucy is more of a defensive defenseman and a big body (6-foot-5, 208 pounds), while Jones is a smaller, offensively driven puck-moving defenseman.

It leads one to believe that when Adam Fox is healthy again and returns from his upper-body injury, he will pair with Soucy.

The goal Soucy scored at 8:37 of the first period wasn’t a highlight reel play, but it was a nice way for the 30-year-old to be welcomed to the Rangers. It was a weak shot from left wing that somehow trickled through Senators goalie Linus Ullmark, but it gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead and saw him mobbed afterwards by his new teammates.

After going to review, Carson Soucy makes his New York Rangers debut with a goal! pic.twitter.com/VGQRHAXKxy

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 8, 2025

Funny thing is, Soucy didn’t even know he had scored at first.

“No, I think [Alexis Lafreniere] pointed at it first,” he explained. “Honestly wasn’t too pleased with my shot originally, but just trying to get pucks on net. … It’s nice to try and help and contribute in any way. Unfortunately it’s a loss, but try and build off it.”

Related: Rangers vs. Blue Jackets: 3 things to watch for in pivotal game for playoff positioning

Carson Soucy waived NMC to come to Rangers, push for playoffs​

Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Soucy provides a solid boost in terms of the Rangers depth on defense as they push for a playoff spot, especially with Fox still still on IR. He was exactly what the Rangers and General Manager Chris Drury were seeking at the trade deadline, a solid left-shot defenseman that would be reliable on the back end. Though on the third pair now, he’s capable of playing bigger minutes in a top-four role.

The deal was more complicated than just trading away a third-round pick for Soucy, however. He had a no-move clause in place, and had to waive it in order to come to the Rangers. That alone speaks volumes about his desire to play for the Rangers.

“There’s definitely multiple factors,” Soucy said about waiving his NMC. “Obviously a team that wants you, wants to trade for you, is a big part of that. It’s nice having [J.T.] Miller, and [Will] Borgen here. We were pretty tight in Seattle. And obviously just New York, playing for the Rangers, playing at Madison Square Garden.”

Soucy reunited with Miller, whom he played with in Vancouver and was acquired by the Rangers in an earlier trade Jan. 31. He played extensively with Borgen in Seattle, logging over 400 minutes together as a defense pair. If coach Peter Laviolette decides to tinker with his pairings down the line, that’s a route certainly worth exploring.

For now, the goal will be helping the Rangers push for a playoff spot with the regular season coming down to the wire. The Rangers certainly didn’t do themselves any favors by blowing a two-goal lead in the third period Saturday, and eventually losing in overtime. It was their second consecutive blown third period lead, and both games resulted in OT losses and lost points in the standings.

“That last goal is pretty tough,” explained Soucy. “Just squirts through pretty much all of our guys and the goalie, so that was kind of tough. Overall I thought not a bad game.”

BRADY TKACHUK SCORES THE OT WINNER IN HIS 500TH GAME! pic.twitter.com/X3WhQ28w6A

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 8, 2025

Soucy knows about playing big games. He was excellent for the Kraken in the 2023 playoffs and solid for the Canucks last spring. He brings 38 games of Stanley Cup Playoffs experience to the Rangers, who are seeking their fourth straight trip to the postseason.

Both Soucy and the Rangers have another crack at it on Sunday night in an even bigger matchup when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden. A win puts the Rangers ahead of both Columbus (WC2) and Ottawa (WC1) in the Eastern Conference standings.

More must-reads:

• New York Rangers Daily: Not all losses created equal for Blueshirts; Maple Leafs considered Mitch Marner trade
• Rangers vs. Blue Jackets: 3 things to watch for in pivotal game for playoff positioning
• 3 Rangers takeaways after blowing two-goal lead in 4-3 OT loss to Ottawa Senators

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/carson-soucy-immediate-impact/

 

[New York Rangers]

Winners, losers from Rangers brutal 7-3 loss to Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets

Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images

With a chance to grab the top wild card in the Eastern Conference with a win Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the New York Rangers instead faceplanted and self-destructed in a stunning 7-3 loss at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers never led, but appeared to have seized all the momentum after scoring twice in 42 seconds on the same penalty kill to tie the score 3-3 in the second period. Instead, the upstart Blue Jackets answered back with more goals of their own before the period ended and added two more in the third to pull away grab ahold of that coveted top wild card spot in the East.

It was a game of crazy momentum swings, helping make that rematch Saturday in Columbus all the more anticipated.

For now, let’s break down the winners and losers from the Blue Jackets’ 7-3 win against the Rangers.

Related: Winners, losers from Rangers’ meltdown against Senators

Winner – Adam Fantilli – Blue Jackets​

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images​

The Blue Jackets 20-year-old forward had himself a night on the big stage in the Big Apple. Fantilli recorded the second hat trick of his NHL career and surpassed 20 goals (21) on the season. He scored twice in a 23-second span early in the second period to make it 3-1 Blue Jackets. That first goal was a rocket off the rush. The next two came when he found the soft spot in the defense in the slot. He was a force, an impactful player.

Losers – Even-strength play – Rangers​

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images​

This was a throwback to their putrid 4-15-0 stretch in November and December for the Rangers. After playing a largely solid first period, they imploded with terrible defensive coverage and losing puck battles left and right to a hungrier opponent. All of the damage came at even strength, where the Rangers were outscored by a whopping 7-1 margin. It was unsightly, and would’ve been more stunning if we hadn’t seen this act before earlier in the season.

Winner – Short-handed goals – Rangers​

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images​

If only the Rangers took more penalties, perhaps they could’ve won this game. The Blue Jackets had one power play all night, starting at 6:13 of the second period, trying to build on a 3-1 lead. Instead, the Rangers scored two short-handed goals in a 42-second span to tie the score, the first time they scored a pair of shorties on the same PK since March 5, 2014. First, Braden Schneider with a blast; then Chris Kreider off a 2-on-0 (!) rush for the Rangers’ League-leading 13th short-handed goal. But they never scored again. Next time, take more penalties Blueshirts!

Loser – Jonathan Quick – Rangers​

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images​

Listen, the Rangers defensive structure was pathetic and Quick received little help. But at the end of the night, the 39-year-old gave up seven goals on 27 shots. That’s seven times in 17 starts this season that the three-time Stanley Cup winner has allowed five or more. In his defense, there were so many wide-open looks for Columbus on Sunday. Maybe someone should try and find Fantilli in the slot next time?

Winner – Daniil Tarasov – Blue Jackets​

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images​

Not to be overlooked here is the play of Tarasov. Yes, he worked with a cushion most of the game since the Blue Jackets never trailed, but the 25-year-old was very good when called upon. He was sharp on New York’s first two power plays, once holding a 1-0 lead in the first and then in a 1-1 game to start the second. He overcame those two shorties that tied it 3-3 and didn’t allow another goal the rest of the way, including stopping all 16 shots in the third period to finish with 31 saves.

Loser – Power play – Rangers​

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images​

The Rangers did generate some quality chances on the power play, but, again, they failed to score a man (or two, during a 6-on-4 with Quick pulled in the third period) up. They had five power-play shots on goal and finished 0-for-4. The Rangers often set up nicely in the offensive zone, but don’t shoot enough nor do they get enough shots through. They’re 1-for-21 on the PP over the past seven games and 24th in the NHL at 19.7 percent.

Winner – Will Borgen – Rangers​

Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images​

Borgen was on ice for two of Columbus’ goals, but was the Rangers only plus player (+1). He was on for both shorties New York scored and an Artemi Panarin goal late in the first period. The 28-year-old defenseman saved a goal in the second period with the Rangers down 3-1, when he made a lunging arm save as he was lying in the crease and Quick was caught out of position. In the third period, he instigated a fight with Luke Kunin after the Blue Jackets forward crushed Vincent Trocheck from behind into the boards.

Winner – Zach Werenski – Blue Jackets​

Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images​

Werenski again showed why he’s a legitimate Norris Trophy candidate as top defenseman in the NHL. He completely undressed Rangers defenseman Carson Soucy to set up the Blue Jackets first goal. Then with the score tied 3-3 late in the second, he zipped a perfect pass to set up Mathieu Olivier’s go-ahead score. Another pair of assists, now 48 on the season and 260 in his career, most in Blue Jackets history. Only Cale Makar (75) has more points among NHL defensemen than Werenski (68) this season.

More must-reads:

• ‘This one sucks’: Rangers try to explain brutal meltdown against Blue Jackets
• Rangers score 2 short-handed goals but are manhandled by Blue Jackets in 7-3 loss
• Carson Soucy makes immediate impact in Rangers debut, ‘felt better as the game went on’

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...s-brutal-7-3-loss-adam-fantilli-blue-jackets/

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Chad Ruhwedel heats up; Brendan Brisson, Nicolas Aube-Kubel added at deadline

Hartford Wolf Pack

The Hartford Wolf Pack secured two wins in three games this past week, defeating the Bridgeport Islanders 6-3 on Wednesday and Belleville Senators 4-1 on Sunday. The New York Rangers AHL affiliate also lost 7-1 to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday.

The seventh-place Wolf Pack (24-27-5-2, 55 points) are 10 points behind sixth-place Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the final playoff spot in the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division. Despite securing points in five of seven games, the Wolf Pack’s road to the playoffs remains difficult with 14 games remaining in the regular season.

Related: Rangers week ahead in includes big road trip, rematch against Blue Jackets

Hartford Wolf Pack news-n-notes​

Chad Ruhwedel – Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Chad Ruhwedel on 5-game point streak​

Chad Ruhwedel has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past five games, including two primary assists on Sunday. He also recorded a goal and assist on Feb. 22 to jumpstart Hartford’s recent surge.

The 34-year-old is a smart veteran defenseman, who takes calculated risks in the offensive zone, often recording shots with opportunities for a deflection or tip. He also goes deep in the offensive zone when Hartford pressures opponents and helps the transition game with crisp passes that typically have low risk for turnovers. Ruhwedel has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists), third most among Hartford defenseman.

Chad Ruhwedel's primary assist gives him a five-game point streak (2 g, 4 a). That's tied for the second longest by a Wolf Pack player this season.

The goal is the 100th career AHL point for Jake Leschyshyn, while Matthew Robertson's assist is his career-high 18th. https://t.co/c6oaN6grMS

— Alex Thomas (@AlexThomasHWP) March 9, 2025

Ruhwedel is sound in his own end. The veteran of 369 NHL games leads the defense corps with a plus-9 rating and been even or positive in 30 of 37 games played this season. He is well positioned, blocks shots, and can clear the crease when needed, even though he’s not the biggest defender (5-foot-11, 189 pounds). In addition, Ruhwedel is disciplined, called for eight minor penalties this season (along with a 10-minute misconduct).

With all the turnover on defense this season, Hartford is fortunate to have Ruhwedel’s steady hand on the blue line.

Jake Leschyshyn bounces back​

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Jake Leschyshyn had his best game of the season, 24 hours after perhaps his worst this weekend. The center, who turned 26 Monday, had two goals and an assist Sunday after he was pointless and minus-5 on Saturday.

That big game against Belleville gives him six points (three goals, three assists) in his past six games. . His willingness to get in front of the net, paid off Sunday with a pair of goals on deflections, giving him 11 goals on the season, tied for fifth on the Wolf Pack. Leschyshyn has 22 points (11 goal, 11 assists) this season.

Leschyshyn: Over the years, I’ve found success just getting to the front of the net. That’s my position on the power play and I take a lot of pride in it. #NYR

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) March 10, 2025

Potulny on Leschyshyn: I’m glad Jake was back for the third, I’ll tell you that. Huge game. Probably didn’t deserve to go 25 games without scoring, but it’s happened to him a couple times. He had stretches where he was playing better than the amount of goals he scored. #NYR

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) March 10, 2025

Two forwards join Wolf Pack ahead of NHL trade deadline​

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

The Wolf Pack debuted two trade-deadline acquisitions by the Rangers over the weekend. Each has NHL experience and upgraded Hartford’s contingent of forwards. Each debuted for Hartford Sunday and was held without a point.

Brendan Brisson

A low risk, high reward acquisition, Brendan Brisson was acquired along with a third-round pick in this year’s draft from the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Reilly Smith. The 23-year-old is a playmaker with a strong resume in the AHL and, before that, collegiately. He posted 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) last season with Henderson and 37 in 2022-23. Despite struggling this season (14 points in 47 games), Brisson was a first-round pick (No. 29 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Golden Knights and scored 21 goals in 38 games at the University of Michigan in 2021-22. In 24 NHL games with Vegas, Brisson has eight points (two goals, six assists).

Nicolas Aubé-Kubel

A Stanley Cup winner with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres for Hartford defenseman Erik Brannstrom. The 28-year-old forward has played 301 NHL games, including 19 this season with the Sabres. Aubé-Kubel played for Rangers coach Peter Laviolette with the Washington Capitals in 2022-23 and is another option for an NHL recall if the Rangers need forward help.

Upcoming Games​

All games can be watched on AHLTV and listened on Mixlr.

Wednesday, March 12 vs Grand Rapids Griffins (Red Wings) at 7pm, Van Andel Arena​

• This is the final meeting in the season series. Hartford won the first matchup 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 30.
• Grand Rapids is 29-22-4-2 for 64 points. They are third in the Central Division and eighth in the Western Conference. The Griffins are 3-5-1-1 in their past 10 games.
• Joe Snively leads the Griffins with 37 points (20 goals, 17 assists). Next is Austin Watson with 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists).

Friday, March 14 vs Rockford IceHogs (Blackhawks) at 8pm, BMO Center​

• This is the final meeting in this season. Hartford won the first game 4-0 on Dec. 6.
• Rockford is 24-25-5-1 for 54 points. They are fifth in the Central Division and 13th in the Western Conference. The IceHogs have won three straight and are 7-3-0-0 in their past 10 games.
• Cole Guttman leads the IceHogs with 48 points (21 goals, 27 assists) and is 12th in the AHL. Next is Brett Seney with 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists).

Saturday, March 15 vs Milwaukee Admirals (Predators) at 7pm, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena​

• This is the first of two meetings in the season series.
• Milwaukee is 30-18-4-5 for 69 points. They are first in the Central Division and third in the Western Conference. The Admirals are on a five game point streak (3-0-1-1).
• Cal O’Reilly leads the Admirals with 39 points (nine goals, 30 assists). Next is Ozzy Wiesblatt with 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists).

More must-reads:

• ‘Our power play has to get better’: Rangers struggle in this area massive concern
• New York Rangers week ahead includes trying to rebound after back-to-back weekend losses
• New York Rangers Daily: Blueshirts make wrong statement; 9 teams were in on Mikko Rantanen trade

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-up-brendan-brisson-nicolas-aube-kubel-added/

 

[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers Daily: Managing passionate Blueshirts Faithful on social media; Hurricanes coach reveals Mikko Rantanen truth

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Talking New York Rangers on social media can be a fun and frustrating experience all at the same time. If you love snark and sarcasm, it’s there in spades. Passion? You better believe it. Irrational takes? Absolutely. Smart thoughtful opinions? That too.

It’s not always for the faint of heart, of course. But having been an NHL reporter since before Twitter (now X) was even created, I’m well-versed in the give and take, that often borders on irrational with Rangers fans.

Such was the case when a simple post by me before the Rangers hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday fired up a certain contingent of Blueshirts Faithful. Apparently, it was blasphemous that I agreed with coach Peter Laviolette’s decision to scratch Juuso Parssinen and insert rookie Brett Berard into the lineup one day after New York’s 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa.

The first snark arrived quickly in my notifications.

“This is Berard not Bedard” it read, sarcastically referring to the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

That was quickly followed by “It’s not the lines dude the team is shot. Berard not going to change anything.”

Then my favorite tweet of the day: “Glad to see we got 2 healthy scratches for Lindgren and Vesey.” That is in reference to Calvin de Haan joining Parssinen in the press box.

That was quickly followed by more vitriol — to be honest, directed more at Laviolette than me — angrily questioning how Parssinen could be a healthy scratch just four games after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche! Especially after that great video made the rounds on social showing Parssinen score a sick shootout goal! I mean, this guy’s the next stud! The Rangers are benching a future star! Laviolette doesn’t develop young players!

Well, I guess it was overlooked that Berard is 22 and Parssinen in 24. But that’s not even the point here.

As hysteria mounted over a pretty simple lineup decision, I had a laugh or 10.

Berard brings more speed, energy and grit to the lineup. Parssinen adds more size and many hockey people believe a higher upside that he’s still trying to reach. So, Parssinen played Saturday. Berard played Sunday. Nobody’s locked into a spot here, a little competition is a good thing. That includes Brennan Othmann — the 2021 first-round pick who is getting some run and has been a physical force in the bottom six, but needs to start scoring too. Throw recent healthy scratch Arthur Kaliyev into this mix, as well.

And speaking specifically of Parssinen, he had that fight against the Washington Capitals a few games ago, his most notable Rangers moment. But he’s been largely a non-factor in his first four games. Minimal ice time. Zero shots on goal. On ice for two of Ottawa’s four goals Saturday, largely a spectator on Ridly Greig’s goal midway through the third period that kickstarted the Senators comeback.

The Rangers didn’t exactly scratch Mark Messier here.

But settle down. Parssinen will play some. Berard will play some. The Rangers will find out what they have in their youngsters, while trying to navigate this playoff chase minefield.

See you on X! Look forward to it!

Subscribe to the RINK RAP podcast on the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page

New York Rangers news​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Rangers have their work cut out for them this week, including a three-game road trip, games against the Winnipeg Jets on the road and Edmonton Oilers at home, and a rematch against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Here’s an understatement by the Rangers: “Our power play has got to be better.” Yes. Yes, it does.

Another understatement? “This one sucks” — the Rangers take after watching the Blue Jackets skate out of MSG on Sunday with a 7-3 win.

Here’s a look back at the winners and losers from that 7-3 Rangers’ loss to the Blue Jackets.

And our three Rangers takeaways from the defeat, including a breakdown of playing at not-so-even strength.

Our latest Hartford Wolf Pack weekly features updates on Chad Ruhwedel, Jake Leschshyn and two new Rangers: Brendan Brisson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

NHL news and rumors​

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Just as everything appeared to be on track for another Florida Panthers postseason run, word came down Monday that defenseman Aaron Ekblad is suspended 20 games for violating the NHL performance-enhancing drug policy.

Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff has a solid breakdown of why contract talks broke down between Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins and how exactly the Bruins captain ended up being traded to the Panthers.

Wow. Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told a local radio station that Mikko Rantanen informed the club he had zero interest in signing with them immediately after they acquired him, and that there were four teams on his wish list to be traded to , if he were to be moved again.

This is how a true pro accepts criticism from his coach. Read here about Jake DeBrusk’s reaction to losing ice time for the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday and then being called out by coach Rick Tocchet — even though the forward’s in the midst of a 22-goal season.

The Athletic reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins never got close to trading Rickard Rackell ahead of the deadline. It’s also reported that they will try to move veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson this summer.

The Seattle Kraken recalled 20-year-old forward Jani Nyman from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League, where he leads AHL rookies with 26 goals.

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now believes that by signing defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic to a long-term contract, the Devils have put the futures of Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey with the organization in doubt.

Good and bad in the same for the Rangers in their playoff chase. The Ottawa Senators edged the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 with newcomer Dylan Cozens scoring the game-winning goal. Good news for the Rangers is that the Red Wings lost their sixth straight game and appear to become a non-factor in the playoff race. The bad news is that the Senators moved into the first wild card in the East, three points ahead of the Rangers with a game in hand.

Nathan MacKinnon reached 1,000 points in the NHL with an assist on an Artturi Lehkonen goal, part of a 3-0 win for the Colorado Avalanche over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs grinded their way to a 4-3 shootout win against the Utah Hockey Club.

Tage Thompson scored twice and now has 33 goals on the season, tied for fourth most in the NHL, when the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2.

More must-reads:

• Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Chad Ruhwedel heats up; Brendan Brisson, Nicolas Aube-Kubel added at deadline
• ‘Our power play has to get better’: Rangers struggle in this area massive concern
• New York Rangers week ahead includes trying to rebound after back-to-back weekend losses

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...urricanes-coach-reveals-mikko-rantanen-truth/

 

[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers NCAA prospects report: Gabe Perreault scores pair to help Boston College clinch 1st in Hockey East

Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesEric Canha-Imagn Images

Seven New York Rangers prospects were in action this past weekend as the NCAA playoff picture became a little clearer with the conclusion of regular-season play.

2023 draftees Gabe Perreault (first round) and Drew Fortescue (third round) helped the Boston College Eagles clinch the Hockey East regular-season crown, and likely enter the NCAA tournament as the top overall seed following a 6-0 shutout win over Merrimack College on Saturday. The Eagles (26-6-2) are Hockey East champions in back-to-back seasons and will likely head to the Manchester, New Hampshire, regional. Boston College is first in the USCHO.com Men’s Division I Poll and is also in the top spot in PairWise Rankings.

Perreault scored twice in the victory. He netted his 14th goal of the season in the second period with his team already up 2-0. The even-strength goal came as he carried the puck into the offensive zone and fired a shot past the Merrimack goalie.

Perreault slots home his 14th goal of the year!

Watch on @ESPNPlus | https://t.co/7TPMlEB2W8 pic.twitter.com/aRfhB8HL5G

— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) March 8, 2025

Typically, it has been Perreault setting up his teammates for power-play goals this season, but in the third period, the sophomore forward fired home a shot from inside the right face-off circle while on the man advantage. This was Perreault’s second straight game with a power play goal, and his 15th goal of the season.

Perreault scores on the power play for the second-straight game!

Watch on @ESPNPlus | https://t.co/7TPMlEB2W8 pic.twitter.com/1kMoa4Op2r

— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) March 8, 2025

The two goals for Perreault on three shots and a plus-2 rating moved the 20-year-old back into a tie for the team scoring lead with Ryan Leonard. His 31 assists on the season are second in the nation behind Jack Devine of Denver.

Fortescue had one shot on goal in the win and a plus-2 rating.

Boston College will host the quarterfinals of the Hockey East tournament Saturday, March 15 at Conte Forum. The Semifinal and Championship are scheduled for March 20 and 21 at TD Garden in Boston.

In other Hockey East play, the Northeastern Huskies finished the regular season with a 3-2 loss to Providence College. Defenseman Jackson Dorrington had one shot on goal, one blocked shot, and was minus-2 in the loss. Northeastern finished ninth in Hockey East standings with a 12-19-3 overall record and will face Merrimack College in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs Wednesday.

Related: Marty Biron believes Rangers can make run because Igor Shesterkin ‘can be unbeatable’

Brody Lamb, Minnesota falter in Big Ten postseason​

Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Junior forward Brody Lamb had one shot on goal and was minus-1 Friday for Minnesota during a 3-2 loss to Notre Dame in the Big Ten first-round playoff series. The Golden Gophers took game two of the series by a score of 4-2 Saturday. Lamb did not record a shot on goal, and was minus-1. The 2021 fourth-round pick of the Rangers was minus-1 again in the deciding game which Notre Dame won 4-1. Lamb had one shot on goal.

Lamb sits at 16 goals with nine assists for 25 points in 38 games this season. Minnesota dropped two spots to fifth in the USCHO.com Poll and remains fourth in PairWise Rankings, likely to be the No. 1 seed in the Fargo, North Dakota Regionals with a 25-10-4 overall record.

Zakary Karpa and the Harvard Crimson defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 5-2 in a single game elimination for the first round of the ECAC playoffs. The senior center won 7 of 20 face-offs with one shot on goal, two blocked shots, and finished with a minus-1 rating. Harvard will be on the road against Clarkson University March 14-16 for a best-of-three series in the quarterfinals of the ECAC tournament. The Semifinals and Championship Game will be played March 21 and 22 at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York.

Having already won the Penrose Cup as the NCHC regular-season champions, Western Michigan defeated Miami 8-3 Friday night. Freshman Ty Henricks scored right off a face-off in the second period.

A snipe from Ty off the draw! pic.twitter.com/yvmXL0dXNx

— WMU Hockey (@WMUHockey) March 8, 2025

The forward added his fourth goal in three games Saturday in a 5-2 victory. His seventh goal of the season came at 19:31 of the second period when he was given the puck just before entering the offensive zone. Henricks carried the puck right to the net and made a power move using his backhand to score.

Ty continues to make big plays! pic.twitter.com/ROQ87RY8OI

— WMU Hockey (@WMUHockey) March 9, 2025

The 6-foot-5 forward has seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 33 games. Western Michigan improved to 26-7-1 overall and is third in the USCHO.com Poll and fifth in PairWise Rankings. The Broncos will host St. Cloud State in a best-of-three series at Lawson Arena March 14-16. The NCHC Frozen Faceoff will be held at Xcel Energy Center March 21 and 22.

Center Noah Laba returned to the Colorado College lineup Friday, when the Tigers dropped a 4-1 decision to Denver University in NCHC play. The junior missed the previous three games for Colorado College. Laba did not record a shot on goal Friday and finished the game with a minus-1 rating, though he did have an impressive face-off record of 14-4. Colorado College lost to Denver by a 4-3 score Saturday to finish sixth in NCHC standings with a conference record of 11-12-1 and 17-16-1 overall. Laba had an assist on the first goal of the game for the Tigers on the power play in the second period. He finished the game with one shot on goal, one blocked shot, and a plus-2 rating. He won 14 of 19 face-offs taken. Despite missing time due to injury, Laba is third on the team in scoring with eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in 26 games.

Colorado College will need to win the NCHC playoffs to qualify for the NCAA tournament. They will face Denver again in the NCHC Quarterfinal Round.

2024 first-round pick EJ Emery remained out of the lineup for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks due to injury. The freshman defenseman missed his third and fourth games when North Dakota split a series against Omaha with a 3-1 win Friday and 7-3 loss Saturday. The two team meet again in the NCHC Quarterfinals. North Dakota finished fifth in NCHC standings with a conference record of 14-9-1 and 19-14-2 overall. The Fighting Hawks are 17th in the USCHO.com Poll and will need a deep run in the NCHC Frozen Four to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, sitting just outside the playoff bubble at 18th in PairWise Rankings.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...s-pair-boston-college-clinch-1st-hockey-east/

 

[New York Rangers]

Winners, losers after Rangers fall to Jets to start road trip

Terrence Lee-Imagn ImagesTerrence Lee-Imagn Images

At this stage of the season, with their playoff lives hanging in the balance, the New York Rangers need points more than anything else. Not pats on the back for good effort. No consolations for losing by one to the best team in the NHL.

So, the Rangers’ 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday at Canada Life Centre is exactly that, a loss, their fourth in a row, and another missed opportunity to move up in the Eastern Conference standings.

There are 17 games remaining in the regular season for the Rangers (31-28-6) and two more games remaining on this three-game road trip. Now 10th in the conference by percentage points, the Rangers next try to get a valuable two points when they visit the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

Right now, though, let’s check out the winners and losers from their 2-1 loss in Winnipeg.

Related: Marty Biron Rangers can make playoff run because of Igor Shesterkin

Winner – Igor Shesterkin – Rangers​

Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images​

Shesterkin faced only 24 shots, but had to be on his toes throughout due to a string of defensive breakdowns that led to numerous breakaways and odd-man chances for the Jets. His most critical save likely was stoning Vladislav Namestnikov after the Jets forward flew past Zac Jones and took a head-man pass for a breakaway just a minute after Winnipeg grabbed a 2-1 lead in the second period. The Rangers ultimately still lost, but it could’ve been game over right then and there.

Loser – Vincent Trocheck – Rangers​

Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images​

There’s never a doubt how hard hard Trocheck works nor how much coach Peter Laviolette trusts him, but the Rangers center had a another rough night at both ends of the rink against the Senators. He had the tying goal on his stick with Shesterkin pulled for an extra attacker and 1:22 remaining in regulation, hesitated slightly and then had his shot blocked up into the netting. That summed up his night, when he was on ice for five high-danger chances against and only two for in more than 16 minutes TOI at 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. He finished with one shot on goal in more than 23 minutes TOI total, won only 41 percent of his face-offs and was held without a goal for the 11th straight game.

Winner – Mika Zibanejad – Rangers​

Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images​

Zibanejad scored the Rangers only goal, a bar-down power-play goal from the slot in the first period, and led all skaters with 10 shot attempts. He was engaged, strong on the PK and had several other quality scoring chances. As usual, Zibanejad was a mixed bag defensively 5v5, but he has come alive offensively with four points (two goals, two assists) in the past three games and 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in his past 15.

Loser – Goalie interference penalties – Rangers​

Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images​

The Rangers were incensed that Matt Rempe was called for a goalie interference penalty at 3:11 of the second period after he was shoved into Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. They were even angrier when the Jets scored on the ensuing power play, a go-ahead goal that turned out to be the game-winner. Granted a power play of their own when Brandon Tanev was whistled for interfering with Shesterkin after bumping him in the crease at 6:22 of the second, the Rangers failed to even the score.

Winner – Blocked shots – Jets​

Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images​

Hellebuyck got a lot of help from his friends in his League-leading 38th victory of the season. The Jets blocked 21 shots and numerous Rangers pass attempts, as well. It was a game-changer in the third period especially, when the Rangers pressed in the offensive zone and just couldn’t get clean looks. New York was held to five shots on goal in the third and 22 in the game. Veteran defenseman Luke Schenn led all skaters with five blocked shots (and five hits) in his Jets debut after being acquired in a trade ahead of the NHL deadline.

Winner – Video review – Rangers​

Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images​

It appeared the Jets took a 3-1 lead at 3:06 of the third period when Dylan Demelo’s shot beat Shesterkin. But Laviolette successfully challenged the on-ice call of a goal, because Winnipeg forward Morgan Barron’s skate clipped Shesterkin’s skate as the Rangers goalie attempted to kick out his right leg. The goal was overruled for goalie interference and the New York’s deficit remained one.

Loser – Streaks – Rangers​

Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images​

The defeat in Winnipeg stretched the Rangers losing skid to four games (0-2-2). It is New York’s third losing streak of at least four games and fifth of at least three this season. Conversely, the Rangers longest winning streak is four games (Oct. 14-22) and they haven’t won three in a row since Nov. 14-19, a stretch of four months. The Rangers have won three or more games in a row twice this season.

Loser – Shots off the post – Rangers​

Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images​

Carson Soucy wired a shot off the post just 1:52 into the game. That could’ve given the Rangers an early lead and a big boost in this massive road game. Then Braden Schneider kissed iron off a short-handed rush later in the game. A goal there would’ve made it 2-2, and who knows what happens moving forward? Instead, the Rangers lost by one. Such were the (bad) bounces for the Rangers.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...rs-after-rangers-lost-4th-straight-game-jets/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers’ familiar third-line issues taking toll on playoff hopes

Terrence Lee-Imagn ImagesTerrence Lee-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers are dealing with a new crisis in this frustrating mess of a season – although the issue really isn’t new at all.

Like a boat that’s less than seaworthy, leaks keep appearing and needing to be plugged. As with any leak, a permanent fix is required or the problem will resurface as some point.

The latest crack the Blueshirts ship is facing is the third line, which like it did last season, has devolved into a sinkhole of uncertain personnel use and little production. That the dilemma re-emerged after the departure of regular No. 3 center Filip Chytil should hardly have been a surprise.

The excitement over the acquisition of top-line pivot J.T. Miller on Jan. 31 has largely worn off, with the reality of the cost of the move becoming increasingly clear. While no one would harbor regrets over the obtaining of Miller as a linchpin of general manager Chris Drury’s ongoing renovation of the roster, the deal cost the Rangers Chytil, whose skill set at least gave the team an anchor to build a third forward unit around.

With Chytil now playing for the Vancouver Canucks, coach Peter Laviolette has watched as any impact from his third line has stalled. Without a clear option to center the line, or a clear sense of what he’s looking for from the unit, Laviolette has cycled through personnel to little success.

Related: Winners, losers after Rangers fall to Jets to start road trip

Loss to Jets put spotlight on Rangers ugly third-line situation​

Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

The coach has tried depth players Jonny Brodzinski and newcomer Juuso Parssinen in the middle of the line, neither of whom stuck. Recently, he’s moved Sam Carrick, a revelation as a low-cost fourth-line center this season, up to 3C, where he’s clearly miscast. Wingers from Chris Kreider to Arthur Kaliyev to Brennan Othmann to Brett Berard have taken spins on the third line. None of it has worked.

The frustration for Laviolette over this issue is all too familiar. Last season, the loss of Chytil to a suspected concussion for almost all of 2023-24 left the coach in the same spot, as Brodzinski and others tried in vain to create a cohesive, effective unit that could at least contribute some offense. The opening was only somewhat patched with the trade-deadline acquisition of Alex Wennberg, who provided stability in the middle of the line but not much in the way of scoring (his overtime goal in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final notwithstanding).

This time around, Chytil is gone for good, and with the trade deadline having passed, the Rangers are left with internal options, none of which evoke confidence in them being the solution.

Laviolette and the front office received a painful reminder of what they’re missing in the 2-1 loss to the NHL-best Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday – the fourth in a row (0-2-2) for a Blueshirts team that’s struggling to keep pace in the race for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. The Jets boast a sturdy third line, made up of 6-foot-5, 210-pound two-way center Adam Lowry, 6-2, 218-pound left wing Nino Niederreiter and right wing Mason Appleton.

The Jets employ that line as a shutdown unit, with the big and physical Lowry ideal for going head-to-head with top NHL centers, winning 52.0 percent of his face-offs this season. Niederreiter, like Lowry an elite defensive forward, served in the same role during his three-plus seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, teaming with center Jordan Staal and former Ranger wing Jesper Fast on a dominant matchup third line.

All three players also provide offense. Lowry has 14 goals and 15 assists this season, Niederreiter has 30 points and Appleton 19. The trio has posted a 51.1 expected goal share, and Winnipeg has outscored opponents 20-9 with the line on at 5-on-5 while out-chancing teams 97-84, per Natural Stat Trick. It’s hardly a coincidence that the Jets are by far the League’s best defensive outfit, allowing 2.3 goals per game.

It’s the kind of third line that the Rangers have never been able to construct – one with a clear purpose and dimension that the Blueshirts desperately need. Even with Chytil, questions persisted about whether the club required what amounted to a third offensive unit instead of a checking trio to take on opposing top lines.

Related: Jonathan Quick to return for another season with Rangers, agrees to 1-year contract

There’s little hope of Rangers being able to correct third-line problem this season​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Now, Drury isn’t any closer to forging such a group than he was last season, when stellar play from the top line of Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere helped to paper over the lack of bottom-six depth — especially the glaring matter of the third line.

The avenues for coach and GM to fix this for the final 17 regular-season games are limited and known. Parssinen was viewed as an intriguing prospect when he arrived as part of the Ryan Lindgren trade March 1, but he lasted a couple of games as the 3C before Laviolette moved him to the wing, and then out of the lineup. Kaliyev’s mostly nondescript 14 games in a Blueshirt have illustrated why the Los Angeles Kings waived him in January.

Brodzinski remains nothing more than a solid depth option, one who’s failed to nail down a steady role when given chances to do so over the past several seasons. And Laviolette would benefit the lineup by putting Carrick back on the fourth line with Matt Rempe, as that unit is the team’s only one that can maintain a consistent forecheck and cycle effectively in the offensive zone.

Like so many of the Rangers’ structural and cultural problems, the third forward unit’s ongoing lack of identity and meaningful production will have to be addressed in the offseason. Perhaps a summer call to Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff about old friend Morgan Barron might be a course of action for Drury as he seeks a big, tough center to build a Winnipeg-esque third line.

Drury, of course, has bigger offseason matters to address. If he doesn’t get around to addressing this one, however, the hole is going to keep letting in water indefinitely – dragging the Rangers downward with it.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-third-line-issues-taking-toll-playoff-hopes/

 

[New York Rangers]

Former Rangers bust living large with Rolex watch, his number back, milestone NHL goal

James Guillory-Imagn ImagesJames Guillory-Imagn Images

It’s pretty safe to say that Jack Roslovic is living his best self after an unfulfilling, short stint with the New York Rangers last season.

After scoring 20 goals the past two seasons combined (!), Roslovic netted his 20th this season for the Carolina Hurricanes in their 4-1 win Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s the second time in eight NHL seasons that the underachieving winger scored at least 20, having potted 22 with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022-23.

But that’s not all. That goal Tuesday was the 100th of his NHL career, ending a long wait to reach the milestone. Nine games and more than a month since scoring No. 99 on Feb. 8 against Utah, Roslovic wired a shot past the glove of Lightning goalie Andre Vasilevskiy to score a pretty rush goal after a slick feed from Taylor Hall.

What a way to score your 100th NHL goal as Jack Roslovic scored his 20th of the season! What a pass from Taylor Hall as it’s now 3-0 Hurricanes! #RaiseUp pic.twitter.com/sTFExOk70C

— Zachary Martin (@OneTrueZach) March 12, 2025

“It took a while,” Roslovic deadpanned after scoring his 20th goal of the season and 100th of his career on the same shot.

“Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, as long as the opportunities come — and I feel like they’ve been coming — you don’t get too upset. You just try to keep on shooting.”

Roslovic is third on the Hurricanes behind Seth Jarvis (26) and Sebastian Aho (24) in goal scoring and tied for seventh with 31 points. Nineteen of his 20 goals are at even strength.

Sounds like something the Rangers could use, 5v5 goal scoring. But the Rangers have been there, done that with Roslovic and let him walk as a free agent after his brief tour on Broadway last season.

Acquired ahead of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline to play on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, Roslovic made very little impact, and even was a healthy scratch late in the regular season. He finished with eight points (three goals, fiver assists) in 19 games.

Roclovic scored his first Stanley Cup playoff goal in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Washington Capitals after 21 postseason games without a goal. He scored again two games later when the Rangers finished their sweep of the Capitals. And then a goose egg the final 12 postseason games.

When the Rangers were eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final, Roslovic was buried on the fourth line, logging just 9:09 TOI. He closed out the playoffs with eight points (two goals, six assists) in 16 games.

Related: Ryan Strome chirps Henrik Lundqvist in playful TNT moment

Former Rangers forward lands Rolex watch, gets number back after Mikko Rantanen trade​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Roslovic signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Hurricanes last July 4. He can be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Flying out of the gate with his new team, Roslovic scored nine goals by Nov. 7, 12 games into the season. He had a three-game goal streak later in November and a two-goal game against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 28, but has largely slowed his pace the past few months.

Several weeks ago, Roslovic handed over his No. 96 to Mikko Rantanen after the star forward was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Colorado Avalanche. For his troubles, Roslovic received a Rolex watch from Rantanen.

Roslovic became a two-time winner, when Rantanen was flipped ahead of the trade deadline to the Dallas Stars. That allowed Roslovic to reclaim No. 96 and keep the Rolex!

Days later came the milestone goal. Roslovic is no doubt living large.

As for the Hurricanes, they’re second in the Metropolitan Division, 12 points behind the first-place Washington Capitals and six ahead of the third-place Devils. The Rangers? They’re tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points out of the second wild card.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...slovic-rolex-watch-number-milestone-nhl-goal/

 

[New York Rangers]

Braden Schneider OT goal lifts Rangers to thrilling 3-2 win against Wild

Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesMatt Krohn-Imagn Images

Braden Schneider scored 1:51 into overtime to help the New York Rangers end a four-game skid with an exciting 3-2 road victory against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday.

The Rangers (32-28-6) had been 0-2-2 in their previous four games, and let a pair of leads slip away in the third period before Schneider’s heroics. The second point earned in overtime gives the Rangers 70 on the season, tying them with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, though Columbus has a game in hand. Those teams will meet in the Rangers next game, Saturday night in Columbus.

Schneider accepted a pass from Artemi Panarin in the offensive zone and the 23-year-old defensemen skated from right wing into the middle of the ice, made a neat toe-drag move, then whistled a backhand shot past Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson for the game-winner. Schneider’s fifth goal of the season, second in three games, was his most important by far.

BRADEN SCHNEIDER SHOWS OFF HIS HANDS TO WIN IT FOR THE RANGERS pic.twitter.com/GMqAeFlxvP

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 14, 2025

“It was a beauty,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said about Schneider’s goal. “That was something. He’s probably still smiling.”

Vincent Trocheck and Jonny Brodzinski also scored for the Rangers, who began their three-game road trip Tuesday with a 2-1 loss in Winnipeg to the Jets. Panarin extended his point streak to seven games with the assist on Schneider’s goal. Nine different Rangers recorded at least one point.

Igor Shesterkin didn’t face a shot in overtime and finished with 26 saves. His counterpart, Gustavsson, made 29 saves.

Marcus Johansson and Frederick Gaudreau scored for the Wild, who’ve lost six of their past nine games (3-5-1).

Related: Rangers injury update – Adam Fox ‘progressing,’ Arthur Kaliyev returns to New York

New York Rangers 3 – Minnesota Wild 2 (OT) ​

Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

After a fast-paced scoreless first period that featured plenty of scoring chances for each side, the Rangers tilted the ice in their favor in the second period and scored the only goal in the opening 40 minutes.

Trocheck scored that goal at 6:45 of the second, when he first misfired on a shot after a nice touch pass from Will Cuylle in front. Trocheck, though, collected the loose puck and roofed it over Gustavsson’s glove to make it 1-0 Rangers. It was Trocheck’s first goal in 12 games since Feb. 7, and 18th of the season.

STUCK WITH IT.

Troch buries the rebound. pic.twitter.com/vM5C7pAFoO

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 14, 2025

The primary assist was part of a tour-de-force outing for Cuylle who took Alexis Lafreniere’s spot on the line with Trocheck and Artemi Panarin in a bit of a shakeup among the top-six forwards. Lafreniere moved to the left side of J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad amid a 13-game goal-scoring drought.

In the opening six minutes of the game, Cuylle had two excellent scoring chances off the rush. First, it was a quick snap shot through traffic that forced Gustavsson to make a sharp pad save. Then a few minutes later, Cuylle ripped a right-wing shot off a 3-on-2 rush that was gobbled up by the Wild goalie.

Cuylle finished tied with a team-high four shots on goal and led all skaters with seven hits.

Also in the opening minutes of the game, Brett Berard had the Rangers best scoring chance. Chris Kreider tapped the puck toward the slot from the right-wing boards and Berard had a clean look and fired a shot that Gustavsson got a piece off before the puck rolled just wide of the net.

Shesterkin stopped all 13 shots he faced in the first period, but his best save came at 11:28 of the second period. The Wild generated a 3-on-2 opportunity and Shesterkin read the passing sequence perfectly to fly over in time to stone Devin Shore on the doorstep.

The third period began with the Rangers failing on their third power play of the night against the 31st-ranked Wild penalty kill — a power play that began late in the second and carried into the third.

Then Matt Rempe was whistled for a defensive-zone interference penalty at 1:55 and exactly two minutes later with the penalty box door opening, the Wild tied the game. Johansson skated with speed over the blue line, eluded stick checks by Cuylle and Sam Carrick, and wired a shot that beat Shesterkin blocker side to make it 1-1 at 3:55. It was his first goal in 17 games.

The Rangers answered back at 6:37 when Brodzinski took a drop pass by Zac Jones off the rush and quickly snapped it past Gustavsson’s glove for his seventh goal of the season. It was a big-time moment for the Minnesota native, who hosted several of his Rangers teammates for dinner at his home the night before the game.

HOMETOWN JONNY ON THE SPOT. pic.twitter.com/jozP8bqmdg

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 14, 2025

Shortly thereafter, Jones was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking Johansson at 6:58 and the Wild promptly tied the game 2-2 at 8:42. Gaudreau showed a quick pair of hands down low to beat Shesterkin in tight for his 15th goal of the season.

The Rangers killed off the second minor and the teams finally got back to playing 5v5. Though the Wild had the better of the play most of the rest of regulation, neither team scored again in the third period. When the horn sounded, the Rangers were guaranteed at least one point in the standings.

It didn’t take them to get that much-needed second point, scoring on the only shot of overtime. The Rangers had been just 1-6 in games decided in the five-minute overtime this season before Schneider’s game-winner.

Now, the Rangers head to Columbus, where they seek payback after losing to the Blues Jackets at home last Sunday 7-3. More importantly a win would move them past the Blue Jackets in the standings and cap a successful road trip.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...den-schneider-ot-goal-thrilling-3-2-win-wild/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers frustrated with calls against Matt Rempe: ‘He’s not really doing anything’

Marc DesRosiers-Imagn ImagesMarc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Matt Rempe is impossible to miss out on the ice. The New York Rangers forward stands 6-foot-9 and is not exactly a wallflower when he’s out there.

But is Rempe being targeted unfairly by officials, penalizing him because of his size and/or reputation, considering his two lengthy suspensions — one last season, one earlier this season?

Respected New York Post hockey columnist Larry Brooks raised the heat on the topic with a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.

A scandal of the NHL's own making. The league, Stephen Walkom and the entire officiating department have acted out of bias against Rempe for more than a year. Two outrageous calls in consecutive games. Each cost the Rangers a goal. Mickey Mouse League. https://t.co/2oxiubBC2R

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) March 14, 2025

The latest example occurred in New York’s thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Rempe was assessed a two-minute minor for interfering with Minnesota forward Devin Shore at 1:55 of the second period. But a closer look shows that Shore skated into Rempe and fell down as the Rangers forward focused on the play ahead of him.

Most ridiculous penalty I have ever seen, Matt Rempe gets called for being on the ice.

Devin Shore skates into Rempe and Rempe gets called for Interference. pic.twitter.com/Iuc58gENXH

— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) March 14, 2025

In fact, Rempe looked to his left to see where Minnesota’s Zach Bogosian was immediately before Shore crashed into him from his right. Because Rempe is so big, Shore is the one who ended up on the ice and up went the arm of the official.

Rempe was furious with the call, even more so after the Wild scored exactly two minutes later, when Marcus Johansson wired a snap shot past Igor Shesterkin to tie the score 1-1.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette was measured with his postgame commentary but clearly frustrated with this call and other recent ones against Rempe.

“I think he draws attention, just the size of him and how he plays the game,” Laviolette said. “It’s unfortunate because sometimes, like tonight, he’s really not doing anything, and he’s in the [penalty] box.”

Unprompted when speaking on a different overall topic postgame, Rangers forward Will Cuylle clearly was irritated with the call against his 23-year-old teammate, too.

“Some tough calls against us, but I thought we stuck with it and it’s great to come out with two points,” he said.

So, are the Rangers addressing their concerns with the NHL? Laviolette spoke to that topic Friday after an optional practice in Columbus.

“There’s always conversations that go on,” he told reporters. “Game happens fast out there. But with regard to Matt, we’re just trying to get him the benefit of the doubt once in a while.”

Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from clutch 3-2 OT win against Wild

Questionable Matt Rempe penalty costly in Rangers’ loss to Jets​

Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

In a tight game, Laviolette didn’t play his fourth line much as it progressed, so Rempe logged just nine shifts and 7:14 TOI against the Wild. But he did pick up an assist on Jonny Brodzinski’s go-ahead goal that made it 2-1 at 6:38 of the second period. Heading off the ice for a line change, Rempe made a short touch pass to Zac Jones, who was flying through the neutral zone, on his way to setting up the Brodzinski goal.

Braden Schneider’s goal 1:51 into overtime sealed an important win and two points for the Rangers and, perhaps, muted the anger of the Rempe penalty.

Such was not the case Tuesday in a 2-1 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Rempe was penalized two minutes for goalie interference at 3:11 of the second period after being shoved into Connor Hellebuyck by Jets forward Morgan Barron. This ended up being a more costly penalty call.

Matt Rempe was penalized for goaltender interference here… somehow?#NYR | #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/lRYfI1R7li

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 12, 2025

Winnipeg’s Gabe Vilardi scored a power-play goal at 5:06 to put the Jets up 2-1. That turned out to be the game-winning goal.

“I didn’t agree with the call,” Laviolette said after that game. “They’re saying they want to protect the goaltenders, but I don’t know. I just didn’t agree with it.”

Rempe has been more responsible with his hits since returning from an eight-game suspension for elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen on Dec. 20. The coaching staff has worked with him for two seasons to keep his elbows in and be aware that he’s much taller than most opponents, so when he delivers a check, it’s often up high.

He’s responded by turning into a solid fourth-line player, effective on the forecheck and capable of generating scoring chances, as well as protecting his teammates. Rempe has five points (two goals, three assists) and 52 penalty minutes in 31 games this season. A year ago in his first NHL action — which included a five-game suspension for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler — Rempe had a goal and an assist to go along with 71 penalty minutes in 17 games.

Both Rempe and the officials will next be under the microscope Saturday when the Rangers visit the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/frustrated-referees-penalties-matt-rempe/

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers could have interest in NCAA free agent defensemen to bolster prospect pool

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesStephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

With the NCAA college hockey season winding down, the New York Rangers could explore the option of signing a free-agent player not previously drafted by an NHL team.

Each year, several of these players, typically late bloomers, land NHL contracts once their collegiate careers end. Last season, the big prize was Collin Graf, a high-scoring forward who helped Quinnipiac win the 2023 NCAA National Championship. He signed with the San Jose Sharks after his junior year, played seven NHL games to close out the 2023-24 season and has split this season between the Sharks and their AHL affiliate, San Jose Barracuda.

The 22-year-old just recorded his first two-goal game in the NHL against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, and has four goals in 23 games with the Sharks.

In speaking with NHL sources, it’s believed that if the Rangers wade into the NCAA free-agent pool this year, they may target a defenseman. The reason being that they lack quality prospects at the position at or near the professional level. Victor Mancini was their best defenseman prospect at Hartford of the American Hockey League, but he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31 as part of the J.T. Miller acquisition.

New York has two key defenseman prospects on the horizon, though each is considered at least a couple years away from helping the Rangers. Drew Fortescue is 19 and a sophomore at Boston College. The steady, stay-at-home defender helped the United States win consecutive gold medals at the 2024 and 2025 World Junior Championship after he was selected by the Rangers in the third round (No. 90 overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.

E.J. Emery was New York’s first-round pick (No. 30 overall) last year and is finishing his freshman season at North Dakota. He’s played 30 games, but none recently because of an injury. He’s further behind Fortescue but considered to be one of New York’s top overall prospects.

With a good chance that Zac Jones — unhappy with his role with the Rangers and a pending RFA with arbitration rights — might be traded this offseason, it would behoove the Blueshirts to add a defenseman to bridge the gap between Emery and Fortescue and who they have in the AHL and NHL.

Related: Rangers frustrated with calls against Matt Rempe: ‘He’s really not doing anything’

2 NCAA free-agent defensemen the Rangers could consider signing​

AL FREY/for the Free Press / USA TODAY NETWORK

Here are two options for the Rangers to consider among NCAA free-agent defensemen.

Caleb MacDonald – North Dakota​

The big (6-foot-3, 224 pounds) rugged defenseman has the size and strength to play right now in the pros. The sophomore transfer from Alaska-Fairbanks leads North Dakota with 67 blocked shots and is tied for the team lead with 40 penalty minutes in 32 games. More of a defensive defenseman, MacDonald, 22, has seven points (three goals, four assists), including a goal and assist on Feb. 1 against St. Cloud State.

The definition of late bloomer, MacDonald played two seasons as an overager in the AJHL before attending college in 2023-24, when he led Alaska first-year players with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists). If any NHL team would have a good feel for him, it’s the Rangers, who spent quite a bit of time watching Emery play at North Dakota this season.

John Prokop – Union College​

The Junior defenseman is already 23 years old, soon to be 24, so it likely doesn’t make sense for him to stick around for another year in college if he can land a pro contract this spring. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound left shot has 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 34 games this season. He really excelled a year ago statistically, leading all Union skaters with 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists) in 36 games, and finishing third with 35 blocked shots. He’s a skilled power-play quarterback, who’s definitely considered more of an offensive defenseman.

NHL scouts have been following him the past few years and he reportedly was close to landing a free-agent deal last year. Another late bloomer set to get his pro chance.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...est-ncaa-free-agent-defensemen-prospect-pool/