News Rangers Team Notes

[New York Rangers]

Former Rangers captain still trucking, lands 3-year extension with Lightning

Ryan McDonagh apparently doesn’t even need to be in the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup to keep his career trucking along. The former New York Rangers captain, who’s currently on injured reserve, signed a three-year, $12.3 million contract extension with the Lightning on Thursday.

The $4.1 million AAV deal kicks in next season and carries through McDonagh’s age-39 season in 2028-29. The veteran defenseman is due back soon for the Lightning, after he sustained an unspecified injury blocking a shot against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 8.

*beep beep*

Mac Truck's locked in for three more years!

https://t.co/FKD7n2mCs3 pic.twitter.com/B3p9Z9ysE3

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) December 4, 2025

This month-long injury absence is a blip on the radar for the ultra-reliable defenseman. McDonagh played all 82 games last season for the Lightning, and 1,025 in the NHL since debuting with the Rangers on Jan. 7, 2011. In that time, he’s averaged 22:32 TOI and owns a cumulative plus-290 rating, that is best among all active NHL defensemen. Not once in 15 NHL seasons did McDonagh finish with a negative plus/minus rating.

Known throughout his career to be an absolute warrior, McDonagh’s blocked over 2,000 shots in the NHL (2,037), third most among active defensemen and third all-time among United States-born players.

“Mac Truck” helped the Lightning win consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 and reach the 2022 Cup Final, where they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in six games. In 196 postseason games, McDonagh averaged 24:16 TOI and totaled 68 points (12 goals, 56 assists).

With the Lightning (16-8-2) currently leading the Atlantic Division, it appears likely McDonagh will surpass 200 career Stanley Cup Playoffs games this coming spring. Even without McDonagh nor fellow defense stalwart Victor Hedman in the lineup, the Lightning manhandled the Rangers 4-1 this past Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Ryan McDonagh part of best, worst trades in Rangers history​

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

McDonagh’s history with the Rangers is bittersweet. His acquisition in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on June 30, 2009, goes down as one of the best deals in Rangers history. They surrendered underachieving veteran center Scott Gomez, along with Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto, for McDonagh, and forward Chris Higgins and Pavel Valentenko.

This was a coup for Glen Sather, then the Rangers general manager, an absolute steal. McDonagh became a force on New York’s blue line, a foundational piece of John Tortorella’s Black and Blueshirts. And when Alain Vigneault replaced Tortorella as coach, McDonagh helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, became team captain the following season, and appeared in consecutive NHL All-Star Games in 2016 and 2017.

However, he was the centerpiece of one of the worst trades of Jeff Gorton’s tenure as Rangers GM on Feb. 26, 2018. As the Rangers started to rebuild, they traded McDonagh and J.T. Miller for three players who never amounted to much of anything on Broadway (center Brett Howden was the best of the group for them) and two draft picks, one of which ended up being first-rounder Nils Lundqvist, who never did much in New York and is now with the Dallas Stars.

Interestingly, that trade tree did ultimately produce Noah Laba, though only after the Rangers swapped Howden to the Vegas Golden Knights and acquired a 2022 fourth-round selection and used it to pick the center.

McDonagh, who also played briefly with the Nashville Predators before a second tour of duty with the Lightning, remains largely beloved by Rangers fans. And deservedly so. Even if his biggest successes came off-Broadway in Tampa.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/ryan-mcdonagh-contract-extension-lightning

 

[New York Rangers]

Artemi Panarin milestone point helps Rangers defeat Senators 4-2: takeaways

Buoyed by Artemi Panarin’s 900th NHL point and a stellar performance by Igor Shesterkin, the New York Rangers chalked up another road win Thursday, defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 at Canadian Tire Centre.

The Rangers (15-12-2) now lead the NHL with 12 road wins and 25 road points this season. But they’re beginning to fire on all cylinders, no matter the locale. This win was their fifth in their past six games overall, and second in as many tries without the injured Adam Fox in the lineup, following a 3-2 overtime victory at home against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Shesterkin made 25 saves in his season-high sixth straight start. He surrendered only a pair of power-play goals, one of which deflected off a skate, and held the Senators at bay until Panarin finished them off with an empty-net goal for his milestone point.

Artemi Panarin with the empty net goal and gets his 900th career point! pic.twitter.com/R2gNTAKVUi

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 5, 2025

“Happy to get that, but glad we win tonight. Especially in a winning game, I have that number. So nice. But, to be honest, I [didn’t] know,” Panarin shared postgame.

Panarin also assisted on Mika Zibanejad’s game-opening goal. Defensemen Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Borgen scored New York’s other goals, and J.T. Miller had a season-high three assists.

Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson scored for the Senators, who’ve lost four of their past six games. Leevi Merilainen finished with 23 saves.

The Rangers scored on two of their first three shots to grab a quick 2-0 lead in the first period. Zibanejad got the visitors started on the right foot when he finished a pretty 2-on-1 feed from Miller just 3:19 into the game. It was his team-leading 10th goal of the season, and also his 10th in 20 games all-time against the team that selected him in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft.

Mika Zibanejad opens the scoring in Ottawa! pic.twitter.com/ElsugLnTq4

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 5, 2025

The Rangers doubled their lead at 9:45, when Gavrikov zipped a left-wing shot through a Brett Berard screen and over Merilainen’s glove for his third goal in the past four games. Noah Laba didn’t land on the score sheet, but he made this goal happen.

The rookie center first knocked Senators defenseman Dennis Gilbert off the puck at center ice, then gained entry into the offensive zone, before fending off Brady Tkachuk along the boards. From there quick passes from Miller and Braden Schneider set up Gavrikov’s sixth goal of the season, tying the 30-year-old defenseman’s single-season career high.

Vladislav Gavrikov snipe alert!

And how about the work here from Noah Laba! pic.twitter.com/uOLbJZ5SI0

— NHL (@NHL) December 5, 2025

In between those goals, the Senators had two prime chances to, at least, tie the score. But Shesterkin stoned Tkachuk on a breakaway, and then caught a break a few minutes later when Batherson wired a shot off the post.

There was more good luck for the Rangers goalie on the shift after Gavrikov made it 2-0. This time Ottawa forward David Perron was left frustrated when his shot clanked off iron at 10:10.

The Senators did find the back of the net before the first period ended, though. Cozens beat Shesterkin glove side for a power-play goal at 18:30, with Will Cuylle sitting in the penalty box.

The Rangers responded by dominating the second period, and increasing their lead to 3-1. They out-shot the Senators 12-7 and held a decisive 63.61 percent expected goal share, per Natural Stat Trick.

They also got a rare goal from Borgen, just his second of the season, at 7:24. It came after the Senators were pinned in their own end for nearly two minutes and couldn’t get a full change of players. The Rangers did get fresh players on the ice, and capitalized when Borgen sent a shot through Taylor Raddysh’s screen in front to make it 3-1, following a pretty swing pass from his defense partner Carson Soucy.

Aided by a pair of power plays, Ottawa picked up the pace in the third period, and did pull within one at 13:08. Tkachuk flung the puck toward the net, where it hit Batherson’s skate and deflected over the goal line to make it 3-2.

Shesterkin, though, shut the door and Panarin iced New York’s latest impressive road effort and victory. That sets the Rangers up for fascinating weekend back-to-back at home against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday and Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.

Key takeaways after Rangers skate to 4-2 road win over Senators​

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Milestone night for the Breadman​

Panarin reached 900 NHL points in 781 games, the sixth fastest to do so among undrafted players since 1963-64. The five players ahead of him, led by Wayne Gretzky, are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. That’s pretty legit company for the Breadman to keep.

Artemi Panarin factored on two of four @NYRangers goals and reached 900 career points!#NHLStats: https://t.co/X6JJO0GQlA pic.twitter.com/UTtYIT8o1y

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) December 5, 2025

The 34-year-old winger has 311 goals and 589 assists in that span. More importantly for the here and now, Panarin is rolling after a slow start this season. He leads the Rangers with 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 29 games, with 10 of those points (three goals, seven assists) notched in his past five contests. He has eight multi-point games this season, including three four-point outings.

Remember, he had just two assists in the first six games this season. That seems like forever ago.

Also remember that Panarin is scheduled to be the biggest name on the UFA market next summer. Despite his age, he’s going to get paid. By the Rangers or someone else.

Igor is dialed in​

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

With Jonathan Quick sidelined by a lower-body injury the past two weeks, the Rangers are riding Shesterkin between the pipes. And that decision by coach Mike Sullivan is paying off handsomely. Shesterkin is 5-1-0 and allowed 13 goals starting all six games since Quick got hurt. No matter the situation, Shesterkin is the unquestioned No. 1 goalie for the Rangers. But he’s really living up to that billing now with the heavier workload.

Shesterkin was dialed in again Thursday, making a slew of clutch saves, including that breakaway stop against Tkachuk early in the game and another against Tim Stutzle in the third period, when Tkachuk sprung his teammate in alone with a perfect pass.

With the Rangers’ lead cut to 3-2, Shesterkin calmly made big-time saves against Perron and Stutzle down the stretch before Panarin restored the two-goal lead.

Perhaps his best save, though, was late in the second period, when Cuylle’s blind backhand pass into the slot landed on Tkachuk’s stick. The Ottawa captain wasted little time firing a hard shot on net; but Shesterkin was in perfect position to stone Tkachuk, yet again.

The new Kid Line​

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

You know which line really was good and effective Thursday, even if none of its members recorded a point? The Kid Line. No, not that one. Two-thirds of that Kid Line, except for Alexis Lafreniere, are long gone.

No, this is the new Kid Line, centered by Laba, with Cuylle and Berard on the wings. They played a super-energized, simple, north-south style again Thursday, and were major contributors to this victory. Laba made that Gavrikov goal happen. It didn’t hurt that Berard set the screen, either.

Laba was a force all over the ice against the Senators, making the most of his 13:48 TOI. He applied consistent puck pressure and won numerous puck battles. He was credited with four hits and won seven of nine face-offs. Sullivan took notice.

“I thought ‘Labs’ was physical all night,” the coach said. “He brings a speed element with his size and his strength. When he brings some physicality to his game, I think he’s a lot more effective … I thought this was one of his more physical games that he’s had in a while.”

Speaking of physical play, Cuylle led the Rangers with seven hits and three blocked shots. And Berard brought his typical firebrand of energy to the proceedings. This version of the Kid Line is quickly turning into a trusted and impactful third option for the Rangers.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/panarin-reaches-900-points-rangers-victory

 

[New York Rangers]

Artemi Panarin ‘driving offense’ for Rangers on way to 900th NHL point

Artemi Panarin moved into some pretty heady when he scored into an empty net to wrap up the New York Rangers’ 4-2 win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night.

The “Breadman,” who had an assist on Mika Zibanejad’s first-period goal, got his 900th NHL point by scoring into the vacated cage after the Senators pulled goalie Leevi Merilainen for an extra attacker. He became the sixth undrafted NHL player since 1963-64 to reach 900 career points in 800 games or fewer, joining Wayne Gretzky (385 games), Peter Stastny (599 games), Bobby Orr (638 games), Phil Esposito (692 games) and Adam Oates (735 games). Each of those players is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Panarin reached 900 points (311 goals, 589 assists) in career game No. 781.

career points officially in the books for the Breadman! pic.twitter.com/1jLth0gE7h

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 5, 2025

“It means a lot,” the best free-agent signing in Rangers history said of the milestone. “It also means I’ve had a long time in this League.”

Panarin has 580 of those points (195 goals, 386 assists) in 459 games since signing with the Rangers on July 1, 2019. His average of 1.26 points per game is best in franchise history. His 120-point performance in 2023-24 represents the second-highest single-season total in Rangers history, trailing only Jaromir Jagr’s 123 points in 2005-06.

Ironically, Panarin wasn’t aware that the empty-netter was his 900th NHL point. When the Rangers bench asked for the puck after his milestone goal, he wondered why because he had no idea.

“Happy to get that, but glad we win tonight,” Panarin said. “Especially in a winning game, I have that number. So nice. But, to be honest, I [didn’t] know.”

Artemi Panarin with the empty net goal and gets his 900th career point! pic.twitter.com/R2gNTAKVUi

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 5, 2025

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan, who spent the previous six seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins trying to find ways to shut down Panarin, wasn’t aware of the milestone either.

“I didn’t realize that he got 900 points tonight,” Sullivan said during his postgame press conference. “I was just informed after the game.

“It doesn’t surprise me. He’s a unique talent and he drives offense in so many different ways. He just has an ability to see the ice and see plays develop; he’s one step ahead of everybody on the rink. And that’s the game that he’s played for so long.”

Artemi Panarin on roll for Rangers​

Panarin now has 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 29 games this season – including 23 (six goals, 17 assists) since he shaved his head in early November following a career-long six-game pointless streak. He’s excelled during the past 10 days, scoring three goals and assisting on seven others to help the Rangers win five of six games and improve their record to 15-12-2.

The two-point night in Ottawa was his eighth multiple-point game this season and fourth in the past five games.

Getting that bread – congratulations to Artemi Panarin on NHL career point No. 900 pic.twitter.com/2gB5BfiDRe

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) December 5, 2025

“I think he’s done a great job over the last little while just driving offense for our team, whether it’s 5-on-5 or on the power play,” Sullivan said. “He has scoring ability himself, but his playmaking ability is really something that might fly under the radar. I’ve certainly gained much more of an appreciation for it watching him up close.”

The 34-year-old left wing’s increased production isn’t hurting his hopes of a big payday this summer, either.

Panarin is in the final season of the seven-year contract that he signed on July 1, 2019, and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Rangers want to keep him beyond this season, but not for the $11.642 million average annual value of his current deal.

However, Panarin reportedly doesn’t want to take a pay cut. With his scoring touch returning and most of the big-name potential free agents off the board after signing new deals, Panarin is helping himself at the bargaining table, while helping the Rangers on the ice.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/artemi-panarin-900-nhl-points

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Avalanche: Lineups, storylines for must-see matinee

Your head may tell you not to build up the importance of this early December matinee for the New York Rangers against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon. But your heart tells you otherwise.

Admit it. This is a must-see matinee at MSG.

It just feels like the Rangers (15-12-2) are primed to measure up against the best team in the League. That doesn’t guarantee the final outcome. But it sure does mean the Rangers are heading into this game confident and believing they’re on a level playing field with the Avalanche.

Coming off two straight solid wins, the Rangers are 5-1-0 in their past six games. Yes, the one loss was an ugly no-show at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning one week ago. But they knocked off two of the best teams in the NHL during this stretch — the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars — and come off a strong showing Thursday, when they never trailed in a 4-2 road win over the Ottawa Senators.

Igor Shesterkin is at the heart of this mini-revival. The highest-paid goalie in the NHL is earning every penny lately, and the Rangers likely will ride him for a seventh straight start Saturday. With backup Jonathan Quick nearly at full health after sustaining a lower-body injury two weeks ago, Shesterkin probably will empty the tank Saturday and watch from the bench Sunday, when the Rangers host the back end of this difficult weekend stretch against the Vegas Golden Knights.

First things first, though. There is no looking past the Avalanche (19-2-6), whose 44 points are tops in the NHL. They’re coming off only their second regulation defeat of the season, 6-3 losers to the Islanders at UBS Arena on Thursday.

The Rangers should expect the best from the Avalanche, who are not accustomed to the sloppy play — nor the early 4-0 deficit — that pockmarked their loss on Long Island. Colorado is the highest-scoring team in the League, averaging 4.04 goals per game, and the stingiest defensively. Even after the loss Thursday, the Avs’ goal differential is plus-47, head and shoulders better than any other team.

They’re led by Nathan MacKinnon, the early frontrunner for the Hart Trophy as League MVP. MacKinnon leads the NHL with 22 goals and 46 points, and is plus-32 (!) in 29 games. The reigning NHL Player of the Month for November, scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a 6-3 Avalanche victory over the Rangers at Ball Arena on Nov. 20.

The Rangers battled in that one but just weren’t quite good enough. Let’s see what Saturday brings in a true measuring-stick game for the Rangers.

3 storylines when Rangers host Avalanche​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

1. Score first and win, usually​

It’s not a stretch to say that all NHL teams wish to score the first goal of any game they play. But it might just be more so with the Rangers and Avalanche. Each has 13 wins this season when scoring the game-opening goal, tied for second in the League. The Rangers are 13-2-0 when doing so; the Avalanche are 13-1-3.

That stat leans into how good each team is defensively. The Avalanche have the lowest goals-against average in the NHL (2.19) and the Rangers are tied for fourth (2.59). Each team is exceptionally difficult to come back against, even from a 1-0 deficit.

The difference between the teams is that the Avalanche have much more success in games they surrender the first goal than the Rangers do. Even after losing to the Islanders after giving up the first goal, the Avalanche are 6-1-3 this season when the opponent scores first. The Rangers are a woeful 2-10-2 in such games.

2. New York’s hidden key to success​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It also wouldn’t hurt the Rangers to get a goal or any kind of point from Alexis Lafreniere to greatly enhance their chances to win Saturday. The Rangers are 6-0-0 this season when Lafreniere scores a goal and 9-0-1 when he records a point. However, the 24-year-old forward has points in just 10 of New York’s 29 games. He’s pointless in his past three games and has two points (two goals) in his past 11 contests.

Similarly, the Rangers typically fare well when Will Cuylle lands on the score sheet. They are a perfect 7-0-0 when the 23-year-old forward scores a goal and 11-3-0 when he has a point. For the record, Cuylle is fifth on the Rangers with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) this season, one spot and two points ahead of Lafreniere (six goals, eight assists).

3. Blue-line production​

Rangers defensemen scored 16 goals in the first 29 games this season, fifth-most in the NHL. Four of those goals came in the past two games, and that’s with Adam Fox sidelined by an upper-body injury.

Vladislav Gavrikov leads the blueliners with six goals, tying his full-season career high; he’s scored in consecutive games and netted three goals in the past four contests. Carson Soucy has three goals this season, tied with Fox for second among Rangers defensemen. Will Borgen scored what turned out to be the game-winner against the Senators.

Will Borgen makes it 3-1! pic.twitter.com/kqLCFaLx94

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 5, 2025

None of this is a small deal to Rangers coach Mike Sullivan.

“Any time you can get production from your blue line, it certainly helps your team offense,” he explained postgame Thursday. “So much in today’s game, the way the game’s being played, you need to have your defenseman involved, be it off the rush or in the offensive zone.”

Of course, facing the top scoring team in the League on Saturday, the Rangers’ defense corps must focus on doing its main job — playing defense — though point production is a nice bonus.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere

J.T. Miller — Vincent Trocheck — Conor Sheary

Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Brett Berard

Jonny Brodzinski — Sam Carrick — Taylor Raddysh

Vladislav Gavrikov — Braden Schneider

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Matthew Robertson — Scott Morrow

Igor Shesterkin

Spencer Martin

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Colorado Avalanche

When: Saturday, Dec. 6 at 12:30 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/key-game-rangers-vs-avalanche-preview

 

[New York Rangers]

More controversy for ex-Rangers captain on 1-year anniversary of Ducks trade

Almost exactly one year to the day that the New York Rangers traded him to the Anaheim Ducks, Jacob Trouba found himself in the middle of the NHL news cycle yet again Friday.

The former Rangers captain delivered a massive and controversial hit on Washington Capitals forward Ryan Leonard late in the first period of Anaheim’s 4-3 shootout victory. Trouba caught Leonard from the blind side with his shoulder on a thunderous hit behind the Ducks net.

Leonard’s head snapped back and he fell hard to the ice. After a few moments, the rookie skated off on his own, bleeding from the mouth. He didn’t return to the game and Washington coach Spencer Carbery said postgame only that Leonard will “be out” with an upper-body injury.

Ryan Leonard leaves for the dressing room after taking a blindside hit from Jacob Trouba. pic.twitter.com/UACbHsY1Zw

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 6, 2025

Officials originally assessed Trouba a five-minute major penalty. That allowed them to review the hit on video, after which they reversed course and rescinded the penalty. Apparently, the officials believed Trouba didn’t target Leonard’s head, and took into account that the defenseman committed to the hit before Leonard leaned back to look the other way, and was blindsided.

Trouba’s no stranger to controversy, penalties, nor suspensions when it comes to his crushing body-checks. The 31-year-old routinely walks that fine between legal and illegal hits. This incident is just that, the latest in a long list of borderline hits.

Carbery was irate on the bench when the referees overturned the original penalty call. After the game, though, the Capitals coach didn’t say if he thought the hit was illegal. But he did take issue with Trouba’s intent

“The thing I don’t like about the hit, so there’s big hits, and guys get hurt. It’s a fast game,” Carbery explained afterward. “What I don’t like about that specific hit is that he’s engaged with another player. When [Leaonard is] engaged with — I think it was [Radko] Gudas behind the net, or whoever he was engaged with — as he was going around the net. So he’s being checked. So to me, that’s now a player looking for someone that’s in a vulnerable spot. And I think those are dicey hits.”

Rugged Capitals forward Tom Wilson, no stranger to controversial borderline hits himself, said he challenged Trouba to fight twice after the Leonard incident, but the Ducks veteran turned him down each time.

“[Trouba] knows exactly what he was doing,” Wilson said postgame. “Kid’s in a vulnerable spot and obviously Leno’s pretty banged up.”

Jacob Trouba back in NHL headlines, 1 year after Rangers traded him to Ducks​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Trouba was in his third season as Rangers captain and sixth with the team, when they traded him on Dec. 6, 2024, to the Ducks for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a mid-round draft pick. Rangers general manager Chris Drury sought to move the hard-hitting captain for several months to clear salary cap space and change the roster mix.

The Trouba trade was the first of several Drury made last season to shake up the Rangers core amid a lousy season, one that ended without a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years. The overhaul continued into the offseason, when the Rangers traded Chris Kreider to the Ducks.

Trouba and Kreider return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since their respective trades, when the Ducks visit the Rangers in less than two weeks, on Dec. 15.

Thanks in no small part to Trouba and Kreider, the Ducks (17-10-1) are among the biggest surprises in the NHL this season, currently first in the Pacific Division. Trouba leads the Ducks with 51 blocked shots and is second with 62 hits. He also has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and is averaging 21:59 in 28 games. Kreider tops the Ducks with six power-play goals in 24 games, is third with 13 goals, and tied for fifth with 19 points.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/jacob-trouba-borderline-hit-ducks-capitals

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers ‘played a good game’ but lose 3-2 in OT to Avalanche: Takeaways

The New York Rangers scored a sixth-attacker goal to force overtime for the second straight home game Saturday at Madison Square Garden. But the Colorado Avalanche, the best team in the NHL, got a goal from League scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon at 2:46 of OT to edge the Rangers 3-2.

MacKinnon broke a 1-1 tie when he scored with 4:34 remaining in the third period. But with Igor Shesterkin on the bench for an extra attacker, Artemi Panarin forced overtime when he beat Mackenzie Blackwood through traffic from above the left circle with 40.9 seconds left.

However, MacKinnon dangled his way past defenseman Will Borgen during the 3-on-3 overtime and beat Shesterkin with a high backhander for the win, leaving the Rangers disappointed but not heartbroken after another solid effort.

“I thought we played a good game,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We played hard and competed all night against one of the best teams in the League.”

It was a disappointing ending for the Rangers, who went toe-to-toe with the team that leads the League with 46 points all afternoon. Shesterkin made 39 saves to keep the Rangers in position to earn a point, and Conor Sheary scored his first goal with the Rangers.

The Rangers (15-12-3) lost for the first time in three games. But they’re 5-1-1 in their past seven entering the second half of a back-to-back against the Vegas Golden Knights at The Garden on Sunday.

ARTEMI PANARIN.

TIE GAME WITH UNDER A MINUTE LEFT pic.twitter.com/6N8xnFLxwe

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 6, 2025

The Rangers had the better of the play for most of the scoreless first period, holding the League’s highest-scoring team without a shot on goal for more than 10 minutes in one stretch. New York got the only power play of the period when Cale Makar went off for interference at 7:26 and beat Blackwood twice in a 17-second span – but Panarin drilled the left post on a one-timer from the left circle and Will Cuylle did the same from close in.

Shesterkin made his best save of the period and drew chants of “Igor” from the Garden crowd with 1:34 left by denying Martin Necas after he got behind the defense and came in alone.

The Avalanche stepped things up in the second period and took a 1-0 lead at 7:06. Sam Malinski took a shot from the right point that Parker Kelly, while on his knees, deflected just enough to beat Shesterkin, who never saw the puck through a maze of bodies.

But after Colorado dominated the first 12 minutes of the period, the Rangers found their game again. They pressed the play and controlled the tempo but still couldn’t beat Blackwood, who made his best stop in the final minute on a snap shot through traffic by Panarin from the high slot.

Sheary got the Rangers even at 4:23 of the third period with his first NHL goal since April 11, 2024, with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 33-year-old forward took a pass from Vincent Trocheck near the red line, raced into the Colorado zone and saw that Necas was the only Colorado player back. Sheary drove into the left circle and shot against the grain, beating Blackwood past the catching glove.

SHEARY ON THE BREAKAWAY pic.twitter.com/Qmz9WZlHuz

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 6, 2025

MacKinnon batted an airborne rebound into the net to put Colorado ahead, then got the game-winner after Panarin forced overtime – giving him four goals (and two game-winners) in two games against the Rangers this season.

“It was a hell of a hockey game I think for both teams,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller said. “There’s a lot of things we can look for and build on going into tomorrow.”

Key takeaways after Rangers lose 3-2 to Avalanche in OT​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Shesterkin steals a point​

No. 31 had to settle for being the game’s No. 2 star after being No. 1 on Thursday in the 4-2 win at the Ottawa Senators. But make no mistake – he was the Rangers best player, as he’s been for most of the season.

Shesterkin did his best work in the third period, when the Rangers were outshot 19-8 and allowed seven of the nine high-danger chances at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick. MacKinnon’s go-ahead goal in the third period came when he swatted a rebound out of the air and into the net; the puck was barely below the crossbar, and Shesterkin had no chance. The game-winner was a great shot by MacKinnon after he slipped through the defense.

Without another Grade A effort from Shesterkin, who made his season-high seventh straight start, the game would never have gotten to overtime and the Rangers wouldn’t gained an important point in the standings.

“He looks so comfortable out there right now,” Hall of Fame goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said on MSG Network’s postgame show. “He’s patient and on his feet all the time.”

Sheary scores at last​

The Rangers signed Sheary to a PTO during the summer, and he earned a roster spot with a solid training camp. But he produced just six assists in 26 games and was scratched for three in a row before injuries gave him an entry back into the lineup this week.

Sullivan, who coached Sheary with the Pittsburgh Penguins, moved him into a top-six role for most of the win Thursday and kept him there Saturday as the left wing on a line with Trocheck and Miller. It paid off in the third period.

“I feel like I’ve been getting a lot of good chances, and throughout this year it’s a relief to get one,” Sheary said. “Hopefully I can build off that.”

Right back to work​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Rangers are playing back-to-back games for the second straight week and the fourth time this season. Shesterkin played both ends last week, when they won 6-2 against the Boston Bruins on Friday before no-showing (except for their goaltender) in a 4-1 home loss to the Lightning on Saturday.

But with Jonathan Quick activated off IR before the game Saturday and Shesterkin having played seven straight games, expect the winningest U.S.-born goaltender in NHL history to be in the crease against Vegas on Sunday.

Quick hasn’t played since Nov. 22, when he sustained a lower-body injury during a 3-2 road loss to the Utah Mammoth. He finished the game after Michael Carcone slid into him late in the third period but hasn’t played since.

The 39-year-old, who was on the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 2023, is 3-3-0 this season. But he has the lowest goals-against average (1.69) and is tied for the best save percentage (.944) of any NHL goalie who’s played at least six games.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/lose-3-2-in-ot-to-avalanche-takeaways

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Golden Knights: Lineups, storylines seek back-to-back rebound

It’s right back to work for the New York Rangers on Sunday night, when they host the Vegas Golden Knights in the second of back-to-back games at Madison Square Garden this weekend.

The Rangers (15-12-3) lost the front end of this back to back, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche in a Saturday matinee. Though they didn’t defeat the top team in the NHL, the Rangers did secure a vital standings point when Artemi Panarin scored a 6-on-5 goal in the final minute to tie the game and force overtime.

That, and their continued strong team effort and play against such an elite opponent left the Rangers feeling pretty good about things afterward. They enter play Sunday with points in their past three games (2-0-1) and six of the past seven (5-1-1).

“It was a helluva hockey game for both teams,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller said Saturday. “There’s a lot of things we can look for to build on going into tomorrow. Sometimes you lose and you don’t feel good about. But there’s other times when you don’t get the result, but you can sleep good tonight knowing we played a pretty good hockey game.”

For sure, it’s not about moral victories for the Rangers, the two-point variety are the ones they seek. But there’s much good to be said about their play the past couple of weeks, and how they responded to an ugly 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last weekend.

“The last few games, we’ve just had a consistent effort, given ourselves a chance to win every night,” veteran forward Conor Sheary explained Saturday. “I think throughout the season you’ll have some bad games, but if you give a good effort, have everyone locked in, I think you give yourself a chance.”

Different contributors continue to step up for the Rangers, especially in the wake of Adam Fox set to miss his fourth game with an upper-body injury. Sheary is one of those players. The veteran forward scored his first goal of the season in the loss Saturday.

Of course, Sunday provides another big challenge for the Blueshirts. They’ll host the Golden Knights (13-6-8), who are one point out of first place in the Pacific Division. Vegas has a three-game winning streak, and defeated New York 3-2 at T-Mobile Arena on Nov. 18. Last season, the Rangers swept the season series, including a 4-2 win at MSG on Feb. 2.

This is the second of a five-game road trip, where the Golden Knights visit only Metropolitan Division teams. They shut out the New Jersey Devils 3-0 on Friday and are 4-0-1 against Metro teams this season.

3 storylines when Rangers host Golden Knights​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Expecting Quick start​

Well, this can be taken two ways. Yes, the Rangers would love to start quickly Sunday. Keep in mind, they’re 13-2-0 when scoring first this season.

But this is more about goalie Jonathan Quick, who’s expected to make his first start since Nov. 22 for the Rangers. The 39-year-old sustained a lower-body injury following a collision late in that game against the Utah Mammoth, and Igor Shesterkin started seven straight games since. Quick dressed as the backup Saturday and should get the call against the Golden Knights, his former team with whom he won his third Stanley Cup championship in 2023.

For goalies who’ve played at least six games this season, Quick (3-3-0) is tops in the NHL with a 1.69 goals-against average and .944 save percentage.

Vegas likely counters with Akira Schmid, who blanked the Devils and won his career-high 10th game Friday. Carter Hart, who won his first start with the Golden Knights this past Tuesday, is sidelined with a lower-body injury.

Captain’s milestone game​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Miller plays his 900th NHL game Sunday. The milestone contest comes nearly 13 years after his League debut for the Rangers on Feb. 5, 2013 against the New Jersey Devils, and well before the Golden Knights inaugural season in 2017-18.

The 32-year-old center, in his second tour of duty with the Rangers, has 727 points (267 goals, 460 assists) in 899 games. He’s played 40 games with the Rangers, 404 with the Vancouver Canucks, and 94 with the Lightning.

This season, Miller has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists), including four assists in the past two games. In his past five games against Vegas, Miller has seven assists.

Change of power?​

The Rangers are 0-for-8 on the power play in three games without Fox, their PP1 quarterback. Coach Mike Sullivan said he liked one of their two failed opportunities against the Avalanche with the five-forward grouping again leading the way.

Might Sullivan consider changing up the look Sunday?

“That’s always the art of coaching, when to make a change, when to stay with it and allow them to play through certain things. That’s just a feel thing,” Sullivan explained Saturday.

He did acknowledge that if a change is made, rookie Scott Morrow is most likely the first option to join the top power-play unit. That makes the most sense considering Morrow’s pedigree as a skilled, puck-moving defender, currently running PP2.

“We recognize Scotty is a guy we can plug in there,” Sullivan noted.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere

J.T. Miller — Vincent Trocheck — Conor Sheary

Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Brett Berard

Jonny Brodzinski — Sam Carrick — Taylor Raddysh

Vladislav Gavrikov — Braden Schneider

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Matthew Robertson — Scott Morrow

Jonathan Quick

Igor Shesterkin

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Vegas Golden Knights

When: Sunday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...olden-knights-preview-storylines-seek-rebound

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers blow late lead, furious with officials after 3-2 OT loss to Vegas

To say that the New York Rangers believe they deserved a better fate than than what turned out to be a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at Madison Square Garden is a massive understatement.

But in the end, what mattered most was Tomas Hertl’s game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation and Jack Eichel’s phenomenal game-winner in the dying seconds of overtime that handed the Rangers their second OT defeat this weekend. The Rangers lost 3-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday after Artemi Panarin tied the game in the final minute of the third period.

What angered the Rangers (15-12-4) most on Sunday was a curious call by referee Chris Lee at 18:02 of the third period. Lee sent New York’s Will Borgen and Vegas center Brett Howden off for coincidental roughing minors for what appeared to be an innocuous battle behind the play.

“There was nothing going on,” a frustrated Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said postgame.

That opened up the ice for the Golden Knights — when they pulled goalie Carter Hart for the extra attacker, they had a 5-on-4 advantage, as opposed to a 6-on-5.

“I think the coincidental minors had a huge implication, right? There’s a big difference between a 6-on-5 and a 5-on-4 and trying to defend it. It had a huge implication,” Sullivan explained.

Sullivan was livid behind the bench when the calls were made, and even more so when Hertl cashed in, burying a rebound with 51.3 seconds to play to tie the score.

the goal that evened the game pic.twitter.com/kEbucturGP

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 8, 2025

The game-winning goal came off a set play, after Vegas won a defensive zone face-off, and defenseman Shea Theodore banked a long pass off the boards to a streaking Eichel, who flew past Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson. Eichel caught up to the puck, broke in on goalie Jonathan Quick and,beat him with a gorgeous finish, eight seconds before the buzzer would’ve sounded.

JACK EICHEL

How about this set play at the end of @Energizer overtime!? pic.twitter.com/JWG2RwhvTM

— NHL (@NHL) December 8, 2025

Making his first start since Nov. 22 after sustaining a lower-body injury, Quick finished with 26 saves. Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere each scored a goal and had an assist for the Rangers, who have points in their past four games (2-0-2), and seven of eight (5-1-2).

Hart made 21 saves for the Golden Knights, who won their fourth straight game. Eichel and Howden each had a goal and an assist.

It didn’t take long for the Rangers to fall behind in this one — 36 seconds to be exact. A failed clearing attempt by Vladislav Gavrikov quickly turned into an odd-man chance down low for Vegas. And Howden, the former Rangers center, buried a slick feed from Mitchell Marner for his fifth goal of the season, and second in the past 14 games, to make it 1-0 Vegas.

From that shift on, the Golden Knights were the superior team in almost every way the in the first period. But the one thing they couldn’t do was add to their lead. Brandon Saad missed the net on a 3-on-2 rush; Quick snuffed a Hertl deflection after the Vegas forward got behind New York’s defense; and Howden and defenseman Kaedan Korczak each rang shots off the post.

After spending most of the first period defending, and managing only three shots on goal and 10 attempted shots, the Rangers came alive and tilted the ice in their favor in period No. 2. New York outshot Vegas 16-6, had an expected goals share of 78.57 percent in all situations, per Natural Stat Trick, and scored the only two goals in the middle stanza to carry a 2-1 lead into the final period.

Planted near the blue paint, Zibanejad swatted a rebound past Hart to tie the game at 9:08. His team-leading 11th goal of the season came seconds after Zibanejad just missed on a nearly-identical opportunity, when Hart managed to get a sliver of his pad on the shot attempt.

Mika Zibanejad ties the game at 1! pic.twitter.com/7G87XTX9yO

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 8, 2025

Lafreniere assisted on that Zibanejad goal, then had the favor returned at 13:01, when the Rangers took a 2-1 lead. Zibanejad feathered a pretty cross-ice pass to Lafreniere, who wired a shot under the crossbar from the right-wing circle for his seventh goal this season.

Alexis Lafreniere with an absolute SNIPE

Puck might've came off the bar harder than it went in the net pic.twitter.com/emv8odCtuj

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 8, 2025

Hart made a sensational diving save to rob J.T. Miller’s rebound try at 13:42, and later denied Will Cuylle’s spinning short-handed chance off a rush in the final seconds of the period to keep the score 2-1. A bit earlier, the Rangers caught a break at 15:15, when Korczak kissed iron for the second time in the game.

Conor Sheary had an opportunity to push New York’s lead to 3-1 at 7:38 of the third period, but Hart denied his breakaway with a sharp pad save. Quick answered back at 12:25, making his own big pad stop to deny Ivan Barbashev on a clean breakaway.

Vegas took it to New York in the third period, with a 14-3 shots advantage. So, perhaps the Golden Knights would’ve found a way to tie and win this game anyway. But you can’t convince the Rangers that the referee’s call late in the third period didn’t change how this final result played out.

“Give Vegas credit, they played hard in the third and I thought our guys did as well,” Sullivan said. “I thought we were defending the lead hard. For the most part, we were doing our best to defend the scoring area and the good area of the ice. We felt on the bench that we were in control the way we needed to be. It’s disappointing.”

Key takeaways after Rangers lose 3-2 in overtime to Golden Knights​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Over and out​

This was a pretty unique overtime period. The teams played 4-on-4 for over four minutes after Borgen and Howden finished serving their respective penalties and rejoined play two seconds into OT. Rules stipulate that in this type of circumstance, teams don’t go back to 3-on-3 play until the first whistle. And there wasn’t a single whistle in the cautiously played overtime period until Hart froze the puck after he made a really good save, hugging the post to squeeze a short-side snipe by Zibanejad, with 16.9 seconds remaining in the five-minute period.

So that opened up the ice again for the Golden Knights, who won the ensuing face-off (Howden), and Eichel beat everyone up ice for his 12th goal of the season.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

There was a chance for a whistle earlier in OT, but neither referee used it when Robertson was tripped at center ice. Needless to say, that non-call made the Rangers even more furious.

“Like, really? Zero power plays (for the Rangers in the game) and you don’t call that? I don’t know,” Zibanejad said with disgust postgame. “Again, we can’t control it. It stings now. We could probably look at other things that we could’ve done better not to get to that point, but thought that one was pretty obvious.”

Quick return​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Though he allowed a goal on the second shot faced, Quick looked sharp and battled hard Sunday. He missed seven games with that lower-body injury, but fell right back into form, and was especially sharp in the third period when the Golden Knights made a serious push.

The first goal he allowed was an odd-man chance down low. The tying goal late came off a scramble after he made the initial save. And the one in OT was a breakaway by one of the top offensive players in the NHL. Hard to fault Quick on any of them.

Quick’s started seven games this season and hasn’t allowed more than three goals yet. And as good as Igor Shesterkin was starting all seven games in his absence, it’s really good that Quick is back, giving the Rangers that terrific 1-2 punch between the pipes.

Tough numbers​

The Rangers were so close to flipping the script on some ugly trends, but the numbers only got worse after this one. They remain winless in the second of back-to-back games this season (0-4-1), and their record when allowing the first goal dipped to 2-10-4. They’re also 2-6-3 when trailing after the first period.

And this was the first loss this season for the Rangers, after taking a lead into the third period (9-0-1). New York also dropped to 4-4 in overtime.

Mika’s got Hart’s number​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Zibanejad continued his dominating ways against Hart. He now has 13 goals in 15 career games against Hart, all but one of those contests when the goalie played for the Philadelphia Flyers. Hart did get the last laugh in this one, however. He only had to make one save in overtime, but it was a difficult one on a quick release off the stick off Zibanejad on the shift before Eichel scored the game-winner.

New York’s 32-year-old forward did extend his point-scoring streak to seven games overall (four goals, five assists) with two more points Sunday. His 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 31 games is third on the Rangers this season.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/recap-overtime-loss-vegas-golden-knights

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers Week Ahead: A chance to catch their breath as schedule slows down

The New York Rangers get a bit of a breather this week after a stretch that saw them play 19 games in 37 days from Nov. 1 through Dec. 7 – including eight in the previous 13 days.

The Rangers schedule includes only two games in the next seven days, each against Original Six rivals, after consecutive four-game weeks.

They’ll also get two days off before making their lone visit to Chicago on Wednesday for a nationally televised matchup with the Blackhawks, followed by two more days off before the Montreal Canadiens come to Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

They can use the time off on Monday and Tuesday to think about what might have been over the weekend. The Rangers went toe-to-toe with the two division leaders from the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. But they had to settle for one point in each game after losing twice in overtime.

New York scored a sixth-attacker goal with 40.9 seconds left in regulation to force OT against Colorado on Saturday. But the Rangers lost 3-2, when the League’s leading scorer, Nathan MacKinnon, netted the game-deciding goal 2:46 into the extra period.

The script was reversed Sunday, but the result was the same. Vegas scored the tying goal with 52 seconds left after pulling goalie Carter Hart for an extra skater, before Jack Eichel’s highlight-reel game winner at 4:52 of OT handed the Rangers another 3-2 defeat.

Still, a 2-0-2 week that also included an overtime win at home against the Dallas Stars, who are second to Colorado in the overall standings, and a road victory in Ottawa is nothing to sneeze at. The single point on Sunday gives the Rangers a 15-12-4 record, 34 points, and possession of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference – although they’ve played at least two more games than all but one team in the East.

Who’s hot​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Mika Zibanejad scored the Rangers’ first goal Sunday, and assisted on their other one, to extend his point streak to seven games (four goals, five assists). That is tied for the third-longest active streak in the League. He leads the Rangers with 11 goals.

Artemi Panarin’s assist on Sunday was his 582nd point with the Rangers, tying Chris Kreider for 10th in franchise history. Panarin’s empty-net goal in Ottawa was his 900th career point.

Who’s not​

Taylor Raddysh scored his fifth goal of the season on Oct. 30 – and has none since. He’s gone six games without a point and has one assist in his past 16 games. On Sunday, the Rangers scratched Raddysh, who missed practice earlier in the week for personal reasons.

Rangers lookahead this week includes …​

Two of everything — two games plus two breaks of two days each before the schedule heats up again ahead of the Holiday break in the schedule.

Rangers at Chicago Blackhawks (Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.; TNT/truTV)​

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Rangers are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games against Chicago, which hasn’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a non-Covid season since 2016-17. The Blueshirts are 5-0-0 in their past five trips to United Center, including a 6-2 win on Jan. 5.

Year 3 of the Connor Bedard Era in Chicago is going a lot better than the first two, although the Blackhawks are returning home after a rough weekend and lost eight of their past 10 games (2-6-2). The first player taken in the 2023 NHL Draft is on target to blow past the 100-point mark (he has 40 points in 29 games) after 61- and 67-point efforts in his first two seasons in the League. Bedard has two assists in three career games against the Rangers.

Panarin, who played his first two NHL seasons with the Blackhawks, has 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 13 career games against his old team. Zibanejad (18 points; eight goals, 10 assists in 18 games) is also a point-a-game player against Chicago.

Montreal Canadiens at Rangers (Dec. 13, 7 p.m., MSG)​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Rangers are 134-131-54-2 against the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden, their poorest home mark against any of their fellow Original Six teams. But they’re 3-0-0 in Montreal’s past three visits, including a last-minute 4-3 win on Nov. 30, 2024. Overall, they’re 6-0-2 against the Canadiens since a 2-1 loss at MSG on Jan. 15, 2023.

Two reasons for their recent success against the Canadiens are Panarin and Igor Shesterkin. Panarin had a four-point night (one goal, three assists) in the Rangers’ 4-3 win at Montreal on Oct. 18, giving him 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 24 games against the Canadiens.

Shesterkin is 5-1-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average and .931 save percentage, though he didn’t play in the game at Montreal. Backup Jonathan Quick got the win that night and is 10-4-2 against the Habs with a 2.54 GAA and .912 save percentage.

Montreal captain Nick Suzuki scored one of the goals in the loss to the Rangers in October, giving him five goals and 12 points in 15 games against New York.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/week-ahead-schedule-preview-catch-breath

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Gabe Perreault continues to shine as AHL rookie

The Hartford Wolf Pack’s season high three game winning streak ended this past weekend, when they split a pair of games. The New York Rangers AHL affiliate enters this week, winners in five of their past eight games.

Last weekend featured a 5-2 win against Springfield on Friday. The Wolf Pack’s first line led the charge with three point performances from Gabe Perreault (two goals, one assist) and Justin Dowling (three assists). Jaroslav Chmelař recorded two assists.

Gabe’s second tally of the night pic.twitter.com/p7cXP5LV9X

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 6, 2025

The Wolf Pack followed up with a 6-2 loss to Bridgeport on Saturday. Brennan Othmann scored his second goal in four games, and Dowling also scored to extend his point-streak to three games (one goal, five assists).

Ottsy with a snipe pic.twitter.com/zOC3aMAdyp

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 7, 2025

The sixth-place Wolf Pack (8-10-4-0, 20 points) look to build on their recent strong play with three games this week.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes​

Welcome back​

The Hartford defense corps is about to get a boost with the return of two injured veterans. Brandon Scanlin, who sustained an injury during training camp and hasn’t played yet this season, cleared waivers on Sunday and returned to practice with the Wolf Pack. Scanlin played 206 games with the Wolf Pack, recording 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists), the previous four seasons.

Back to work this morning for @HWPHockey at PeoplesBank Arena.

D Brandon Scanlin is on the ice after clearing waivers from #NYR yesterday.

Pack hosts Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7:00 p.m.) on Wednesday before a trip to Utica/Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/LrFqobihMB

— Alex Thomas (@AlexThomasHWP) December 8, 2025

Blake Hillman, who sustained an upper-body injury Nov. 15, is now officially day to day and close to a lineup return. He was initially week to week. Hillman was playing his best hockey before the injury, and had five points (two goals, three assists) in 12 games.

Gabe Perreault continues to shine in rookie AHL season​

Though the Rangers are happy to let Perreault marinade in the minors as he matures physically and as a player, the 20-year-old forward may not be long for Hartford. Perreault has 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 17 games, and recently recorded six points (four goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak that included consecutive multi-goal outings.

gabe perreault does it again pic.twitter.com/4l0l5Mu6mO

— hope (@nohopeleague) December 6, 2025

New York’s first-round pick (No. 23 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft leads the Wolf Pack in goals, points, point-per-game (1.00), and plus-minus (+10). Perreault is tied for fourth among AHL rookies in goals, and tied for eighth in points.

Though he only has one assist in three games with the Rangers this season, Perreault continues to knock on their door, showing he’s ready for another crack at it in the NHL

Hear from Wolf Pack forward Gabe Perreault following his two goal performance against the Springfield Thunderbirds last night ↓ pic.twitter.com/JzUjwo6b5N

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 6, 2025

Dylan Garand sharp in Hartford return​

Dylan Garand returned to Hartford after serving as Igor Shesterkin’s backup for three games in New York. The 23-year-old goalie still hasn’t made his NHL debut, and didn’t play at all over a 12-day span until his start Friday back in the AHL.

Garand looked sharp, though, stopping 34 of 36 shots in the win against Springfield. He was instrumental in a game where the Thunderbirds pushed hard for a comeback, and made a string of impressive saves.

GARAND IS GRAND@HWPHockey | @NYRangers pic.twitter.com/e7ftCI1iof

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) December 6, 2025

Initially given the night off on Saturday against Bridgeport, Garand replaced Callum Tung for the second and third periods. Tung, who faced 12 shots, conceded three goals in the first period before he was pulled. Coach Grant Potulny attempted to spark Hartford with the switch, and Garand finished with 21 saves on 23 shots in relief.

Garand is 4-6-2 with a 2.88 goals-against average and .903 save percentage for Hartford this season after his strong play last weekend.

Justin Dowling playing big role for Wolf Pack​

Justin Dowling — Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Signed by the Rangers to a two-year contract on July 7, Dowling has 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 21 games with Hartford, and been a mentor for Perreault, his young linemate. The 35-year-old forward leads the Wolf Pack in assists, is second in points, and tied for fourth in goals.

Potulny leans on the veteran, who played last season with the New Jersey Devils, deploying him as the Wolf Pack’s No. 1 center. As a result, Dowling created strong chemistry with Perreault, and other young forwards given opportunities on the line, like Othmann and Chmelař. Dowling’s experience (152 NHL, 594 AHL, and 60 ECHL games) is a major asset for the Wolf Pack.

JUSTIN DOWLING WITH THE FASTEST GOAL TO START A PERIOD THIS SEASON pic.twitter.com/W7hDZpnals

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 7, 2025

Dowling’s last full season in the AHL was 2023-24. He is on pace to exceed his totals from that season (40 points).

Upcoming Games​

All games can be viewed on AHLTV and heard on Mixlr.

Wednesday, December vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena​

• This is the fourth of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 1-2-0-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
• The Penguins are 17-5-1-0 (35 points), first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. They are third overall in the AHL.
• Sam Poulin leads the Penguins with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists). Next is Danton Heinen with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists).

Friday, December 12 vs Utica Comets (Devils) at 7:00pm, Adirondack Bank Center​

• This is the first of two meetings in the season series. Hartford lost the series in 2024-25 (0-1-0-1).
• Utica is 4-12-3-1 (12 points), seventh (last) in the North Division and 15th (last) in the Eastern Conference.
• Xavier Parent leads the Comets with 12 points (six goals, six assists). Mike Hardman has 10 points (five goals, five assists).

Saturday, December 13 vs Syracuse Crunch (Lightning) at 7:00pm, Upstate Medical Arena at The Onecenter War Memorial​

This is the first of two meetings in the season series. Hartford split the series in 2024-25 (1-0-1-0). The second meeting is Dec. 19.

• Syracuse is 13-8-1-0 (27 points), third in the North Division and tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference.
• Jakob Pelletier leads the Crunch with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) and is tied for second in the League. Next is Nick Abruzzese with 20 points (five goals, 15 assists).

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...rd-wolf-pack-gabe-perreault-shines-ahl-rookie

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers stock report: Which young players up, down, including Noah Laba

The New York Rangers dropped the puck on their centennial season on Oct. 7, and had their fair share of ups and downs since.

It feels like a good time to analyze where the Rangers’ higher-profile younger players stand two months into the 2025-26 season. So, let’s examine whose stock is on the rise, and who is trending the other way.

To be included in this stock report, players must be 24 years old or younger, and have fewer than 100 games of NHL experience. That excludes young NHL “veterans” like Alexis Lafreniere, Braden Schneider, Will Cuylle, and Juuso Parssinen, and put the focus where we want, on the next wave of Rangers youngesters.

Noah Laba: Stock Up​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Noah Laba is the gold standard this season among the Rangers top young players and prospects. Already a favorite of coach Mike Sullivan, the 22-year-old rookie just gets better by the day. Laba’s the anchor in the middle of the third line, playing a committed 200-foot game, averaging more than 13 minutes TOI, and contributing eight points (four points, four assists). His compete level is never in question, and his maturity on and off the ice stands out. He has the makings of being a lineup staple for years to come. So, yes, his stock is definitely up.

Brennan Othmann: Stock down​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

After underwhelming in training camp and failing to make New York’s opening-night roster, Brennan Othmann’s stock continues to sink within the organization. So much so, that Othmann trade rumors are a thing, with other teams trying to buy low on the 2021 first-round pick. Sullivan is no fan of Othmann’s defensive play nor effort, and that’s a big reason the forward spent most of the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League. Othmann has eight points (two goals, six assists) in 16 AHL games, continuing his underwhelming trend. He was recalled twice by the Rangers, but played only one late October game.

Gabe Perreault: Stock Up​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Like Othmann, Gabe Perreault is another first-round pick (2023) who failed to crack the opening-night roster on Broadway. The difference is that Perreault’s a rookie pro developing nicely in the minors. The 20-year-old leads Hartford with 10 goals and 17 points in 17 games, playing important minutes on the top line. Perreault has a pair of two-goal games in his past three outings, and earned AHL Player of the Week honors earlier this season. Perreault played three games with the Rangers in mid-November, and picked up his first NHL point, assisting on a Lafreniere power-play goal against the Nashville Predators. As Sullivan noted, the kid has things to work on and must get stronger physically. But his stock remains on the rise, for sure.

Dylan Garand: Stock Down​

Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images

Handed the reins to be Hartford’s No. 1 goalie this season, presumably as a run-up to one day soon becoming Igor Shesterkin’s back up with the Rangers when Jonathan Quick decides to retire, Dylan Garand hasn’t exactly taken off with the opportunity. The 23-year-old, an AHL All-Star last season, is 4-6-2 with a 2.88 goals-against average and .903 save percentage, though played better of late. When Quick landed on IR recently, the Rangers recalled Garand. But Sullivan elected to start Shesterkin in every game, including both ends of a back-to-back set, showing little confidence in Garand, who’s yet to make his NHL debut. As of today, Garand’s stock is down, but that certainly can change moving forward.

Scott Morrow: Stock Even​

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

For most of the first two months, Scott Morrow’s stock was on the decline. A gifted offensive defenseman, Morrow struggled at both ends of the rink with Hartford, and received little opportunity when called up to the Rangers. But the 23-year-old acquired in the K’Andre Miller trade this past summer found his footing the past four games with the Rangers. He’s been solid on the third defense pair since Adam Fox landed on LTIR, holding his own against elite opponents like the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and Vegas Golden Knights. The next step is for him to earn more trust defensively and begin producing more points, the true strength of his game.

Matthew Robertson: Stock Up​

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

You’d be hard pressed to find a young player in the Rangers organization who improved their stock more than Matthew Robertson the past year or so. Two summers ago, it was a surprise the Rangers offered Robertson the qualifying offer. But he turned things around in his fourth pro season in 2024-25 with Hartford, made his NHL debut late in the season, and landed with the Rangers as one of their seven d-men out of training camp. He got an opportunity through injury early in the season, and now won’t relinquish his spot on the left side of the third defense pair. The 24-year-old averages more than 16 minutes TOI over 22 games, and though there’s room for improvement, he’s a pleasant surprise and his stock is on the upswing.

Brett Berard – Stock Even​

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

We will call Brett Berard’s stock even, since he’s maintained a spot on the third line the past few weeks. The 23-year-old brings plenty of speed and energy to the Rangers lineup. But if Berard doesn’t start producing — he’s pointless in eight games — he easily could wind up back in Hartford, where he began the season.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...tock-report-young-players-including-noah-laba

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers coach delivers positive Matt Rempe, Adam Fox injury updates

There was a big reason for the New York Rangers to feel good when they returned to practice on Tuesday. That’s because popular, towering forward Matt Rempe joined them on the ice for the first time since he sustained an upper-body injury during a fight against Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 23.

The 6-foot-9 wing participated in drills wearing a no-contact red jersey. Coach Mike Sullivan also disclosed that Rempe is making the trip to Chicago with the Rangers, who visit the Blackhawks at United Center on Wednesday. That could be a sign the 23-year-old will be a full participant in practice sooner rather than later.

Look who’s back today. Matt Rempe is practicing in no-contact red. Edstrom, though, is still not out there. pic.twitter.com/GRa6gff3Bk

— Colin Stephenson (@ColinSNewsday) December 9, 2025

After facing the Blackhawks, the Rangers do not play again until Saturday, when they host the Montreal Canadiens, giving them two more days between games.

“He skated a fair amount on his own with our skills coaches. The next step is to get him around the group in a team setting in a non-contact jersey. That’s what he was today,” Sullivan said after practice. “And then. obviously. the final step is to get him into game role scenarios.”

Rempe has one goal and seven penalty minutes in nine games this season. He played every game to start the season and was a force on the forecheck as well as a committed defensive player. Rempe toned down the theatrics and controversy that were a big part of his first two NHL seasons, and appeared to turn the corner as a trusted bottom-six player on the fourth line.

Which makes it ironic that Rempe was hurt in a fight, his first of the season.

Rempe’s return, when it happens, will be most welcome by the Rangers, who’ve had numerous players take shifts on fourth line, centered by Sam Carrick. The other usual staple on that unit, Adam Edstrom, also is injured. Edstrom didn’t practice Tuesday nor will he make the trip to Chicago. He’ll be out for the fourth straight game.

Sullivan noted that Edstrom is taking part in the “return-to-play protocol,” but didn’t specify the nature of the 6-foot-7 forward’s injury. Edstrom has four points (two goals, two assists) in 24 games this season.

Adam Fox skates on own, remains on LTIR for Rangers​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Sullivan had another small dose of positive injury news Tuesday. He revealed that Adm Fox skated twice on his own since the star defenseman landed on LTIR with an upper-body injury nine days ago.

Fox must miss a minimum of 10 games; Wednesday marks the fifth game he’s out. There’s been no timetable placed on when Fox will actually return, though it’s not expected to be months.

Without the 2021 Norris Trophy winner as top NHL defenseman, the Rangers are 2-0-2, taking six of eight points last week. The Rangers defeated one of the best teams in the League, the Dallas Stars, in overtime a week ago and lost twice in OT to the League-leading Colorado Avalanche and high-flying Vegas Golden Knights.

Sullivan’s pleased with how the Rangers fared without Fox to this point.

“I think the guys have done a really good job, they’re competing hard,” Sullivan said. “He’s not an easy guy to replace. He plays a lot of minutes, first and foremost. He helps us with our transition game, his ability to move the puck, join the offense. He’s active off the offensive blue line, helps us on the power play — and he defends hard.

“I think the guys that have stepped in have done a real good job as far as bringing what they bring, not trying to do too much, playing within themselves.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/positive-matt-rempe-adam-fox-injury-updates

 

[New York Rangers]

NHL insider doubles down: Rangers will ‘take a swing’ at Quinn Hughes trade

Two days after reporting that the New York Rangers will be in on Quinn Hughes, should the Vancouver Canucks decide to follow through and trade their captain, Dave Pagnotta doubled down on his original take.

The NHL insider first mentioned the Rangers’ interest in Hughes on Monday.

“With all the attention on the New Jersey Devils and Quinn Hughes lately – and yes, the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers have been lumped in there, too – another team to look out for is the New York Rangers,” Pagnotta wrote in The Fourth Period. “That would allocate a lot of dollars to their back end, but it wouldn’t shock me to see the Blueshirts taking a swing.”

Given a chance by co-hosts Jonny Lazarus and Colby Cohen to walk back his take on the Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast Wednesday, Pagnotta remained firm in his belief that the Rangers are seriously interested in the All-Star defenseman.

“Do I think it’s going to happen tomorrow? No. Do I think he’s going to be a New York Ranger? I don’t know yet. It’s still way too early in that process,” Pagnotta explained. “But in terms of teams that I anticipate to be in the mix in a more serious rather than just poking around type of situation, I think the Rangers are going to be one of them with where they’re at, with the owner they’ve got, and with a clear lack of desire to go through a rebuild. I think the New York Rangers … are one of those teams that will try to step up to this.”

Pagnotta admitted most, if not all, general managers will check in with their Canucks counterpart, Patrik Allvin, to see if the Canucks really would trade Hughes, the 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner as top defenseman in the NHL.

However, Pagnotta’s bigger point is that only a select group of teams would be in serious pursuit of the 26-year-old … and the Rangers are in that mix.

“I think this is a team that’s going to be interested in actually making an attempt to acquire him.”

NHL insider believes Rangers would love to ‘get their hands on Quinn Hughes’​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

The Canucks are in freefall for the second straight season, just two years after they finished first in the Pacific Division. They traded J.T. Miller to the Rangers on Jan. 31 last season and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canucks (11-16-3) are last in the NHL standings with the Christmas break less than two weeks way and let other teams know they’re willing to discuss possible trades involving their pending free agents.

Hughes is under contract at a very affordable $7.85 million annually through the 2026-27 season. So, he is not a pending free agent. However, with all the talk about Hughes leaving to possibly reunite with brothers Jack and Luke with the New Jersey Devils in two summers, and no belief that he’ll stay long term in Vancouver, the Canucks likely want to end the distraction, cut the cord and move him sooner rather than later — especially considering their poor on-ice performance.

Pierre Lebrun stated this week on TSN that moving Hughes ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline likely affords the Canucks the best return package. But is this the type of trade the Rangers even have an appetite for?

| Quinn Hughes on the #NJDevils HNIC trade rumours as well as the Canucks rumours in general

“It wasn’t like, if there was a call, me, Jim and Fitzy hopped on the call. You know, I wasn’t apart of that but obviously I’m aware things like that could happen, for sure.” pic.twitter.com/vTSX1hKW9o

— Hughes Updates (@_hughesupdates) December 7, 2025

In the immediate short term, it’d be a boon to land Hughes with Adam Fox on LTIR with an upper-body injury. But no deal of this magnitude will come together that quickly, and Fox isn’t expected to be sidelined for months. In fact, Fox is skating on his own, and misses his fifth game Wednesday when the Rangers visit the Chicago Blackhawks.

A potential Hughes trade is fascinating to consider for the Rangers. His addition would give New York a top four on defense featuring Fox with Vladislav Gavrikov, and Hughes with Will Borgen. That’d be among the best in the League. But are there enough minutes and high-end responsibility to keep Fox and Hughes — each a Norris Trophy winner — content? And what about sinking all that cap space on those two and Gavrikov on the back end?

Plus any trade likely weakens the Rangers at the forward position, assuming Alexis Lafreniere and/or Gabe Perreault are part of the return.

Nonetheless, it’s an intriguing topic to ponder, and rumor to follow. Let’s see as things progress if Pagnotta is spot on about how deeply the Rangers get involved.

“I would not be surprised if they not just inquire, but take a swing and see if they can get their hands on Quinn Hughes.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/quinn-hughes-trade-rumors-rangers-canucks

 

[New York Rangers]

Listless Rangers shut out by Spencer Knight, Blackhawks 3-0: key takeaways

Looking a step slow all night, the New York Rangers didn’t deserve to win Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. And they didn’t. Spencer Knight made 21 saves and the Blackhawks shut out the Rangers 3-0 at United Center.

It was the sixth shutout loss in 32 games this season for the Rangers, and their first on the road. Knight was sharp, though it was hardly a taxing game for the 24-year-old goalie, who earned his second shutout of the season and seventh of his career. He faced only four shots in the third period, though two were point-blank opportunities by Noah Laba during a 1-2 sequence by Knight’s crease.

Spencer Knight with back-to-back stops on Noah Laba pic.twitter.com/ENiClWbocU

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) December 11, 2025

Igor Shesterkin finished with 22 saves for the Rangers, who are winless in their past three games (0-1-2). Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who surrendered 13 goals over the weekend in consecutive losses to the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, and appeared committed to playing a far better all-around game Wednesday.

Tyler Bertuzzi and Louis Crevier also scored for Chicago.

Neither team scored in the first period, but there were several close calls for each side. Shesterkin made a diving blocker save to deny Andre Burakovsky’s rebound try 3:15 into the game; and three minutes later he got a pad on Bedard’s one-timer after accepting a cross-ice pass.

IGOR WHAT A SAVE IN CLOSE TO KEEP IT SCORELESS pic.twitter.com/PhblGQjLQ6

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 11, 2025

Roughly 30 seconds after that clutch Shesterkin save, the Rangers came within inches of scoring the game’s first goal. Between the circles, J.T. Miller deflected Scott Morrow’s pass/shot from inside the blue line, but hit the post. Then at 11:20, Mika Zibanejad had a breakaway, and though he beat Knight between the pads, the his shot went wide of the net.

The Rangers were out-shot 10-6 in the scoreless first period, but started strong in the second. Knight made two clutch pad saves on the first shift, one on Miller’s wraparound and another on Conor Sheary’s putback. New York killed off a Matthew Robertson holding penalty at 2:31, and then received their first power play at 5:25.

Not only did the Rangers fail to generate any good looks on the power play, but they surrendered a short-handed goal at 7:08 to fall behind 1-0. Crevier got behind the five Rangers forwards on the ice, and the 6-foot-8 Chicago defenseman used his long reach to push a backhand shot past a poke check from Shesterkin. It was Crevier’s third goal, first career shorty, and first goal of any kind in the past 20 games.

Shorthanded goal alert!

Louis Crevier scores first for the @NHLBlackhawks!

: @NHL_On_TNT & @StreamOnMax https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T pic.twitter.com/5PY1nJg4Gl

— NHL (@NHL) December 11, 2025

Chicago nearly doubled its lead at 10:40 when Ryan Donato barreled down the middle and buried a Burakovsky chip into the slot. But video review upheld a Rangers challenge that their was a missed hand pass before the goal, and the score remained 1-0.

Or at least it did until Bedard chipped a pass from Burakovsky top shelf past Shesterkin’s glove at 14:27. It was Bedard’s 19th goal of the season and his first in four career games against the Rangers.

Bedard had a hand in the next goal too, when the Blackhawks took a 3-0 lead at 3:52 of the third period. He drove to the middle with speed and got the puck to Ryan Greene, who put the puck between his legs for a shot on goal. Bertuzzi collected the rebound and flipped the puck past Shesterkin from in tight for his 16th goal, and fourth in the past six games.

Alexis Lafreniere came close to ending Knight’s shutout bid at 11:15, but his gorgeous 1-on-1 move resulted in a backhand shot hitting the crossbar.

Key takeaways after New York Rangers’ 3-0 loss to Chicago Blackhawks​

David Banks-Imagn Images

Trap game​

The Rangers said all the right things heading into this game about not taking the Blackhawks for granted, or as a lesser opponent than the gauntlet of top NHL teams they faced — and played well against — last week. They promised there’d be no drop off in their play and intensity after those big games against the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and Vegas Golden Knights.

But this felt a bit like a trap game. Struggling opponent — Chicago was 2-6-2 in its previous 10 games — badly outclassed over the weekend. Plus the Rangers had two days between games, and have another two straight off before hosting the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. So maybe they took the foot off the gas pedal.

Rested and confident. And then outplayed, pretty much right from the first puck drop, by a hungrier opponent, one perhaps motivated even more by their recent embarrassments. Trap game or perhaps just an off night. Either way, a missed opportunity to get two important points for the Rangers.

Not passing the eye test​

The analytics and underlying numbers tell you that the Rangers played on pretty much even terms with the Blackhawks. New York had a 12-10 advantage in high-danger chances, and a decent 48.5 percent expected goal share 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. Even the shots on goal were close, with Chicago holding a 25-21 advantage. And the shot attempts were 52-49 Blackhawks. All that seems OK for the Rangers.

Except if you watched the game, you saw how much quicker the Blackhawks were than the Rangers. Quicker through center ice. Quicker to pucks. Quicker decision making. That’s the main takeaway from this loss. The Rangers appeared slower in every facet of the game. That, and Chicago showed more hunger.

Sure, the Rangers were credited with a decisive 36-12 edge in the hits category. That says something. But all those hits didn’t slow down a pretty darn committed opponent. That says something else.

This game and result was a case of trusting your eyes, trusting what you see.

Powerless​

The Rangers not only were 0-for-3 on the power play, but that short-handed goal they surrendered was a crusher. It snapped a scoreless tie and sent the Blackhawks on their way with an extra jolt of confidence, and brought the United Center crowd into the game.

David Banks-Imagn Images

It was the first time the five-forward PP1 unit deployed in Adam Fox’s injury absence allowed a shorty. Zibanejad lost a puck battle just outside the offensive blue line; Vincent Trocheck was late to help out; and Artemi Panarin skated in a circle in the neutral zone, failing to realize Crevier was behind him at the the other blue line. All of that led directly to the third short-handed goal surrendered by New York this season.

Morrow shifted on to the top power-play unit later in the game, and likely will be its quarterback in the next game against the Canadiens. Trocheck had New York’s only shot on goal, a good scoring opportunity late in the third period, in six minutes of power-play time Wednesday. And the Rangers are now 0-for-11 on the man advantage in the five games Fox missed with an upper-body injury.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...p-blackhawks-shutout-spencer-knight-takeaways

 

[New York Rangers]

Former Rangers teammate warns Chris Kreider about ‘goofy’ MSG homecoming

Derek Stepan knows exactly what awaits his former New York Rangers teammate Chris Kreider next week, when he returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time as an opposing player. That doesn’t mean he’s got a good strategy for Kreider to get through an emotional day.

“It’s a lot that day, when you’re heading back into the building, even just walking to the other side. It’s just a heavy day,” Stepan explained last week on the Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast. “Everyone around you wants to give you advice, like ‘Hey, after your first shift you’ll get into it.’ And then the video [tribute] comes and you’re sitting there watching it.

“So for Chris, there’s just no good advice and there’s no easy way to do it. He’ll do it like the rest of the guys have done it, and he’ll get through it, and the next time it gets easier.”

The Rangers traded Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks last summer, and Monday marks his first return to MSG. The popular 34-year-old forward played 883 regular-season games, and another 123 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, over 13 seasons with the Rangers. He’s third in franchise history with 326 goals, and tied for first with 116 power-play goals.

Kreider’s off to a great start with the Ducks. He has 13 goals and 21 points in 26 games, helping the Ducks (19-10-1) to the top of the Pacific Division standings.

Outside of his famous roars when he scores a goal, Kreider is not known to share his emotions publicly. It’ll be interesting to see how Kreider reacts to the expected rousing ovation when he hits the ice at The Garden, and again when the tribute video is played on the MSG videoboard.

“It’s goofy. Again, it’s just heavy,” Stepan explained. “You go into the building, and whatever the emotions were at the time you got traded, whether you were angry or sad or excited to be going out of there, whatever your scenario was, when you come into that building, all you wan to do is win. You’re like, ‘I don’t care what it takes, we’ve got to get two points, and then I want to get out of this building.’

“You get out on the ice and then they show you the tribute and you’re like, ‘Oh man, it was a great time when I was here.’ It just downshifts you so hard. It’s mixed emotions. … It’s just one goofy night.”

Derek Stepan recalls his first game back at MSG after Rangers traded him​

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Stepan was a very popular homegrown Rangers player, but didn’t have quite the distinguished career on Broadway that Kreider did. Nor did he play as long with the Rangers. The former top-6 center, who’s now retired and working for the Minnesota Wild, is 29th in Rangers history with 360 points (128 goals, 232 assists) in 515 regular-season games.

As teammates, Stepan and Kreider helped the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy in 2014-15, reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, and play in the Eastern Conference Final three times. The Rangers traded Stepan at the 2017 NHL Draft, sending him to the Arizona Coyotes. Not unlike Kreider, Stepan was moved primarily to create more room under the salary cap.

Stepan’s return to Madison Square Garden didn’t go so well. The Coyotes lost their 10th straight game that night, falling 5-2 to the Rangers on Oct. 26, 2017. Stepan was held without a point and finished minus-3.

The Rangers would sign up for a similar result Monday. The Ducks and Kreider? Not so much.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ns-chris-kreider-madison-square-garden-return

 

[New York Rangers]

What a potential Rangers trade for Quinn Hughes could look like

Let’s start with this. This reporter doesn’t believe the New York Rangers will acquire Quinn Hughes, when — if — the Vancouver Canucks decide to trade him.

Right now, Hughes feels like a luxury for a team that already has Adam Fox as its No. 1 defenseman and power-play quarterback. A dynamic proven point producer to play in the top-six forward group is the more immediate need for the Rangers, if they’re going big-game hunting any time soon. Especially with the possibility high-flying forward Artemi Panarin bolts as a free agent next summer.

Of course, the flip side to that argument is that superstars in their prime — regardless of what position they play — demand your attention if they become available, either through free agency or trade. Chris Dury would do a disservice to the Rangers organization if he didn’t check in about Hughes and find out what’s the cost of doing business with the Canucks.

Really, that’s the crux of NHL insider Dave Pagnotta’s take that the Rangers are serious about Hughes

“Do I think it’s going to happen tomorrow? No. Do I think he’s going to be a New York Ranger? I don’t know yet. It’s still way too early in that process,” Pagnotta explained Wednesday on the Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast. “But in terms of teams that I anticipate to be in the mix in a more serious rather than just poking around type of situation, I think the Rangers are going to be one of them with where they’re at, with the owner they’ve got, and with a clear lack of desire to go through a rebuild. I think the New York Rangers … are one of those teams that will try to step up to this.”

And let’s face it, whether goals and points come from the forwards or the back end, the Rangers need to score more 5v5 and on the power play. Through 32 games, they’re 29th in the NHL, averaging 2.56 goals per game. The Rangers were shut out Wednesday for the sixth time this season, losing 3-0 to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hughes has 431 points (61 goals, 370 assists) in 458 career games, slightly better numbers than Fox (395 points also in 458 games). Each has a Norris Trophy on his resume (Fox in 2021; Hughes in 2024), and each recorded 70 or more points three times.

Of course, each is used to playing big minutes as the top dog on defense, and there’d have to be a shift in mindset about shared roles. But, hey, it certainly worked for the Rangers in 1994, when they won the Stanley Cup with Brian Leetch and Sergei Zubov, two highly-skilled Hall-of-Fame defensemen, anchoring the top two defense pairs.

That’s not an apples to apples comparison, since Leetch and Zubov each were Rangers draft picks, with the latter establishing himself after Leetch already won the Calder and Norris Trophies. A closer comparison is one Rangers coach Mike Sullivan knows well from his days with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who acquired Erik Karlsson when they already had Kris Letang. That hasn’t worked out so well.

But Fox paired with Vladislav Gavrikov, and Hughes alongside Will Borgen? There’s lots to like there, for sure.

So, let’s play along and break down what a possible Rangers trade for Hughes could look like.

What it could take for Rangers to land Quinn Hughes in a trade​

Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Hughes earns a reasonable $7.85 million annually, and his contract runs through 2026-27. The Rangers have $3.709 million in available salary cap space, per PuckPedia. And that’s factoring in LTIR ramifications, since Fox, Matt Rempe, and Adam Edstrom each is on long-term injured reserve.

The Canucks have less than $200,000 in available cap space, with defenseman Derek Forbort on LTIR.

A smooth financial fit for each side is to have Alexis Lafreniere be the main return for Hughes, since the 24-year-old makes $7.45 million through 2031-32. So, for argument’s sake, the Rangers trade Lafreniere, one of their two first-round picks in the 2026 draft, and a prospect, say Brennan Othmann, for Hughes. Maybe the Rangers also get a mid-level prospect or mid-round draft pick back as well. Perhaps, the Canucks want rookie defenseman Scott Morrow included in the deal, since they’ll need a good, young puck distributor to help fill the Hughes void.

That may not be enough for the Canucks, who can expect serious offers from many teams, including the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, and Detroit Red Wings. But it’s an intriguing offer, especially since the Canucks long had interest in Lafreniere.

Nick Kypreos: Re Quinn Hughes: It seems the going rate for a team wishing to acquire Hughes is a combination of four or five pieces, including roster players, prospects and first-rounders. The Canucks are seeking those first-rounders to be unprotected – Sportsnet (12/9)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) December 11, 2025

If it’s not enough, and the Rangers really want Hughes, do they swallow hard and include top prospect Gabe Perreault? That’d leave the Rangers mighty thin in their top-six forward group. Lafreniere is currently a staple there, and if he’s traded, Perreault is the most logical fit to replace him. It’s difficult to see the Rangers sending both forwards, plus a first-round pick, to the Canucks for a player we already deemed a luxury.

In this iteration, Perreault feels a bit untouchable. So, too, do young forwards Will Cuylle and Noah Laba. So, Lafreniere, Morrow, Othmann, and a first-rounder for Hughes. And maybe the Rangers get a piece to help up front.

Another possibility is the Rangers using Braden Schneider as another central figure in a bigger deal for Hughes. That’s another player the Canucks like a lot, and tried to acquire as recently as last season. Since, Schneider makes $2.2 million per season — though is an RFA with arbitration rights after this one ends — this specific trade scenario needs to be expanded because the numbers don’t add up cap-wise for the Rangers, and it’s not a big enough return from the Canucks point of view.

But how about this blockbuster? The Rangers send Lafreniere, Schneider, Othmann and/or Morrow, and a first-round pick to the Canucks for Hughes and Evander Kane, or Nils Hoglander if you prefer? Kane is a rugged veteran forward making $5.125 million in the final season of his contract. The inconsistent but talented Hoglander, makes $3 million per through 2027-28.

It’s all speculative at this point, though fun to go through the process. One thing for certain is that until he’s traded, Quinn Hughes will be the dominant name in NHL trade rumors.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-trade-rumors-quinn-hughes

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers injury update: Matt Rempe ‘close’ but won’t play against Canadiens

For the first time since he sustained an upper-body injury in a fight back on Oct. 23, New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe participated in a full practice Friday. However, the towering forward doesn’t quite have the green light to return to game action.

So, that means Rempe misses his 24th consecutive game Saturday, when the Rangers host the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.

“He will not play tomorrow. He was full contact today,” coach Mike Sullivan stated Friday. “Given the time he was out, we think it’s important he gets a couple of practices under his belt in a full capacity. We’ll monitor as he goes, but he’s getting close.”

When those practices come is anyone’s guess. The Rangers’ schedule turns fairly hellacious next week, when they play five games in seven days, including a pair of back-to-back sets bookending the week.

It’s certainly possible that Rempe practices hard in a morning skate or two and then gets back in the lineup later in the week.

The popular 23-year-old has one goal and seven penalty minutes in nine games this season.

He’s missed on the fourth line, which had several different looks in his absence. Veteran stalwart Sam Carrick will center Taylor Raddysh and rookie Jaroslav Chmelar against the Canadiens, based on practice Friday.

Rangers make ‘number of adjustments’ to top power-play unit​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

After the 3-0 shutout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday, Sullivan alluded to making changes on the power play. The Rangers were 0-for-3 in Chicago and allowed a back-breaking short-handed goal. They’re now 0-for-11 in five games since PP1 quarterback Adam Fox went down with an upper-body injury.

So, the Rangers made a “number of adjustments” to the top unit at practice Friday, in Sullivan’s words. But the one thing that didn’t change was the five-forward personnel. Alexis Lafreniere moved to the bumper spot, and Mika Zibanejad replaced Artemi Panarin up top to fill Fox’s usual role. Panarin moved to the flank, and J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck continued to round out the top unit.

So, again, no defenseman manning the point. Why’s that, coach?

“Because we think they’re the best five guys right now to help us have success.”

Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov did quarterback the second power-play unit Friday. And Scott Morrow, the rookie defenseman who seemed most likely to join PP1 after the most recent game, appears to be the odd-man out completely. He skated as an extra, and it looks like Urho Vaakanainen replaces him in the lineup Saturday.

As for Zibanejad swapping places with Panarin?

“He’s a cerebral player. He sees the ice so well. He’s similar to ‘Bread’ in that regard,” Sullivan explained. “But I think Mika might add a little more defensive conscience back there. One of the things I’ve always admired about Mika is his willingness on both sides of the puck. I think that’s an important element on the power play, using five forwards.”

Sullivan also pointed to Zibanejad’s willingness to shoot more often, and to create rebound opportunities for his teammates.

“One of Mika’s strengths is that he can really pound the puck. He can really shoot it. Now that he’s up top, he can do the same thing from there, also,” Sullivan explained.

“Sometimes we want to pass the puck into the net. We need to create in different ways. We can create off the shot.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/matt-rempe-return-update-rangers

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Canadiens: Lineups, storylines to start 7 games in 11 days

Hopefully the New York Rangers rested up this past week, when they played one game in a five-day stretch. Because from now until the NHL holiday break, it’s Go Time. Beginning Saturday, when they host the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers schedule features a wicked stretch of seven games in 11 days.

Though it’s well-worn cliche, the Rangers (15-13-4) know now more than ever they must simply focus on what’s right in front of them, and not the busy bigger picture. So, that means trying to get back on the winning side of the ledger Saturday, amid a three-game winless skid (0-1-2).

The first two of those defeats, last weekend against the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, were in overtime. And the Rangers deservedly picked up a point in each loss.

That wasn’t the case Wednesday, when the Rangers were shut out by the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0. Out-played and a step or two slow all night, the Rangers weren’t at all happy with their performance.

Saturday provides the next opportunity for the Rangers to re-set in this rollercoaster season.

“We didn’t have our best in Chicago, I think we all know that in this room,” veteran forward Conor Sheary said Friday after practice. “Come out [Saturday] with a little more energy and try to get a win on home ice.”

Rangers captain J.T. Miller was even more direct in his comments Friday.

“I know we’re going to bounce back. Every time we seem to have a lapse, we bounce back as a group,” Miller stated firmly. “I’m confident we’re going to be good on Saturday.”

They certainly must be on their toes and ready to skate against the speedy Canadiens (16-11-3), who are one point ahead of the Rangers (with two games in hand) in the tight Eastern Conference standings. The Rangers won the first head-to-head meeting with the Canadiens, rallying with three goals in the third period for a 4-3 road victory on Oct. 18.

After a 10-3-2 start this season, the Canadiens are 6-8-1 since Nov. 11. Montreal comes off a 4-2 road win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, when rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler made 36 saves to win his NHL debut.

3 storylines when Rangers host Canadiens​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

1. Gonna get scoring chances​

The Rangers are 29th in the League, averaging 2.56 goals scored. They’ve been shut out six times, five of those on home ice. But they should get plenty of chances to change that narrative on Saturday.

The high-flying Canadiens own a minus-10 goal differential, and their team GAA of 3.50 is tied for third worst in the NHL. They give up plenty of scoring chances and their goalies don;t exactly bail them out often enough. Montreal’s allowed four or more goals in 14 games, and at least six on five occasions.

Maybe Fowler is the tonic to cure Montreal’s goaltending ills. But the Rangers should see this is as a big opportunity to break out offensively, after totaling only four goals in their past three games

2. Centennial woes​

John Jones-Imagn Images

The Rangers celebrate “The New Garden” years (1967-91) on Saturday as part of their 100th NHL season. What they’d really like to celebrate is an actual victory in their sharp Centennial sweaters. The Rangers lost their first five games wearing the good-looking threads this season, and scored just two goals total in those contests. That includes the shutout defeat Wednesday in Chicago.

Saturday marks their 646th regular-season game against the Canadiens. The Rangers are 207-337-7 with 94 ties all-time against the Canadiens. More relevant, they have points in their past eight games (6-0-2) against the Habs.

New York is 3-2-1 against Original 6 foes this season. Montreal is 4-2-0 in such games.

3. Milestone games​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Igor Shesterkin joins a select group Saturday, when he becomes the eighth goalie in Rangers history to play 300 games for the franchise. An interesting note is that Shesterkin already has more career wins (174) than two of the goalies ahead of him on the Rangers games-played list — Chuck Rayner (377 games; 123 wins) and Dave Kerr 324 games; 157 wins). Of course, Kerr led the Rangers to a Stanley Cup championship in 1940, so there’s that.

Shesterkin’s allowed two goals or fewer 14 times this season, second most in the NHL. His 2.48 goals-against average is fourth best among goalies who’ve made at least 20 starts this season. And his 15.1 goals saved above expected is fifth most in the League, per MoneyPuck.

Rangers forward Will Cuylle plays his 200th NHL game Saturday. He’s played all 32 games this season, and missed just one game — as a healthy scratch — in his three full NHL campaigns. The 23-year-old is third on the Rangers with eight goals, and second with three power-play tallies. His 109 hits lead the Rangers and are fifth most in the NHL.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere

J.T. Miller — Vincent Trocheck — Conor Sheary

Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Brett Berard

Jaroslav Chmelar — Sam Carrick — Taylor Raddysh

Vladislav Gavrikov — Braden Schneider

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Urho Vaakanainen — Matthew Robertson

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens

When: Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG

“One of the things that I’ve always been a strong believer in is I think your mindset going into a game goes a long way to set you up for success. You’ve got to bring the right mindset even before the puck is dropped, and I think that is important for us. I think we have to have the right mindset, the right intentions before the puck’s dropped, and that’s going to set us up for success and give us the opportunity to put the game on the ice that we want to put on the ice.

“Why can’t you have your A Game every night? That’s the human element of sports. We’re trying to navigate through this stuff.

“Again it’s the human element. There are things as a coaching staff you can predict, and there are other you can’t. I’d be lying if I told I could’ve predicted that one coming into this season. … I think the guys did a good job … we try to focus on the process. Let’s play the game the right way. Let’s stick to it. Let’s stay in the moment, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s not dwell on the circumstance

“It’s a long season, it’s just the next game, doesn’t matter where it is for us. We’re not going to win every game on the road. We’re not going to lose every game at home. It all evens out over the course. We’ve been better [at home], we take pride in that arena.

“I’ve never done it before until this year. It’s new. It’s a hard position to play up there. I know Bread and Mika are trying to obviously learn it. Foxy is such a big piece of our power-play unit, little nuances in his game that help us so much. Just have to find a way to find a little better rhythm. i think these past couple games we’ve struggled with pressure a little bit … we’re just not executing as sharply. We’ve gotten a couple looks, that being said. But not up to our standard either.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...preview-lineups-storylines-start-busy-stretch

 

[New York Rangers]

Resilient Rangers rally to beat Canadiens 5-4 in overtime: Takeaways

The New York Rangers’ current captain sent 24 of their former players, including five ex-captains, and a sellout crowd of 18,006 on “The New Garden” night home happy after their most stirring win of the season.

J.T. Miller, named captain during training camp, scored his second goal of the game at 2:56 of overtime to cap New York’s comeback from a three-goal deficit and give the Blueshirts a 5-4 victory against the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

With Montreal’s Jake Evans off for slashing Artemi Panarin, Miller took a pass from Mika Zibanejad and got every ounce of a one-timer from the right circle, beating rookie Jacob Fowler for the win – something that looked impossible after the Canadiens led 3-0 entering the final two minutes of the first period.

“I was supposed to be in front of the net,” Miller confessed after scoring his 16th career overtime goal. But when Panarin went to the net instead, Miller flared back to the right circle to provide another option – and it paid off with the winning goal.

It was a huge rebound for the Rangers after a poor effort in a 3-0 road loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday — and a fitting tribute to the former Rangers on hand.

“It was good,” Alexis Lafreniere said of the performance after the loss in Chicago. “We tried to be a little more careful and play in their end.”

Recognizing the Rangers greats who made @TheGarden The World's Most Famous Arena pic.twitter.com/gxCDKwC2G6

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

The Rangers played one of their best shutdown stretches of the season in the first 12 minutes of the first period, holding the Canadiens without a shot on goal. Montreal finally got its first shot on goal at 12:41 – and found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Zach Bolduc set up in front of the net and tipped Nick Suzuki’s feed past a defenseless Igor Shesterkin.

The Canadiens’ second shot also went in, with Arber Xhekaj getting to the front of the net and deflecting Alexandre Carrier’s shot past a screened Shesterkin at 14:10. Evans further silenced the Garden crowd at 16:18, beating Shesterkin from inside the left circle after the Rangers were outworked in their own zone.

But a goal from an unlikely source – the struggling power play – got the Rangers back in the game. Noah Laba went to the net, picked up a loose puck after Will Cuylle cut in front, and popped his own rebound past Fowler, making his second NHL start, at 18:49 to make it 3-1.

Panarin cut it to 3-2 just 19 seconds later when he scored on a penalty shot after being hooked by defenseman Noah Dobson. The Rangers’ leading scorer fired back to his left while going right against Fowler, cutting Montreal’s lead to 3-2.

Artemi Panarin converts pic.twitter.com/8jrdQ8csqR

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 14, 2025

“I was panicked, to be honest. Everyone in the rink (was) excited, too,” Panarin said of the first penalty-shot goal of his career and the first by the Rangers against Montreal since Camille Henry on March 8, 1958. “The ice was not the best in the last minute. I’m glad I scored.”

It was the first penalty-shot goal by a Ranger since Dan Boyle scored on Dec. 9, 2015, and ended a streak of 11 straight misses.

The Canadiens quieted the crowd again 3:17 into the second period, making it 4-2 when Josh Anderson beat Shesterkin on a one-timer from the slot after a terrific pass by Lane Hutson, the reigning Calder Trophy winner. But the Blueshirts got even with two goals in 35 seconds before the eight-minute mark.

Cuylle made it 4-3 at 7:22 when his feed through the crease hit Huston and went past Fowler. Miller tied it 4-4 at 7:57, picking up the rebound of Matthew Robertson’s shot and deking Fowler before sliding the puck between the rookie goalie’s legs.

The Garden erupted 5:51 into the third period when Sam Carrick appeared to score the go-ahead goal off a scramble. But a quick video review showed that the veteran center kicked the puck into the net, and the goal was waved off. There was plenty of physicality during the remainder of regulation, but no goals.

The Rangers will have Sunday off to regroup before beginning a week that will see them play five times in seven days, beginning with the return of former Blueshirt Chris Kreider to MSG when the Anaheim Ducks visit on Monday.

Key takeaways after the Rangers’ 5-4 OT win against Montreal​

Miller time​

THE CAPTAIN UNLOADS ONE FOR THE WIN pic.twitter.com/5iOPEoOBPm

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 14, 2025

This is the version of J.T Miller the Rangers thought they were getting when they acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31.

Miller scored the tying goal by bulling his way to the net, picking up a rebound and getting Fowler to open his pads before sliding the puck into the net. The game-winner was pure power – a blast off the feed from Zibanejad that Fowler had no chance on.

“We have to find ways to win every single way,” he said.

The captain was also pleased at the way the Rangers showed the resilience to come back after falling behind by three goals on the heels of the poor effort in Chicago.

“I think we did a good job of staying mentally tough and in the moment,” he said. “Present, worried about the next shift and (we) really turned the tide on them. They defended a lot of the night, I felt like. When we play like that, it’s the same speech every game — I think we’re a lot to handle.”

A comeback to remember​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Rangers won a game in which they trailed by three goals for the first time in nearly two years; they beat the New York Islanders 6-5 in overtime after trailing 4-1 in the second period of their NHL Stadium Series game on Feb. 18, 2024, at Met Life Stadium.

Coach Mike Sullivan said even when his team was down three goals, he didn’t think they were playing badly.

“We were on our toes,” he said. “We had a couple of breakdowns that ended up in the back of our net, but I didn’t think we were playing badly. We held them without a shot for almost 13 minutes.”

He said there was no thought of pulling Shesterkin and just wanted to make sure that his players didn’t get down on themselves.

“There was a lot of hockey left — that’s what we talked about on the bench,” he said. “That’s what we talked about in between periods, ‘Let’s not get overwhelmed here. Let’s just keep playing, keep playing the game. Let’s work for the next goal.’ And that’s what they did.”

Power play comes alive​

Sullivan stuck with the five-forward system he’s used on the first power-play unit since defenseman Adam Fox was injured two weeks ago. But it was the second unit that produced the Rangers’ first extra-man goal since Nov. 28. Laba went to the net and banged in his own rebound to get the Rangers on the board.

The overtime power-play goal was scored at 4-on-3, but the four players on the ice — Miller, Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck and Panarin — are all part of PP1.

Seeing his power play go 2-for-2 after firing blanks in five straight games has to make Sullivan feel better as the Rangers head into their toughest week of the season. The power play could be especially important against the Ducks, who’ve allowed 27 PPGs, tied for the second-most in the NHL.

Kreider’s return with Ducks takes center stage​

Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images

There will be a familiar face wearing No. 20 when the Rangers host the Ducks on Monday — but he’ll be wearing orange and white rather than a Blueshirt.

GM Chris Drury traded Kreider to the Ducks in June after arguably the worst season of his career — he finished with 22 goals and 30 points after three straight seasons with at least 36 goals while battling injuries and illness.

The third-leading goal-scorer in Rangers history (326 goals) is off to a fast start with his new team, He’s scored 13 goals and has 21 points in 28 games for Anaheim, which is second in the Pacific Division and trying to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.

Kreider tried to play down his return to the Garden, referring to it on Thursday as a “business trip.”

But it’s hard to imagine he won’t at least a little emotional after the requisite a video tribute from the Rangers and a big welcome from the Garden fans he played for.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rally-to-beat-canadiens-in-ot-takeaways

 

[New York Rangers]

Noah Laba, Matthew Robertson among unsung heroes in latest Rangers win

There’s no question that the New York Rangers’ 5-4 overtime win Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens was due in large part to their best players coming up big in clutch situations. But don’t discount the contributions from a string of unsung heroes, who helped the Rangers rally from 3-0 and 4-2 deficits in this signature victory.

For sure, the Rangers don’t win without J.T. Miller’s two goals, including the OT winner when Mika Zibanejad dished out the primary assist. Vincent Trocheck also assisted on the game-winner and led all skaters with six hits. And, of course, Artemi Panarin scoring a penalty-shot goal late in the first period to pull New York within 3-2 was massive. As was the overall performance of defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who logged nearly 28 minutes of ice time as force on each side of the puck.

Artemi Panarin converts pic.twitter.com/8jrdQ8csqR

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 14, 2025

The top line of Panarin, Zibanejad, and Alexis Lafreniere held a huge 15-2 advantage in scoring chances 5v5 (10-0 in high-danger opportunities), and had a whopping 81.24 percent expected goal share, per Natural Stat Trick.

And Miller was the obvious choice as the No. 1 Star of the Game, after he scored to tie the game 4-4 and the drilled a power-play one-timer to win it in overtime.

WON IT WITH A ONE-TIMER pic.twitter.com/Txlu3Pt7qR

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

“I thought he had a really strong game tonight, obviously,” coach Mike Sullivan said postgame about the Rangers captain. “The two goals he scored are prototypical J.T. Miller hockey. One’s at the blue paint, he plays his power game. And the overtime winner is, that one-timer is a missile. That’s a goal scorer’s goal, and that’s what he’s capable of.”

So, their best players led the way on this rollicking night at Madison Square Garden.

Rangers unsung heroes include two rookies and star goalie Igor Shesterkin​

But let’s not overlook rookie center Noah Laba. The 22-year-old went hard to the net to score a greasy goal on a rebound to get the Rangers on the board at 18:49 of the first period after the Canadiens surged with more than a dose of good fortune to a 3-0 lead.

Labs off the rebound pic.twitter.com/ZcuCO92f6C

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

Nineteen seconds later, Panarin scored on a penalty shot and 3-0 became 3-2. But it’s Laba who started the comeback. And he did so on the second power-play unit, after the five-forward PP1 group failed to score.

Laba later assisted on Will Cuylle’s goal 7:22 of the second period to get the Rangers within 4-3. It was the second two-point game of his rookie season. He also won six of eight face-offs and was credited with five hits.

Though outscored 2-1, that third line of Laba, Cuylle, and Brett Berard had an xGF of 76.55 percent 5v5.

“Cuylle’s a young guy (23 years old), but he’s got some experience — today was his 200th game — so he’s got experience, he hits, plays North. And then Brett brings a ton of energy, super fast, able to make a ton of plays out there,” Laba explained after the win. “Playing with them is real easy.”

Rookie defenseman Matthew Robertson notched the first multi-point game in the NHL, earning primary assists on Cuylle’s goal and Miller’s game-tying tally. Robertson logged 20:32 TOI, a career high, had 10 shot attempts, and recorded three shots on goal.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Veteran forward Conor Sheary chipped in a pair of assists for his first multi-point game of the season.

And how about Igor Shesterkin? Of course, the Rangers goalie is, perhaps, their biggest star. But he allowed goals on the first two shots he faced Saturday, three in a first-period span of 3:37. However, it can’t be overlooked how Shesterkin remained mentally strong, allowed one goal the rest of the way, and gave the Rangers a chance to win.

“I didn’t feel like any of the goals scored were bad goals. They were a little bit fluky how some of them went in,” Sullivan said. “I never got the feeling behind the bench that Jeez, this wasn’t Shesty’s night, or that he didn’t have it. … I thought he was locked in.

“I know he takes a lot of pride in keeping the puck out of the net, and when they go in like that sometimes that can get the best of you. But he did a terrific job of just staying focused, being ready to make that next save for us.”

Even one of their stars found a way to be an unsung Rangers hero Saturday night at MSG.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-overtime-victory-unsung-heroes