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[New York Rangers]

Rangers blow 3rd period lead, fall 3-2 in overtime to Hurricanes: Takeaways

Less than 11 minutes away from a rousing road victory in Raleigh against the best team in the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers instead coughed up a one-goal lead in the third period and lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in overtime Monday night at Lenovo Center.

Jackson Blake scored on a power-play deflection with 12.6 seconds remaining in overtime for the Hurricanes, who tied the game on a Jordan Martinook deflection at 9:11 of the third period. It was New York’s second loss this season when leading after two periods (9-0-2).

Igor Shesterkin turned in an outstanding performance, finishing with 32 saves, including four in overtime before Blake’s game-winner. Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi, a Long Island native, was sharp when called upon, making 17 saves to improve to 13-1-1 in his rookie NHL season.

Oh my, Igor Shesterkin.

The #Canes have poured on the chances here in the second period, but New York's netminder has been great, including this glove stop on Sean Walker. pic.twitter.com/bJMyY7BG9w

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) December 30, 2025

The Rangers (19-17-5) became the first team in the NHL to play 41 games, the official halfway point of their schedule. Though the Rangers picked up an important point in the standings, their .525 points percentage is 16th out of 16 teams in the East.

Vladislav Gavrikov and Jonny Brodzinski scored for New York, which next plays a New Year’s Eve matinee at the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist, and Nikolaj Ehlers added a pair of assists for Carolina, which won its second straight game and improved to 24-11-3 overall.

The Rangers came out flying and nearly scored on the game-opening shift, but Bussi gloved Will Cuylle’s snap shot off an odd-man rush just 22 seconds into play. Less than a minute later, the Rangers had another odd-man opportunity, and though Bussi stoned Noah Laba, who was flying down the middle, the Rangers rookie center drew a slashing penalty against Alexander Nikishin at 1:09.

It took the Rangers just 30 seconds to cash in on the power play. Gavrikov hammered a one-timer from right wing past Bussi for his NHL career-high seventh goal of the season to make it 1-0 Rangers. It was Gavrikov’s first power-play goal in the NHL, covering seven seasons and 476 regular-season games.

Vladislav Gavrikov lets it fly on the power play to open the scoring for the Rangers pic.twitter.com/FzneoCwB7y

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 30, 2025

On the very next shift, Shesterkin made a sharp toe save to deny Andrei Svechnikov after a tic-tac-toe passing sequence by Carolina. Then a few minutes later, he robbed Eric Robinson following a Scott Morrow turnover.

Carolina nearly tied the game at 7:15, but former Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller ripped a shot off the crossbar. Four minutes later, a scrambling Shesterkin kicked out a bouncing puck before it crossed the goal line.

The Hurricanes finally broke through at 15:57 when Aho wired a shot over Shesterkin’s glove and through a partial screen during a 5-on-3 power play, following consecutive penalties by Brodzinski and Braden Schneider.

Brodzinski made up for his penalty when he scored to put the Rangers up 2-1 at 13:00 of the second period. Matt Rempe started the scoring play by controlling the puck in the offensive zone, and then sending a pass back to Matthew Robertson at the left point. Robertson followed with a shot that was deflected by Sam Carrick directly to Brodzinski, who buried his fourth goal into a wide-open net.

Jonny Brodzinski pulls the Rangers back ahead! pic.twitter.com/mnwATuoxRC

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 30, 2025

That lead held up until 9:11 of the third period, when the Hurricanes pulled even on a greasy goal scored by Martinook. The Carolina forward drove hard to the net and was in the right spot at the right time when Jalen Chatfield’s shot hit the back of his skate; the puck slid between Shesterkin’s pads to tie things up 2-2.

Shesterkin gave the Rangers a chance by standing tall to get to the game to overtime and once again in the five-minute extra period — until Blake’s first career OT winner sealed the visitors fate.

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

James Guillory-Imagn Images

Working overtime​

The Rangers and Hurricanes each know a thing or two about playing more than 60 minutes this season. Carolina improved to 9-3 in OT and played extra hockey for the fifth time in its past nine games. Half of New York’s past 14 games (seven) were decided in overtime, with its overall OT record dropping to 7-5.

The turning point of the game came at 3:01 of overtime, when Robertson tripped Taylor Hall from behind after the Hurricanes forward bulled toward the Rangers net. Vincent Trocheck, Gavrikov, and Schneider were out there the entire penalty kill for the Rangers, aided by a timeout called by coach Mike Sullivan at one point following a play stoppage. With some big-time help from Shesterkin, they nearly killed off the penalty, which would’ve forced a shootout to decide the winner.

But Carolina won all three face-offs in the Rangers’ end during its power play, and that final win in the dying seconds of the extra period led to the game-winning goal. Aho and Ehlers calmly played catch with the puck before setting up Aho’s slapper toward the net, where Blake redirected it past Shesterkin.

JACKSON BLAKE CALLS GAME IN THE FINAL SECONDS OF OT pic.twitter.com/OONXguqe8l

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 30, 2025

Noah Laba, hockey player​

Not that we needed to be convinced, after watching Laba grind through the first 41 games of his NHL career. But the 22-year-old rookie is one tough kid.

Laba didn’t get an assist on Gavrikov’s game-opening goal, but he paid the price to draw the penalty that set the stage for it to happen. He drove hard to the net for an excellent scoring chance, and was in obvious pain after Nikishin slashed him on the hand. It appeared Laba’s hand might’ve been cut, but there was no questioning the fact that he was in distress heading off the ice and, eventually, to the dressing room.

Noah Laba was on the bench getting medical attention for his bloodied hand after taking a rough slash from Alexander Nikishin #CarolinaCulture #NYR #NHL pic.twitter.com/ccerCAiFQg

— Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) December 30, 2025

After missing more than 17 minutes of game time, Laba returned to play two more shifts at the end of the first period. He resumed taking his regular shift and playing on the PK in the second period, and nearly scored off a short-handed rush at 15:35. With 9.9 seconds left in regulation, Laba won a crucial face-off in his own end after the Rangers iced the puck. He also skated a shift during overtime.

Not bad for someone who looked like his night was done in the first minute of the game.

Fast start not enough for Rangers​

James Guillory-Imagn Images

With two odd-man rushes in the opening minute of play, and a power-play goal less than two minutes into the game, the Rangers were off to one of their fastest starts of the season. A third odd-man opportunity soon followed, and it appeared the Rangers just might be able to beat the Hurricanes at their own game, with speed turning defensemen inside out and causing turnovers repeatedly.

But the Rangers couldn’t sustain this high level of play. The Hurricanes, even without two key injured defensemen — Jaccob Slavin and Shayne Gostisbehere — and leading goal-scorer Seth Jarvis, turned the tide significantly before the first period got away from them. They outshot the Rangers 13-5 in the opening period and pulled even with their own power-play goal.

Though the Rangers evened things out in the second period, and took a 2-1 lead into the third, they chased much of the time and relied on Shesterkin’s brilliant play to save them. Carolina, a notoriously high-volume team, out-attempted New York 82-39 overall, and held a 36-17 advantage in scoring chances 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. Carolina’s expected goal share was 68.03 percent 5v5.

The Rangers lost for just the third time when scoring first (15-2-1), due in large part to being unable to sustain their excellent start.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ow-third-period-lead-overtime-loss-hurricanes

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Capitals: Lineups, storylines with Adam Fox game-time decision

For the second time in eight days, the New York Rangers pay a visit to Capital One Arena to face off against the Washington Capitals, this time in a New Year’s Eve matinee Wednesday afternoon.

Also, the Rangers (19-17-5) should have one of their most indispensable players back in the lineup this time. Stalwart defenseman Adam Fox expects to return after he missed the previous 14 games with an upper-body injury.

Fox is a game-time decision, per coach Mike Sullivan. But all signs point to his return, after the 27-year-old took all the reps at practice Tuesday next to his top-pair partner Vladislav Gavrikov, and as the quarterback on the top power-play unit.

The Rangers are 6-5-3 without Fox in the lineup, including an exciting 7-3 win against the Capitals last Tuesday. Vincent Trocheck and former Capitals forward Taylor Raddysh each had two goals and one assist in that one, when the Rangers scored five times in the third period to overcome a 3-2 deficit.

However, New York lost two straight (0-1-1) since then, including 3-2 in overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. The Rangers let a third-period lead slip away, and then sealed their fate when Jackson Blake scored a power-play goal in OT.

Washington won its next game after that bad finish against New York, but is just 2-5-2 in in the past nine games, including a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday.

This is the third of four meetings in the season series. The Rangers were shut out 1-0 by Charlie Lindgren in the first meeting Oct. 12 at Madison Square Garden. The teams play once more at MSG on April 5.

3 storylines when Rangers visit Capitals​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

1. Rangers get ‘difference-maker’ back in their lineup​

Assuming Fox plays Wednesday, the Rangers get one of their most important players back in the lineup. Despite missing 14 games, Fox is second on the Rangers with 23 assists and third with 26 points in 27 games. His 23:50 average TOI is two seconds behind Gavrikov, whose played major minutes in Fox’s absence.

“When ‘Foxy’ is in our lineup, he’s a difference-maker. He’s a very difficult guy to replace on so many levels,” Sullivan said Tuesday. “He had a great start to our season — on the power play, the way he drives offense, our ability to get out of our end, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for how well he defends.”

Braden Schneider shifts back to his third-pair role on defense, and rookie Scott Morrow loses his spot in the lineup. Gavrikov, who scored his first career power-play goal Monday, gets bumped to the second PP unit with Fox back at the point on PP1.

2. Second half begins​

Before the calendar flips to 2026, the Rangers begin the second half of their schedule, becoming the first team in the NHL to do so. They’ve played more games than any other team in the League — and in many cases three or more. As of Tuesday, their .524 points percentage has the Rangers sitting 16th out of 16 teams in the tight Eastern Conference.

Though they’re in the middle of the playoff race right now, that could change should some teams in the mix string together wins with their games in hand on the Rangers. So, if you think it’s been a nerve-wracking first 41 games, be prepared for things to ratchet up in the second half.

“I think it’s been a mixed bag,” Sullivan said, reflecting on the first half of the season. “We’re right in the thick of it. I think we’re capable of being better. I think there’s another level we’ve got to push ourselves to get there.”

3. Timely reunion​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

It seems quite fitting that Gabe Perreault of the Rangers and Ryan Leonard of the Capitals catch up and play against one another at the same time the 2026 World Junior Championship is underway. The rookie forwards were linemates at the past two World Junior tournaments, helping the United States win the gold medal in consecutive years.

The good friends also were teammates and played on the same line for two years at Boston College, and before that with the United States National Team Development Program.

Leonard, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is fifth among NHL rookies with 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 32 games. Perreault, who had an assist against the Capitals last week, has four points (one goal, three assists) in eight games with the Rangers. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2023 draft spent most of this season in the minors, where he leads Hartford of the American Hockey League with 10 goals and 17 points in 20 games.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere

Jonny Brodzinski — Vincent Trocheck — Gabe Perreault

Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Taylor Raddysh

Conor Sheary — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe

Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Matthew Robertson — Braden Schneider

Jonathan Quick

Igor Shesterkin

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

When: Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 12:30 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/adam-fox-return-rangers-capitals-game

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers prospect EJ Emery impresses college coach with ‘nuance in his game’

The IIHF World Junior Championship is more than a holiday tournament — it’s a glimpse into the future and a chance to see NHL prospects tested on an international stage. This year, the New York Rangers top defenseman prospect EJ Emery shares in that spotlight, looking to help the United States in its bid to win a third straight World Junior title.

Emery, New York’s first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, is not one to seek the spotlight, though. Instead, the 19-year-old follows a quieter, more deliberate path. So, as Team USA looks to defend its consecutive goal medals, Emery arrives not as a novelty, but as a player valued for precision, composure, and reliability in demanding moments.

Wishing #NYR prospect EJ Emery best of luck at World Juniors! pic.twitter.com/bIFkahlRnG

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 26, 2025

That context matters, because Emery is shaped inside one of the most elite development environments in college hockey. The University of North Dakota is not simply a strong NCAA program — it is one of the sport’s benchmarks, with a championship pedigree and a long history of producing NHL-ready players, like Jonathan Toews, Brock Boeser, and Brock Nelson.

Responsibility at UND is earned through detail, consistency, and trust, not projection. Emery growing into that role in Grand Forks made his presence on the World Junior roster less a surprise than a reflection of the standards he’s already met.

“We see all the nuanced, strong play that maybe fans don’t — or maybe some media people don’t,” University of North Dakota head coach Dane Jackson told Forever Blueshirts.

It’s the kind of evaluation that only comes from watching a player every day — and it helps explain both how Emery’s role has steadily grown and why this opportunity feels earned.

Why UND wanted EJ Emery​

EJ Emery – photo courtesy Alan Selavka

Jackson, then the associate coach at North Dakota, first began tracking Emery when he was just 16, playing at the Yale Hockey Academy. Like many young defensemen, Emery skated at an elite level. He had the physical tools to play with pace. But what separated him wasn’t what he did with the puck — it was how seriously he took the parts of the game most players his age were still learning to tolerate.

“Quite often, young defensemen want to be Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes,” Jackson explained. “But with EJ, we saw an athletic guy who could skate and had real defensive detail. He competed hard on the defensive side of the puck.”

For a program like North Dakota — one built on structure, accountability, and NHL preparation — that combination matters. Mobility opens the door. Reliability keeps it open.

“We saw a young guy with good hockey sense and a defensive detail to his game that was really attractive,” he added.

UND affords EJ Emery chance for growth without losing identity​

When Emery arrived in Grand Forks in the fall of 2014 as the youngest defensemen in the NCHC, the goal wasn’t to remake him. It was to expand his game without compromising what already worked.

“We were really attracted to his length and athleticism defensively,” Jackson explained. “But we wanted to help grow his offensive side — holding onto pucks a little longer, hitting the middle on breakouts, walking the blue line to extend plays.”

That balance is reinforced through detailed video work and on-ice skill sessions with UND assistant coach Dillon Simpson, ensuring expansion never comes at the expense of defensive reliability.

“It doesn’t mean you have to bring a huge amount of risk into your game,” Jackson continued. “Even defensive defensemen in the NHL have good puck skills. They have awareness. They feel pressure. They make the next small play.”

Earning trust​

Credit: Jim Cerny

EJ Emery – photo courtesy Jim Cerny

Trust, especially for defensemen, is earned in the margins — in defensive-zone starts, penalty kills, and late-game situations that never make highlight reels.

By the second half of his freshman season, Jackson felt Emery reached that threshold.

“We felt confident playing him against other teams’ best players,” he said. “We knew he could defend against anybody at this level.”

Unfortunately, injuries disrupted that trajectory, including a high ankle sprain last season that stalled momentum. But when Emery returned healthy, the substance of his game didn’t change.

“He really earned his way onto the World Junior team with how well he played in the last six weeks,” Jackson noted. “Strong defensive play, positive puck touches, efficient puck movement.”

To the UND staff, his selection wasn’t surprising.

“We value him so much for his penalty killing, his shutdown defense, and giving him defensive-zone starts because he’s so reliable,” Jackson emphasized. “We see all the nuance in his game.”

What doesn’t show up on stat sheet stands out with top Rangers prospect​

Peter Carr/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Beyond the shutdown shifts and penalty kills, Emery’s impact is felt in quieter ways.

“He’s a really good teammate,” Jackson said. “He has a compassion and a thoughtfulness for people around him.”

That awareness shows up most when teammates are struggling — whether they’re injured, scratched, or going through difficult stretches — with Emery often the one checking in, offering support, and helping keep people engaged.

That presence extends into Emery’s daily habits.

“He doesn’t just try to get through a workout or a practice,” Jackson observed. “There’s intent. He wants to grow and get better. For a young guy, that professionalism is impressive.”

That professionalism didn’t come out of nowhere. Emery grew up around a competitive standard shaped by his father, Eric Emery, a former professional football player in the CFL, and it shows in the way he approaches his day-to-day.

“Just find a way to get it done,” Jackson said. “No excuses. Whatever comes at you, you adapt and overcome.”

Rangers prospect EJ Emery shows growth after overcoming adversity​

Jackson acknowledged that Emery’s first collegiate season wasn’t seamless. He recorded an assist in his NCAA debut and not another point over 30 more games. Adjusting to playing against bigger, stronger, faster opponents took time. Emery also was among the final cuts by Team USA for their 2025 World Junior Championship roster.

“I think it did affect him a little bit,” he admitted. “But he’s really grown in how he handles adversity.”

With the support of UND’s sports performance staff, Jackson noted that Emery has taken meaningful strides in managing the mental side of the game.

“He’s taken a big step there,” Jackson said. “Just controlling what you can control, not worrying about things that didn’t go well, and being ready for the next day.”

This season, Emery has four points (two goals, two assists) in 17 games at North Dakota, continued to progress as an elite defensive defenseman, and earned his way on to the U.S. roster at the 2026 World Juniors.

Wow. #NYR prospect EJ Emery waiting for the biggest stage to score his first two career NCAA goals.

The best rivalry. 2G from a defensive-defenseman.
pic.twitter.com/a7SOcYGa7N

— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) October 18, 2025

‘Efficient puck movement’ among EJ Emery qualities that will translate into NHL​

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

From Jackson’s experience coaching NHL-bound defensemen, like Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators, one trait stands above the rest: efficiency.

“At every level you go up, there’s just not much time and space,” Jackson said. “You have to have pre-puck awareness, know what’s going on before the puck comes to you. Fancy one-on-one plays don’t work. Efficient puck movement does.”

It’s a description that fits Emery naturally — a defender whose value lies not in dominance, but in dependability.

The kicker​

Off the ice, Emery brings something harder to quantify.

“He comes to the rink smiling,” Jackson said. “There’s a positive energy — a joy.”

Jackson paused before offering a comparison UND fans know well.

“T.J. Oshie had that,” Jackson said. “EJ has it too.”

That joy has a way of carrying. It followed Emery from North Dakota, where it showed up every day in the rink, to the World Junior stage, where the lights are brighter and the margins thinner. With Dane Jackson guiding his development — a coach who understands how far belief and substance can take a player — it feels like the beginning of a journey rather than a moment. From Grand Forks to international ice, and one day to Broadway, Emery’s game looks ready for the stages ahead.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/ej-emery-impresses-college-coach-nuance

 

[New York Rangers]

Adam Fox returns and scores, but Rangers lose 6-3 to Capitals: Takeaways

Adam Fox scored a goal and finished with two points in his return after a month-long injury absence, but it wasn’t enough of a spark for the New York Rangers, who closed out calendar year 2025 with a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals in a New Year’s Eve matinee at Capital One Arena.

The Rangers (19-18-5) never had the lead in this one, their third straight loss (0-2-1) and fourth in the past five games (1-3-1). Jonathan Quick made his 10th start for New York and allowed more than three goals for the first time this season. The 39-year-old goalie surrendered five goals on 26 shots, and Washington added an empty-netter late in the third period.

Two of those goals against Quick were scored by Rangers nemesis Tom Wilson, who had an incredibly impactful game as part of a very memorable day. The 31-year-old forward was named to Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, and then had a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Rangers — with two goals, an assist, and a fight. To top it all off, Wilson’s second goal was his 200th in the NHL.

Justin Sourdif also scored two goals, his first multiple-goal game in the NHL, and Anthony Beauvillier and Aliaksei Protas scored one goal apiece for the Capitals, who are 2-1-0 against the Rangers this season. Charlie Lindgren finished with 22 saves.

Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider scored for the Rangers, and Artemi Panarin had two assists in the loss.

Perhaps it was the early 12:30 P.M. start time, but there was a sleepy feel to the beginning of this game. The Rangers spent most of the period defending, though they didn’t give up many scoring chances.

They did, however, surrender the first goal. Ryan Leonard sent a backhand pass from left to right through the slot, which was deposited into the back of the net by Beauvillier to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead 12:27 into the first period.

It looked like that would hold up into the first intermission, but the Rangers took advantage of a rare extended shift in the offensive zone to tie things up in the final minute of the period. Trocheck got a stick on Panarin’s long shot from the blue line and deflected his ninth goal past Lindgren with 39.1 seconds left on the clock.

TROCH TIPS IT IN pic.twitter.com/96FlTcdTVM

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 31, 2025

A simply monster shift by Wilson helped put the Capitals back in front 7:33 into the second period. First, the rugged Capitals forward steamrolled Rangers rookie Noah Laba in the neutral zone with a massive shoulder to shoulder hit. Then seven seconds later, he finished off the shift by going to the Rangers net and depositing a Connor McMichael pass into the cage for his 20th goal of the season.

Clearly in distress, Laba headed off the ice, and didn’t return due to an upper-body injury.

OH MY TOM WILSON

Moments after laying a massive hit on Noah Laba, he gives the Capitals the lead pic.twitter.com/BsYstz76r9

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 31, 2025

Sam Carrick challenged Wilson to a fight at 9:13, and was assessed an extra two-minute instigator minor. That came back to bite the Rangers when Sourdif scored on the ensuing power play at 11:12 to make it 3-1 Washington.

The Rangers, though, came right back with a power-play goal of their own to pull within 3-2 at 15:12. And it was Fox, sorely missed as their power-play quarterback during his absence, who delivered the clutch goal.

Fox stepped into a slick Mika Zibanejad pass and absolutely hammered a shot past Lindgren’s glove for his fourth goal of the season, and first since Oct. 11.

Welcome back, Adam Fox! pic.twitter.com/hObw8PsA7o

— NHL (@NHL) December 31, 2025

That set up a familiar scenario. Eight days ago in this very same building, the Rangers trailed the Capitals 3-2 after two periods. In that game, the Rangers exploded for five third-period goals to ensure a memorable 7-3 comeback victory.

This third period was much more of the low-event variety. Though there was an exciting sequence midway through the period, one when Quick and Lindgren each made his biggest save of the afternoon.

McMichael had a clean breakaway after intercepting a Zibanejad pass, but Quick denied him with a big-time glove save at 9:44. The Rangers then came back the other way on a 2-on-1, and Lindgren made a sprawling stop to rob Gabe Perreault after a perfect feed from Alexis Lafreniere at 10:16.

Three minutes later, the Capitals did what they failed to do last week against the Rangers — they extended their third-period lead. Protas deflected his 15th goal past Quick to make it 4-2 with 6:26 remaining in regulation.

Wilson and Schneider traded goals 1:39 apart late in the period, and Sourdif closed out the scoring with an empty-netter in the final minute to send the Rangers into the New Year with a 6-3 loss.

Next up on the Rangers schedule is the outdoor NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami against the Florida Panthers on Friday night, the last of six straight on the road and first game in the new year for the Blueshirts.

Key takeaways after Rangers lose 6-3 to Capitals in final game of 2025​

Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images

Foxy​

It wasn’t the end result the Rangers wanted or needed, but it sure was a sight for sore eyes to watch Fox back in game action. He sustained an upper-body injury on Nov. 29 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Rangers treaded water, posting a 6-5-3 record without him.

Fox reclaimed his top-pair role on defense alongside Vladislav Gavrikov, and scored that power-play goal in New York’s only man-up opportunity. He logged 21:13 TOI, and also assisted on Trocheck’s goal, collecting a puck down deep before feeding it back to Panarin.

It wasn’t all perfect, though. Uncharacteristically, Fox had a game-high four turnovers and took a rare penalty — a hooking minor late in the second period. The Rangers were out-shot 7-1 at 5v5 with Fox on the ice, and had an expected goal share of 42.57 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, far below his typical standard.

Still, there’s so much more good that comes with Fox back in the lineup, than when he’s sidelined.

Trickle-down effect on defense pairs​

James Guillory-Imagn Images

With their top seven defenseman now all healthy, the Rangers assigned rookie Scott Morrow to Hartford of the American Hockey League when they activated Fox off LTIR. Instead of slotting the defensemen back into the exact roles they had before Fox’s injury, coach Mike Sullivan tweaked his pairs behind the Fox-Gavrikov duo.

Schneider, who bumped up from third pair to play alongside Gavrikov in Fox’s absence, switched to his off (left) side on the second pair with Will Borgen on Wednesday. Borgen’s usual partner Carson Soucy dropped to the third pair, partnering with Matthew Robertson.

This appeared to be a nod to the solid job Schneider did with increased responsibility the past month. A top-four role is deserving for Schneider, and he’s proven capable of playing his off side in the past. He logged just shy of 21 minutes TOI against the Capitals, played his typical rugged game, and scored his second goal of the season.

How long the Rangers line up this way remains to be seen. Sullivan prefers his defensemen to play on their strong side. But Wednesday, there were two righties on the second pair, and two lefties on the third pair. Let’s see how the pairings look Friday, when the Rangers take it outdoors in Miami.

Injuries deplete bottom six for Rangers​

Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images

The Rangers lost Laba and fellow third-liner Conor Sheary to injury in the second period Wednesday. Neither returned to the game, and afterward Sullivan said Laba’s being evaluated for an upper-body injury and Sheary sustained a lower-body injury.

Laba’s played all 43 games this season, and just bounced back from a bad cut on his hand that required stitches after he was slashed in New York’s previous game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. But there was no returning for the 22-year-old rookie after Wilson trucked him in the game-altering sequence early in the second period. Laba appeared to favor his right shoulder when he exited the ice, though the Rangers didn’t confirm a specific injury.

Sheary hobbled off the ice after he fell awkwardly following a hooking penalty by Brandon Duhaime 14 minutes into the second period. The 33-year-old knew immediately he was hurt, and quickly got off the ice and headed down the tunnel to the dressing room.

Sullivan double-shifted numerous players and leaned heavily on the top six to account for being down two forwards for nearly half the game. Looking ahead, the Rangers have one extra forward on the roster — Brennan Othmann — after Brett Berard was sent back to Hartford earlier in the week.

Block party​

The Rangers sold out early and often in front of Quick. They blocked a whopping 16 shots in the first period — more than in several full games this season — and finished with 27 blocks.

Forward Will Cuylle led New York with a career-high six blocks, that included four in the first period. Borgen blocked four shots, and three other Rangers had three apiece.

The Capitals blocked 20 shots, led by Martin Fehervary, who had four.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-loss-capitals-new-years-eve-2025

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers in danger of sliding out of playoff chase in East after latest loss

It won’t be a Happy New Year for the New York Rangers.

The Blueshirts headed to Miami and their NHL Winter Classic game against the Florida Panthers on Friday having lost three in a row since the Christmas break. The third defeat came Wednesday afternoon, when the Washington Capitals avenged a 7-3 loss to New York eight days ago with a 6-3 win at Capital One Arena.

Going 0-2-1 in their first three post-Christmas games dropped the Rangers to 19-18-5 through an NHL-high 42 games played. Being one game above the NHL’s version of .500 won’t get you anywhere except to the bottom of the Eastern Conference in points percentage (.512) – and all of the other 15 teams have multiple games in hand.

Point-wise, they’re two away from the second wild-card spot – but that figures to worsen before they hit the ice in Miami because almost everyone they’re battling in the playoff race plays before then.

Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images

It wasn’t that the Rangers played badly against Washington; they didn’t. They went to the net, something that coach Mike Sullivan has been pushing his players to do much more often.

But as has been the case for much of the season, the Rangers didn’t play well enough to win; they dropped to 1-3-1 on the six-game trip that ends in Miami. Playing well is nice, but winning is what counts.

“We need a game where we play well and win,” center Mika Zibanejad said.

Adam Fox’s return is best news for Rangers in loss to Capitals​

The one piece of good news was the return of their best defenseman, Adam Fox, who missed 14 games with an upper-body injury. For much of the game, Fox looked like the D-man who won the Norris Trophy in 2021, scoring a power-play goal and adding an assist.

He was eager to get back after missing a month, during which his teammates went 6-5-3.

“Playing, not playing, you’re looking at the standings every day and how tight it is,” Fox said. “These division games are massive, so obviously I’m trying to come back and have make an impact and help the team as best I can.”

THE PASS. THE SHOT.

YOU LOVE TO SEE IT pic.twitter.com/E4V77m7SVo

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 31, 2025

The bad news was that they could be without forwards Noah Laba and Conor Sheary for a bit. Each left the game with an injury – Laba was freight-trained by Caps forward Tom Wilson just after the seven-minute mark of the second period and left with an upper-body injury. Sheary sustained a lower-body injury a few minutes later and didn’t return. Sullivan said each player was being evaluated.

The injuries left the Rangers down two forwards for the last 26 minutes.

“It taxes guys when you lose two (players) like that,” Sullivan said.

The Rangers were also without center Sam Carrick for a big chunk of the second period after he stepped up in Laba’s defense and fought Wilson, who also had two goals and an assist for a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. The willingness to fight Wilson, one of the NHL’s best fighters — and a member of Canada’s Olympic team — wasn’t lost of some of his teammates.

“There’s more in that area that’s needed from a lot of guys,” center Vincent Trocheck said, referring to the Rangers’ physical play – or lack thereof on a lot of nights.

Hannah Foslien-Imagn Images

The Rangers play their first home game since Dec. 20 on Monday when they host the Utah Mammoth, beginning a stretch that will see them play four of five at Madison Square Garden – all against teams currently outside a playoff berth. That would ordinarily be a chance to pile up some points – but it may not be the case for the NHL’s worst home team (5-10-3, including six shutout losses). The Rangers are still just a hot week or two from jumping back into a playoff spot — but they’ve shown no signs of being capable of running off the lengthy winning streak they need.

Maybe Friday’s trip to the great outdoors will help. The Rangers are 2-0-0 in Winter Classic games and 5-0-0 in their five outdoors contests.

“There were some things we can do better and some things we can build on, but at the end of the day it was another loss,” Zibanejad said. “We have to find a way to just stop the bleeding and get a win. [We have] an opportunity in the outdoor game on a big stage.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/sinking-in-playoff-chase-after-latest-loss

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers star Adam Fox reacts to Olympics snub: ‘not what you want to hear’

Adam Fox won’t represent the United States in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The New York Rangers star confirmed Thursday he was left off Team USA’s roster, which is to be officially unveiled Friday morning.

Fox did his best to shrug off the disappointing news when speaking with reporters following the Rangers’ outdoor practice at loanDepot Park in Miami ahead of the 2026 Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers on Friday.

“I don’t think you have any expectation, I would say,” Fox said. “I thought my play this year was worthy of it. Track record as well. It’s out of my hands at a certain point. The decision is the decision. I guess that’s how it goes.”

The 27-year-old defenseman averages a point per game this season, with 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 28 games. He’s second on the Rangers in assists and third in points, despite missing 14 games with an upper-body injury.

THE PASS. THE SHOT.

YOU LOVE TO SEE IT pic.twitter.com/E4V77m7SVo

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 31, 2025

Fox returned from his month-long injury absence Tuesday, scored a power-play goal and contributed an assist in New York’s 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. He’s been an elite play driver again this season, with a 61.54 percent expected goal share 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. The Rangers hold a 24-15 scoring edge 5v5 with Fox on the ice.

He’s also an terrific power-play quarterback, one sorely missed by the Rangers following his injury. It’s difficult to fathom that Team USA wouldn’t benefit from having that skill set on its roster, even one that includes two of the best offensive defensemen in the League — Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

So, was he surprised when Team USA general manager Bill Guerin informed him of their decision?

“Obviously, it’s not what you want to hear,” Fox shared. “It is what it is.”

Fox played for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, and, in fact, was one of the initial six players named to the roster months prior. The Rangers stalwart was criticized for subpar play in the international best-on-best tournament, notably slow to react when Canada’s Connor McDavid scored the winning goal in overtime of the championship game.

Adam Fox ‘focus with Rangers’ despite disappointing Olympics decision​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Despite the fallout from the 4 Nations Face-Off, it appeared there was a place on the U.S. Olympic squad for Fox. Especially because Rangers coach Mike Sullivan coaches Team USA. And Rangers GM Chris Drury is part of the management group under Guerin.

“Adam and I have had a number of conversations around this, and I will keep that conversation between Adam and I,” Sullivan said Thursday after practice. “What I will tell you is these teams that are being picked are the best of the best. And there’s so many good players and there are very, very difficult decisions that have to be made. It is a collaborative effort on everybody’s part. And that’s just the reality of the circumstances. We’ll do our very best to be as professional and straightforward as we can be with everyone that’s involved. But ‘Foxy’ and I have had a number of conversations, and I’ll keep those between us.“

Fox also said that he’d keep his talks with Sullivan “between us.”

When asked if this hurts his relationship with Sullivan and/or Drury, Fox pivoted away from a direct answer.

“Yeah, I think just [the] focus from the start of the year has been with the Rangers. Whatever that decision was, I think it’s still a season, we have a lot of games still till that break. I think my focus is still with the Rangers and trying to win some games here,” he said.

Fox likely remains on the short list of options should any one of Team USA’s defensemen sustains an injury ahead of the Winter Games. The NHL pauses its schedule after games on Feb. 5 for the Olympic break, and resumes League play Feb. 25.

The Rangers schedule is very busy between now and the break, with 15 games to play, beginning with the highly-anticipated Winter Classic on Friday.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/adam-fox-reacts-olympics-snub-team-usa

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers’ Will Cuylle blunt take: Winter Classic ice: ‘pretty bad … slow’

There’s a good chance the NHL won’t seek Will Cuylle out as a spokesperson anytime soon after the New York Rangers forward provided a too-honest take about the ice conditions at loanDepot Park in Miami ahead of the 2026 Winter Classic.

“The ice was pretty bad and pretty slow,” Cuylle said Thursday during a rinkside interview on NHL Network.

The TV hosts, including former Rangers center Brian Boyle, were clearly a bit taken aback by Cuylle’s blunt answer. Especially considering how nearly everyone involved in these outdoor games — from coaches to players and commentators — go out of their way to praise all aspects of the event, particularly ice conditions.

In fact, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said he was “pleasantly surprised” with the quality of the ice in the warmer Miami climate.

Blueshirts in the ballpark pic.twitter.com/Oc9IZwNUKG

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 2, 2026

The NHL Network crew pointed out to Cuylle that the Florida Panthers raved about the ice conditions following their practice, which preceded New York’s.

To which the 23-year-old forward, shot back, “[The Panthers] probably chewed it up, they had like 200 people on the ice. So, a little slow for us.”

The quip about all the people on the ice referred to the family skate that took place after Panthers practice. The Rangers had the same opportunity after their up-tempo practice.

After conceding “tomorrow it should be alright,” Cuylle had to add, “Can’t feel much slower than today.”

Pivoting to a more lighthearted topic, Boyle asked the Rangers forward how much Winter Classic “swag” he’s been able to get. Cuylle alluded to that it’s not as much as the amount of goodies the players received at the 2024 Stadium Series, when the Rangers defeated the Islanders 6-5 in overtime at MetLife Stadium.

Cuylle delivered this parting shot about swag: “It goes quick. Every family member takes and there’s one left for me at the end of the day.”

This kid is a beauty. Just don’t expect the League to agree.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...lle-honest-take-winter-classic-ice-conditions

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers coach remains confident amid woes: ‘We can play with any team’

There are enough reasons for Mike Sullivan to feel down about the New York Rangers these days, but he isn’t. Instead, the Rangers coach remains as bullish as ever about his team, heading into the 2026 NHL Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers on Friday.

Undeterred by the Rangers (19-18-5) owning the worst points percentage (.514) in the 16-team Eastern Conference, Sullivan made the case for better days ahead.

“The reality is we’re halfway through the season here, we’ve played a fair amount of hockey and we have a fair amount left, and there’s a lot of parity in the League,” Sullivan explained Thursday during a rinkside interview with NHL Network. “You have a good week, put a stretch of games together over 10 days or two weeks and you’re at the top of the League. You struggle for a week or two and you’re at the bottom of your division

“I think we’ve got an opportunity to play our way into a good spot, and we’re going to embrace that challenge.”

He’s not wrong. Just look at the Buffalo Sabres, who just a few weeks ago were last in the conference and now sit in the second wild card thanks to a 10-game winning streak. Even a stretch half that good, coupled with more overall consistency, would serve the Rangers well in their bid to get back into a playoff spot.

Of course, the reality here is that the Rangers haven’t won more than three games in a row this season, and their last four-game winning streak was back in October of 2024. They also need some help since every team in the East has games in hand on them Five teams, including the Panthers, played three fewer games than the Rangers.

It’s true that no team is out of it halfway through the season. Parity reins in the NHL. But the Rangers could be in trouble if teams begin to pull away when they make up games in hand.

The Rangers can’t worry about that, though. There’s enough for them to be concerned with. They’re 31st in the NHL, averaging 2.55 goals scored per game. Eight times already the Rangers were shut out. They have five wins on home ice at Madison Square Garden. Four of their regular forwards are out injured, including captain J.T. Miller, who’s closest to returning but remains sidelined for the Winter Classic.

New York just got star defenseman Adam Fox back from a 14-game injury absence, and he scored a power-play goal in his lineup return, a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on New Years Eve. But the Rangers lost Noah Laba and Conor Sheary in the same game. One step forward, two steps back.

Yet Sullivan said this group’s shown him enough to feel confident moving forward.

“I think the guys are buying to how we’re trying to play, and when we put that game on the ice consistently, I think we can play with any team in the League. And we’ve shown that,” he stated. “The guys haven’t lost any level of enthusiasm, which I think is a really important aspect of it. It’s a hard league, and when you don’t have the success you expect to have, that’s when the League challenges you.”

Mike Sullivan remains positive about Rangers, despite hovering dark clouds overhead​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

One of the next challenges could be a tricky one to handle. Fox was left off Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Since Sullivan also is the U.S. coach — and Rangers general manager Chris Drury is on the management committee — there could be some bad feelings.

The 27-year-old defenseman and his coach sidestepped questions about their relationship and private conversations, when asked Thursday. Fox did, however, clearly sounded disappointed about not making the team.

“I thought my play this year was worthy of it. Track record as well.,” he said about the Olympics snub. “It’s out of my hands at a certain point. The decision is the decision. I guess that’s how it goes.”

So, despite all of these dark clouds, Sullivan maintained a sunny outlook Thursday. Maybe being in Miami and set to play a game outdoors had the Rangers coach thinking positively. Or maybe, just maybe, he really sees something in the Rangers that many others simply don’t.

Time will tell if it’s a well-founded take by Sullivan, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, whe he coached the Pittsburgh Penguins. The next opportunity for him to be proven right — or wrong — comes on the big stage at loanDepot Park on Friday.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...livan-positive-outlook-rangers-winter-classic

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers still perfect outdoors, defeat Panthers 5-1 in 2026 Winter Classic

It’s pretty obvious that the New York Rangers have this outdoors thing down pretty good. They skated to a convincing 5-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in the 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami on Friday, making them 6-0-0 all-time in outdoor games.

Their six wins in outdoor games is most in NHL history. They won each of their three appearances in the Winter Classic (also 2012 and 2018), and three more in the Stadium Series.

But that wasn’t the only history made on Friday. Mika Zibanejad scored the first hat trick in Winter Classic history, and his five points were most in any NHL outdoor game. The 32-year-old scored a power-play goal, an even-strength goal, and finished with a short-handed goal into an empty net.

THE FIRST EVER #WINTERCLASSIC HAT TRICK!!

Take a bow, Mika Zibanejad! pic.twitter.com/hneG4G59oN

— NHL (@NHL) January 3, 2026

The Rangers (20-18-5) rode the backs of their star players to this impressive victory. Artemi Panarin scored two goals and totaled three points; Alexis Lafreniere had a career-high three assists; Vincent Trocheck had two helpers; goalie Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves; and Zibanejad led the way with his record-setting performance.

The win ended a three-game skid (0-2-1) for the Rangers, who scored twice on the power play Friday and were 5-for-6 on the penalty kill against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Panthers lost for the fourth time in six games (2-3-1) and seemed out of sync all night. Sam Reinhart scored his 23rd goal, but goalie Sergei Bobrovsky finished with just 15 saves.

The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals 1:04 apart late in the first period. After successfully killing off a pair of Panthers power plays earlier in the period, the Rangers scored on their first man advantage at 15:09.

Zibanejad drove down the middle to deflect a centering pass from Lafreniere past Bobrovsky to make it 1-0 on just New York’s fourth shot of the game. The scoring play took shape way back at the other blue line, when Reinhart failed to get the puck in deep as he headed for a line change. Panarin collected the puck and transitioned quickly the other way, and the Rangers ultimately scored a pretty goal off the rush.

They scored on their very next shot 64 seconds later to extend the lead to 2-0. Panarin snuck a long-range shot through a maze of players in front of a screened Bobrovsky, with Lafreniere and Zibanejad picking up the assists.

Artemi Panarin gives the Rangers the 2-0 lead in Miami pic.twitter.com/ctbwi6mPOq

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 3, 2026

Two shots later, it was 3-0 Rangers. Zibanejad finished off a 2-on-1 opportunity for his second goal of the night 58 seconds into the second period. Lafreniere collected the puck over the Panthers blue line behind defenseman Gustav Forsling and dished to Zibanejad for his third primary assist.

Trocheck did an outstanding job controlling the puck despite losing an edge and falling to his knees in the neutral zone, before chipping it ahead, where Lafreniere tapped it past Forsling to create the 2-on-1.

Laf to Mika AGAIN and Zibanejad has 3 points in 21 minutes!!!! pic.twitter.com/MokarOvDam

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 3, 2026

Later in the period, it appeared for a split second that Trocheck upped the Rangers lead to 4-0. However, officials immediately waved off his goal at 10:01 because he batted the puck out of midair with a high stick.

With under two minutes to play in the second, Bobrovsky robbed Trocheck’s one-timer from a couple feet out after a sweet setup by Lafreniere. The Panthers goalie lost sight of the rebound, and Trocheck hopped on it, but his quick dish went untouched through the slot.

Still, despite being outshot 25-12 through two periods, the Rangers held a 3-0 lead.

Shesterkin lost his shutout bid when Reinhart scored a power-play goal at 2:20 of the third period. But the Panthers failed to capitalize on another power play six minutes later, and the Rangers put the game away with their second power-play goal of the night shortly thereafter.

Panarin wired a high shot from between the circles past Bobrovsky at 12:25 to put the Rangers back up by three, 4-1.

A second serving of bread, anyone? Artemi Panarin has his second of the night! #WinterClassic

: @NHL_On_TNT & @StreamOnMax https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T
: @Sportsnet & @TVASports https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/qx2BMUEJyR

— NHL (@NHL) January 3, 2026

Reinhart appeared to make it 4-2 with another power-play goal at 17:39. But the officials waved it off and video review confirmed that Reinhart kicked the puck over the goal line during a scramble by Shesterkin’s crease.

Zibanejad finished off the historic hat trick, hitting the empty net from downtown to put an exclamation point on New York’s most memorable win of the season.

Now, somehow, the Rangers must carry this momentum back home with them. They return to action Monday at Madison Square Garden against the Utah Mammoth.

Key takeaways after Rangers defeat Panthers 5-1 in 2026 Winter Classic​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Mika Magic​

Zibanejad’s record-setting night earned him the Cocoa Cup, which was presented by TNT commentator Darren Pang in a weird on-ice “ceremony” after the game. A bit later on the TNT set ice side, Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist placed some serious Winter Classic-themed bling around Zibanejad’s neck.

First-ever hatty AND 5-point game in Winter Classic history?

Mika Zibanejad is your Cocoa Cup MVP! pic.twitter.com/OYuC5qckCm

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 3, 2026

Seriously, though, Mika deserved all the accolades coming his way after his dominant performance Friday. It’s been years since he was this dominant, and this performance could very well open the floodgates offensively for the streaky star — something the Rangers need badly to happen in their second-half playoff push.

PPG NUMBER

Mika has OFFICIALLY tied the franchise record for most power play goals! pic.twitter.com/lCFySmhONo

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 3, 2026

Not to be lost in the shuffle here is that Zibanejad scored his 116th power-play goal with the Rangers, tying Chris Kreider and Camille Henry for most in franchise history. Oh, and earlier in the day, he was officially named to Sweden’s roster for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Yes, this was a day to remember for Zibanejad.

No contest between pipes​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Shesterkin and Bobrovsky are two of the best goalies in the NHL. But it was no contest who was better in the 2026 Winter Classic.

The Rangers netminder turned in a brilliant performance, especially considering the significant shot differential that heavily favored the Panthers 37-20. Shesterkin set the tone in this one during Florida’s first power play in the opening minutes of the game. He stoned Reinhart and Sam Bennett on separate Grade A chances, and never looked back.

The 30-year-old made 15 saves in the second period, and his best stop late in the third period — doing the splits on a scintillating glove save against AJ Greer — when the result of the game was pretty much decided.

Shesterkin was locked in, and appeared as such at practice Thursday, when he emphasized that this game wouldn’t be fun and that the Rangers absolutely needed to get the two points. He was all business.

On the flip side, Bobrovsky struggled all night, even on the simplest of shots. It appeared the 37-year-old, who’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion and twice won the Vezina Trophy, had trouble picking up the puck. He seemed slow to react time and again, and simply didn’t look like himself — though the Rangers had something to do with that, too.

Did a door open for Adam Fox?​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Panthers defenseman Seth Jones sustained an upper-body injury blocking a shot by Lafreniere at 7:54 of the first period and didn’t return to the game. The injury occurred in his 900th NHL game, and on the same day he was officially named to the United States roster for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Seth Jones will not return to the game after taking a puck up high in the first period pic.twitter.com/e4d1qYDL7E

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 3, 2026

There’s no word how severe the injury is, but should it be bad enough to keep him out of the Olympics, there’s a chance that Adam Fox could get the call to replace him. That’s a pretty ironic twist, considering much was made of Fox not making Team USA’s roster, and there he was on the opposing bench when Jones — one of the eight defensemen selected instead of the former Norris Trophy winner — got hurt.

Time will tell if a door opened for Fox shortly after it appeared to shut closed.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-outdoors-defeat-panthers-2026-winter-classic

 

[New York Rangers]

Ranking best New York Rangers outdoor games after 2026 Winter Classic win

The New York Rangers are 6-0-0 and have more outdoor victories than any team in NHL history after their 5-1 convincing 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers in the 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami.

In those six outdoor victories, the Rangers outscored the opposition by a combined 26-14. Four of the games were decided by one goal, including a pair in overtime. The Rangers came from behind to win three times, and scored the game-winning goal twice in the third period.

They own an even split, winning three times in the Winter Classic and three times in the Stadium Series. Alain Vigneault was behind the Rangers bench for three outdoor victories. John Tortorella, Peter Laviolette, and Mike Sullivan each won once outdoors as coach of the Rangers. Hall-of-Famer Henrik Lundqvist retired with four outdoor wins, more than any goalie in NHL history.

In an interesting twist, the Rangers were the visiting team in each of the six games, including three played in New York City. The reason being that the Rangers would forfeit a sizeable tax exemption if they hosted a game anywhere but at Madison Square Garden.

So, there’s plenty of good history for the Rangers outdoors, making it difficult to differentiate which game was the best of all. But here’s our take, ranking each of their six outdoor games.

6. 2014 Stadium Series: Rangers 7 – Devils 3​

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

On Jan. 26, 2014, in the first of consecutive outdoor games at Yankee Stadium over a span of three days, the Rangers rallied for a 7-3 win over the Devils. Lundqvist surrendered three first-period goals after the matinee was delayed by sun glare on the ice. But he didn’t allow the Devils to score again, and the Rangers exploded for six unanswered goals after trailing 3-1. They knocked legendary Devils goalie Martin Brodeur out of the game in the process, with Mats Zuccarello leading the way with two goals. Derek Stepan put the finishing touches on this one when he scored on a penalty shot midway through the third period.

5. 2014 Stadium Series: Rangers 2 – Islanders 1​

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

On an absolutely frigid night, Daniel Carcillo scored a greasy third-period goal off a scramble in front of the Islanders net to lift the Rangers to their second outdoor win in three days at Yankee Stadium. The Islanders scored first on a Brock Nelson goal at 18:33 of the second period, but the Rangers answered back 40 seconds later when Benoit Pouliot scored. It was a night for the goalies, with Henrik Lundqvist (30 saves) outdueling Evgeny Nabokov (32 saves).

4. 2018 Winter Classic: Rangers 3 – Sabres 2 (OT)​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

J.T. Miller buried the rebound of a Kevin Shattenkirk power-play shot at 2:43 of overtime to secure this win for the Rangers on Jan. 1, 2018, at Citi Field. Miller’s heroics saved the Rangers from a bad loss. They held a 2-0 lead after one period, but allowed the Sabres to pull even with single goals in the second and third periods. Sabres goalie Robin Lehner had a lot to do with Buffalo’s comeback, too. Lehner finished with 39 saves, eight more than fellow Swede Lundqvist, who stopped 31 of 33 shots.

3. 2026 Winter Classic: Rangers 5 – Panthers 1​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The first-ever outdoor game in Florida, and the southern-most game in NHL history on Jan. 2, 2026, is best known for Miami Mika Magic. Rangers center Mika Zibanejad recorded the first hat trick in Winter Classic history and became the first NHL player with five points in any outdoor game. Artemi Panarin (two goals, one assist) and Alexis Lafreniere (career-high three assists) each had three points, and Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves in the impressive win over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at loanDepot Park.

2. 2024 Stadium Series: Rangers 6 – Islanders 5 (OT)​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

No argument if someone wants to put this game in front of 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 18, 2024, as the best, most exciting, or most memorable outdoor game in Rangers history. It was an absolute thriller, when the Rangers rallied from 4-1 and 5-3 deficits to stun their archrivals on Artemi Panarin’s goal 10 seconds into overtime. To even get to overtime, the Rangers needed power-play goals from Chris Kreider at 15:53 and Mika Zibanejad at 18:31 of the third period. Vincent Trocheck had two goals and an assist, and Igor Shesterkin settled in after a rough start to finish with 36 saves. Matt Rempe made his NHL debut and fought Matt Martin at center ice on his first shift.

1. 2012 Winter Classic: Rangers 3 – Flyers 2​

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

You always remember your first, as the saying goes. And for the Rangers, their first outdoor game on Jan. 2, 2012 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, was an instant classic, worthy of the top ranking here. After a two-hour sun-glare delay and a scoreless first period, the Flyers scored twice in a span of 1:55 late in the second to put the visitors in an unenviable hole. But Mike Rupp scored 30 seconds after Philly’s second goal to get the Rangers right back in it, and stirred the pot by imitating the goal salute by Flyers forward (and former Rangers captain) Jaromir Jagr. Rupp then scored again 2:41 into the third period to tie the game. Brad Richards put the Rangers ahead at 5:21, and Henrik Lundqvist made it stand up as the game-winner when he denied Daniel Briere on a penalty shot with 19.6 seconds remaining in regulation — arguably the most memorable save in any NHL outdoor game.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...s-outdoor-games-after-2026-winter-classic-win

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers hope Winter Classic win triggers ‘fresh start’ back home in 2026

The New York Rangers’ stars, led by Mika Zibanejad, shone brightly in their 5-1 win against the Florida Panthers at the 2026 NHL Winter Classic on Friday night at loanDepot Park in Miami. Their job now is to translate New York’s latest success outdoors into more wins when they return to Madison Square Garden next week.

The Rangers improved to 3-0-0 in the Winter Classic and 6-0-0 all-time in outdoor games, largely thanks to the performance of their best players.

Zibanejad, who was named to Sweden’s Olympic team earlier in the day, had the first hat trick in Winter Classic history and the first five-point NHL game outdoors. Linemates Artemi Panarin (two goals, one assist) and Alexis Lafreniere (three primary assists) each had three points. They and Vincent Trocheck (two assists) combined for all 13 of the Rangers’ points.

Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

New York’s best defenseman, Adam Fox, and No. 1 goaltender, Igor Shesterkin also came up big. Fox was on the ice for the first four Rangers goals, and Shesterkin made 36 saves.

The question now is where the Rangers (20-18-5) go from here after a much-needed win closed a 2-3-1 stretch of six straight games on the road. For New York to have realistic hopes of returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, this victory must be the spark that starts a winning surge, especially on home ice.

“We played the way we wanted to play,” Panarin said. “We played the way we discussed before the game. Hopefully, in the future, we’re going to play the same way.”

Rangers hope Winter Classic win sparks surge, especially at MSG​

Beginning Monday night against the Utah Mammoth, the Rangers play four of their next five games at the Garden, where they are just 5-10-3. And 23 of their remaining 39 games are at MSG. So, Zibanejad knows the Rangers, who are one point out of the second wild-card position in the East but just 15th in the conference with a .523 points percentage, can’t keep losing at home and expect to reach the postseason.

“For us as a team, the home record we have hasn’t been very good,” he told TNT after the game. “At times I think we’ve just been able to keep things very simple on the road. We have to find a way to do that at home.

“I think early on the [home] struggles got to us – the reaction of not losing at home, trying to get that first [win]. … I’m hoping with the new year, we’ll get a bit of a fresh start and come back home with a good feeling after this one.”

ZIBANEJAD HAS THE FIRST EVER WINTER CLASSIC HATTY pic.twitter.com/MBQrtnfjxC

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 3, 2026

Zibanejad’s hat trick was the third in any NHL outdoor game, joining David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins (2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe) and Tyler Toffoli of the Los Angeles Kings (2020 Stadium Series). It was his fourth career five-point game, and the first since March 25, 2021, when he had six points (three goals, three assists) against the Philadelphia Flyers.

He and his teammates did a good job not letting all the Winter Classic hoopla cloud the fact that this was a win the Rangers desperately needed after a three-game winless stretch (0-2-1) following the Christmas break.

“The energy around an event like this, and a lot of the activity around an event like this, sometimes, if you’re not careful, the unintended consequence is you lose sight of the fact that these are two real important points in the standings,” coach Mike Sullivan explained postgame. “That was something that we tried to have a discussion with our players about and just making sure that when the puck dropped that everybody understands what’s on the line here and the impact that it could potentially have. And how important it was for us to stop the bleeding, so to speak.

“I thought the guys did a great job. We competed hard.”

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Rangers are 1-0-0 in 2026 after a 2025 they’d rather forget. As Sullivan pointed out Thursday, they’re still close enough that a hot week or two can help vault them into a wild-card spot – or, even better, into the top three in the Metropolitan Division.

Zibanejad said the Rangers hope that starting the new year by defeating the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions on national television is what they need to run off the kind of surge that’s eluded them this season. The Rangers haven’t won more than three games in a row this season. Their last four-game winning streak was in October of 2024.

“We talked about it, about a fresh start here,” Zibanejad said. “Got a couple days as a team, with families and friends, and just enjoy this moment. I thought we did a good job with that and really focused when it came to game time.

“We’re hoping this can be a start to something good for us.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/winter-classic-win-spark-playoff-push

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers Week Ahead: Home at last after another Winter Classic win

The New York Rangers had a couple of days to enjoy their historic 5-1 Winter Classic win against the Florida Panthers at loanDepot Park in Miami on Friday night. They’ll get back to work Monday when the Utah Mammoth come to Madison Square Garden, beginning a busy stretch of 13 games in 27 days on the Rangers schedule though the end of January.

Playing outdoors was just what the Rangers needed to wash away the bad taste of three straight road losses (0-2-1) coming out of the Christmas break. That included a 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals in a New Year’s Eve matinee.

But the line of Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere combined for 12 points to help the Rangers stay perfect in outdoor games; they are 3-0-0 in the Winter Classic and 6-0-0 overall. The outcome delighted thousands of the Rangers’ faithful who made the trip to South Florida.

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Unfortunately for the Blueshirts, they haven’t been nearly as proficient indoors – especially at the Garden, where their 5-10-3 record is the worst in the Eastern Conference. With 23 of their remaining 39 games at home, this is a trend that can’t continue if the Rangers want to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing the postseason in 2024-25.

The Rangers are two points out of the second wild card in the East, but with seven teams between them and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who hold the last playoff position after completing a sweep of the Detroit Red Wings with a 4-1 win Saturday.

Who’s Hot​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Who else but Zibanejad, who had the first hat trick in the history of the Winter Classic and the first five-point game in any NHL outdoor contest.

Who’s Not​

Gabe Perreault has yet to make any significant impact in his 10 games with the Rangers this season. He was brought up from AHL Hartford to boost the offense but has just one goal (on a shot that hit his skate and went in) and four assists. He’s not driving play and averages less than 14 minutes of ice time.

Rangers lookahead this week includes …​

The first two home games in a stretch that will see the Rangers play four of five at the Garden, sandwiched around a Saturday matinee against the Bruins in Boston.

Utah Mammoth at Rangers (Jan. 5, 7 p.m.; MSG)​

John Jones-Imagn Images

The Mammoth come to MSG for the first time since the second game in their history (after the Arizona Coyotes franchise was sold and relocated to Sat Lake City). The Mammoth, then known as the Utah Hockey Club, stunned the Rangers 6-5 on Oct. 12, 2024, when Clayton Keller scored 4:05 into overtime.

The Rangers took the rematch 5-3 at Delta Center on Jan. 16, but Utah won the first meeting between the teams this season, edging the visiting Rangers 3-2 on Nov. 22.

Utah split the first two games of its swing through the Metropolitan area, defeating the Islanders 7-2 last Thursday and losing 4-1 to the Devils on Newark on Saturday. The Mammoth, like the Rangers in the East, are among a pile of teams battling for a wild-card position in the West.

Panarin has five goals in New York’s three games against the Mammoth (the NHL doesn’t count stats against the Coyotes franchise in Utah’s numbers). Keller has great success against the Rangers; he scored in the win at Utah in November and has 10 goals and 17 points in 14 games against them.

Buffalo Sabres at Rangers (Jan. 8, 7 p.m.; MSG)​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The Rangers blanked the Sabres 4-0 in Buffalo on Oct. 9 in their second game of the season. They looked like a team that was on the way back to the postseason, and the Sabres appeared headed for their 15th consecutive playoff miss.

What a difference three months can make.

Buffalo matched a franchise record by running off 10 straight wins in December before losing 5-1 to the columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, and at 21-15-4 they’re one point ahead of the Rangers with three games in hand. The Sabres are a different team since firing GM Kevyn Adams on Dec. 15 and replacing him with Jarmo Kekalainen.

One key to the Sabres surge was the play of goalie Alex Lyon, but he’s out indefinitely with a lower-body injury sustained in their 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 29. That leaves Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the likely starter against the Rangers.

Igor Shesterkin is 11-3-2 lifetime against the Sabres with a 2.41 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. Adam Fox scored in the win at Buffalo, giving him 26 points (four goals, 22 assists) in 22 games vs. the Sabres

Rangers at Boston Bruins (Jan. 10, 1 p.m.; ABC)​

Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

The Rangers would like a repeat of their last visit to TD Garden; they walloped the Bruins 6-2 on Black Friday behind a four-point effort by Panarin and a three-assist afternoon by Fox.

It was the Rangers’ sixth win in their past seven games against the Bruins, another team that’s splashing around in the mushy middle of the NHL stanidngs. That includes a 3-1-0 mark in their last four visits to Boston.

New York typically shuts down Morgan Geekie, whose goal in the Black Friday loss was just his second in 11 career games against the Rangers. David Pastrnak didn’t score in that game, but has 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 38 games against New York.

Panarin’s big game made him a point-per-game player against Boston; he has 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 28 games. Shesterkin excelled in the earlier win but is just 6-8-0 against the Bruins; Jonathan Quick, who was injured and missed the earlier game, has fared much better (14-6-1, 2.34 GAA, .921 save percentage).

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/week-ahead-home-after-winter-classic-win

 

[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers report card: grading goalies, defensemen to start 2026

More than halfway through the 2025-26 season, the New York Rangers are somewhat surprisingly one of the best defensive teams in the NHL. If they’re going to be a serious playoff contender, that must continue into the 2026 calendar year.

After their memorable 5-1 Winter Classic win over the Florida Panthers on Jan. 2, the Rangers (20-18-5) own the sixth-lowest team goals-against average in the NHL (2.72). That’s significant for many reasons, not the least of which is that the Rangers are also 31st in the League in scoring, averaging 2.60 goals per game.

There’s a new defensive system in place under coach Mike Sullivan. The team-wide buy-in to this structure is admirable — and key to their success on that side of the puck.

The forwards are certainly part of the improved defensive play. But here, we focus on the Rangers goalies and defensemen, and grade each midway through the season.

As a group, Rangers goalies receive an A- collective grade, best of all position groups on the team at this juncture of the season. The defensemen collectively receive a B-.

Keep in mind that the defensemen are graded on all aspects of their game — so, not just defense, but offense, as well.

Now, let’s hand out individual report cards for the Rangers goalie and defensemen.

Igor Shesterkin: A-​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

No goalie’s started more games, faced more shots, nor made more saves so far in the NHL this season than Igor Shesterkin. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in more than half of his starts (17 of 33), and rebounded quickly after a brief dip in performance in late October. His goals-against average and save percentage are considerably better this season than last, due in part to better defensive play in front of him. But he’s also more consistent game to game than a year ago. Shesterkin’s 14.8 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck, is third-best in the League — and just one metric to show how invaluable he is to the Rangers.

Jonathan Quick: A-​

Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Don’t be fooled by his 3-6-1 won-loss record; Jonathan Quick is having a helluva season. In his seven losses, the Rangers scored nine goals total and were shut out twice. Quick remains one of the best backup goalies in the NHL, even as he approaches his 40th birthday later in January. Among goalies who started at least 10 games this season, Quick is second in the NHL with a 2.11 GAA and .924 save percentage. He didn’t allow more than three goals until his 10th — and most recent — start, a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on New Year’s Eve.

Adam Fox: B+​

Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images

Though Adam Fox failed to land a spot on the United States roster for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, he remains the most important defenseman on the Rangers. There’s so much understated nuance to his game on both sides of the puck, such subtle elite play, that Fox often is underappreciated for how terrific a player he is. No one drives play for the Rangers like Fox, whose expected goal share is above 60 percent, per Natural Stat Trick. He’s averaging nearly 24 minutes TOI per game, and is pretty much at a point-per-game pace (28 points in 29 games). The Rangers missed him badly during his 14-game injury absence, especially his ability to effectively quarterback the power play.

Vladislav Gavrikov – B+​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Vladislav Gavrikov is everything the Rangers hoped he’d be when they signed him to a seven-year, $49 million contract July 1 — and then some. The 30-year-old is the backbone of a vastly improved defense corps, with his smart, reliable, physical play. He and Fox complement each other well, and they comprise one of the best defense pairings in the League. The pleasant surprise here is Gavrikov’s offensive production. He already has a career-high seven goals, including the memorable overtime winner against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 2.

Matthew Robertson: B​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Talk about pleasant surprises. Not many had Matthew Robertson being a lineup regular heading into this season; but the 24-year-old rookie is just that, averaging better than 16 minutes TOI per game. A late bloomer who played four seasons in the minors, Robertson largely is a bottom-pair staple these days, though he didn’t look out of place when given opportunity on the second pair. Robertson is physical — his 5.63 hits per 60 minutes are second among Rangers defensemen — and looks confident in the offensive game, with two goals, seven points and a heavy shot from the point.

Braden Schneider: B-​

Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Braden Schneider is a difficult player to grade. On one hand, Schneider stepped up and filled in admirably on the top defense pair during Fox’s month-long injury absence. On the other, many of his metrics are worst among Rangers defensemen. The 24-year-old does lead the defense corps with 91 hits and 72 blocked shots, and he’s a solid penalty killer. Schneider doesn’t generate much offense, and he certainly didn’t take to the role as power-play quarterback. Gavrikov replaced him on the point of PP2. Overall, Schenider’s been good, just less than hoped for.

Will Borgen: B-​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Will Borgen’s role with the Rangers isn’t sexy, but it’s crucial. Borgen is a physical, shutdown defender, tasked with consistently facing the opposition’s better forwards. He’s done an admirable job in that role — and at an affordable $4.1 million salary cap hit. The 29-year-old’s been a seamless fit on the second defense pair since the Rangers acquired him from the Seattle Kraken last season, though he’s likely a third-pair defenseman on a true Stanley Cup contender. That said, there’s plenty to like about what Borgen gives the Rangers game-in and game-out.

Carson Soucy: C+​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Carson Soucy is Borgen’s regular partner on the second pair, and largely played above expectations after a decided downturn in his disappointing performance last season with the Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. The 31-year-old leads Rangers defenseman at plus-7 and has been on ice for 20 goals-for and 15 against at 5v5. Like Borgen, he’s a pretty steady veteran with a physical edge to his game. But unlike his partner, Soucy plays hot potato with the puck and loses his man a bit too often, which partially explains his 45.75 percent xGF percentage and why he’s been on for 116 high-danger chances against 5v5.

Scott Morrow: C–​

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Though coach Mike Sullivan praised Scott Morrow often with his words, how he deployed the rookie when Fox was out spoke volumes. Simply put, Sullivan doesn’t trust Morrow, an offensively-gifted defenseman whose defensive game still needs work. No sin there. The kid is 23 and still developing his overall game. But his season feels disappointing. Not just in the NHL, where he has three assists in 16 games with the Rangers, but with Hartford of the American Hockey League. The 2025 AHL All-Star, whom the Rangers acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade during the offseason, has five points (one goal, four assists) in 14 AHL games.

Urho Vaakanainen: D+​

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Listen, Urho Vaakanainen hasn’t been atrocious. But he is a disappointment. The Rangers thought the former first-round pick by the Boston Bruins was an improving NHL player with growing upside, and a nice fit on the third defense pair, which is where he started the regular season. It didn’t take long for the 27-year-old to lose Sullivan’s trust — and his regular spot to Matthew Robertson. No Rangers defenseman has less average ice time than Vaakanainen (a career-low 13:40), who spots in occasionally these days and played just 19 of New York’s first 43 games.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...card-grading-goalies-defensemen-new-year-2026

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers concern after Igor Shesterkin sustains scary injury vs. Mammoth

Igor Shesterkin sustained a lower-body injury and needed to be helped off the ice during the first period of the New York Rangers’ game against the Utah Mammoth on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

The 30-year-old goalie writhed in pain after he fell back into his net following a slight collision with Mammoth forward J.J. Peterka at the 13-minute mark of the opening period. Shesterkin made a right-pad save as Peterka drove hard down the middle of ice with a step on Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider. The rebound eluded Peterka, who jammed on the brakes to best avoid a collision with the Rangers netminder at the top of the blue paint.

Still, Shesterkin awkwardly fell backward, and it’s not easy to tell when exactly the injury occurred, or what the specific injury is.

Igor Shesterkin needed help getting off the ice after an innocent looking play pic.twitter.com/cEAW85xKSn

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 6, 2026

Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov helped Shesterkin off the ice, along with the Rangers trainer. Shesterkin didn’t put weight on his left leg, even though it was untouched by Peterka.

The Rangers announced before the start of the second period that Shesterkin wouldn’t return to the game.

Jonathan Quick replaced Shesterkin, and made three saves over the final seven minutes of the first period, including one against Peterka on a breakaway.

The feisty 39-year-old took exception when Utah’s Daniil But backed into him two minutes into the second period. Hot on the heels of the Shesterkin injury, Quick went after But and started a mini melee behind the Rangers net.

But was assessed a minor penalty for goaltender interference, and Quick took a roughing minor.

MORE TO COME

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/igor-shesterkin-leaves-game-injury-update

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers lose Igor Shesterkin to injury, fall 3-2 in OT to Utah: Takeaways

The New York Rangers lost more than a game when the Utah Mammoth rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory at Madison Square Garden on Monday night – they might’ve also lost their No. 1 goalie.

Sean Durzi tapped Nick Schmaltz’s pass behind Jonathan Quick 1:06 into OT for the winner in a game the Rangers led 1-0 and 2-1. The League’s newest franchise is now 3-1-0 against the Rangers, with all three wins in overtime, including two this season.

But the point the Rangers (20-18-6) lost pales in comparison to the loss of Igor Shesterkin, who sustained a lower-body injury in the first period and didn’t return.

hoping this is not as bad as it looks for igor shesterkin.
rangers star in immediate and obvious pain/discomfort, can’t put weight on his right leg & has to be helped of the ice. pic.twitter.com/C3iqIHOlhy

— Liam McHugh (@liam_mchugh) January 6, 2026

The game was scoreless 13 minutes in when Shesterkin fell back into his net following a slight collision with Mammoth forward J.J. Peterka. He made a right-pad save as Peterka drove hard down the middle of the ice; the rebound eluded Peterka, who jammed on the brakes to best avoid a collision with the Rangers netminder at the top of the blue paint.

Shesterkin awkwardly fell backward, appeared to be screaming in pain and had to be helped off the ice with a lower-body injury. He didn’t put any weight on his left leg, even though it was untouched by Peterka. The Rangers announced before the start of the second period that Shesterkin wouldn’t return.

”It’s tough,” said center Mika Zibanejad, who assisted on both Rangers goals. “It’s bad, especially because of what he’s done for us and what he means to us.”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Coach Mike Sullivan said Shesterkin was being evaluated for a lower-body injury but offered no other details.

“He’s an important part of this team,” the coach said. “Hopefully, it’s not too serious. … They’re gonna do more tests.”

Luckily for the Rangers, they have one of the best backup goaltenders in Quick, who was sharp and had no chance on any of Utah’s three goals. He stopped a number of Grade A chances, beginning with one on a breakaway against Peterka shortly after taking over for Shesterkin.

Quick also tried to light a fire under his teammates early in the second period when he took exception to Utah’s Daniil But backing into him. Quick went after But and started a skirmish near the Rangers net. Each received a minor penalty – But for goaltender interference and Quick for roughing. However, the altercation energized the Garden crowd, and the Rangers picked up their play.

Daniil But runs into Jonathan Quick and Quick GOES AFTER HIM pic.twitter.com/zdKeQAzXwM

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 6, 2026

The Blueshirts capitalized on their first power play when Alexis Lafreniere finished off a tic-tac-toe passing sequence by tapping Zibanejad’s perfect pass behind Karel Vejmelka at 8:29 of the second period for a 1-0 lead. Adam Fox started the play by keeping the puck in at the right point. From there, it went quickly to Artemi Panarin and then to Zibanejad. His pass was right on the stick of Lafreniere for an easy goal.

Dylan Guenther tied the game 1-1 at 12:38 after the Rangers failed to get the puck deep. Ian Cole broke up a play at the Utah blue line and sent Guenther flying down left wing. Quick stopped the first shot, but Guenther got his own rebound and zipped his team-leading 21st goal high into the net.

The power play came through again for the Rangers at 16:36. With New York skating 5-on-3, Panarin took a long straightaway shot through traffic that was tipped by Vincent Trocheck and went past Vejmelka, who never saw it.

Bread with the shot + Troch tips it in pic.twitter.com/EbXiDRdK8x

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 6, 2026

New York skated off with a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes, but Utah got even 6:15 into the third period after the Rangers again failed to get the puck deep. Mammoth defenseman John Marino broke up a dump-in and sprung Michael Carcone, who blew past defenseman Urho Vaakanainen in the Rangers zone, swept in front and stuffed the puck past Quick’s right pad to make it 2-2.

Utah kept Quick busy for the next several minutes, dominating play while allowing the Blueshirts just one shot on goal through the first 14 minutes of the period. But the Rangers finally began some zone time of their own and earned a power play when Durzi was called for hooking Zibanejad with 3:14 remaining. They failed to convert on the power play, and Durzi made the Rangers pay in overtime.

Key takeaways after Rangers lose Shesterkin, drop 3-2 OT decision to Mammoth​

How long will Igor Shesterkin be out?​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Quick turns 40 later this month, and the winningest U.S.-born goalie will end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame not long after his playing days are over. But he’s past the stage in his career when he can handle the starter’s role for any length of time. The Rangers hope Shesterkin isn’t out for long, but Quick said he’s ready to do his part.

“Have his back, plain and simple,” he said. “Anywhere on the ice, when your guys go down, you need guys to step up. Step up as a group. Have their backs.”

Quick had at least five days between each of his 10 starts this season, his third with the Rangers. Sullivan didn’t appear worried about having the three-time Stanley Cup champion handle the No. 1 role.

“In my mind, he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” he said. “’Quickie’ is a fierce competitor and still an excellent goalie.”

Expect the Rangers to recall Dylan Garand from Hartford of the American Hockey League before their home game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Garand backed up Shesterkin earlier this season when Quick was hurt, but he’s never played in an NHL game.

With Adam Fox back, power play continues on a roll​

Mika finds Laf on the doorstep pic.twitter.com/dV5Cv18X7X

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 6, 2026

If there was ever any doubt about how much Fox means to the Rangers, just look at their power play success since he returned to the lineup last Wednesday in Washington.

Fox’s 4 1/2-week absence with an upper-body injury left the first power-unit in a fog. His return coincided with a revival – the Rangers scored five goals with the extra man in three games since his return, including each of their tallies Monday.

He scored on the Rangers’ only power-play opportunity in a 6-3 loss to the Capitals on New Year’s Eve, then was on the ice for both power-play goals in New York’s 5-1 victory over the Florida Panthers at the NHL Winter Classic in Miami on Friday, and did it again Monday.

Though he didn’t land on the score sheet for any of the four power-play goals the past two games, Fox was on the ice for all of them. He makes the power play go; the Blueshirts are 5-for-8 since his return.

Missed opportunity​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It’s understating the issue to say the Rangers can’t afford to allow points to slip away, but that’s just what they did against the Mammoth. The Blueshirts dominated the second period and could have had more than a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes except for the play of Vejmelka.

But Utah, a young, fast team, came out with more juice in the third period, something that didn’t make Sullivan happy.

“In the first half of the third period, we didn’t play with the kind of intensity we needed,” he said. “We have to do a better job of pushback.”

The single point gives the Rangers 46 points; they’re three behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. But they’ve played 44 games, more than anyone else in the East, and their .523 points percentage is last among the conference’s 16 teams.

This was not a game they could afford to come away with anything but two points, especially when they were up a goal with less than 14 minutes to play.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...hesterkin-to-injury-in-loss-to-utah-takeaways

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers lose Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox in devastating injury update

If the New York Rangers are to remain afloat in the NHL playoff race this month before the Olympic break, they’ll need to do so without two of their most important and indispensable players. Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox each will miss significant time after sustaining injuries in New York’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers reportedly plan to place Shesterkin on IR with a lower-body injury as they continue to evaluate their star goalie. Fox is headed to LTIR with a lower-body injury, one week after he returned from a 14-game absence due to an upper-body injury.

It’s a brutal 1-2 gut punch for the Rangers (20-18-6), who own the worst points percentage in the Eastern Conference yet remain just three points out of the second wild-card spot.

The Fox update is a stunning development. The 27-year-old defenseman logged more than 23 minutes of ice time against the Mammoth, though he didn’t take a shift in the 66-second overtime. He did quarterback a failed power-play opportunity in the final minutes of regulation, and it’s difficult to pinpoint when or how he was hurt.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Fox returned to the lineup on New Year’s Eve and recorded two points — a power-play goal and an assist — in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. He was pointless in the next two games, including the rousing 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers at the 2026 NHL Winter Classic in Miami. However, he helped spark the Rangers’ power play, which was 5-for-8 in the three games after his return.

Shesterkin’s injury was impossible to miss. The 30-year-old netminder writhed in agony after falling back into his net at the 13-minute mark of the first period following a non-contact injury. He didn’t put weight on his left leg when helped off the ice.

Igor Shesterkin needed assistance off the ice following a collision with JJ Peterka pic.twitter.com/6OG2P0Jdk1

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 6, 2026

However, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported Tuesday that Shesterkin avoided the “worst case scenario” with his injury.

Since he’s still being evaluated, it’s not known what Shesterkin’s timeline is. The Rangers practice again Wednesday, so coach Mike Sullivan may provide more details and answers at that time. Their next game is Thursday at home against the Buffalo Sabres. Jonathan Quick is likely to start in goal for that one.

“There are certain guys that drive your team and he’s one of them for us,” Sullivan said Monday about Shesterkin. “He’s an elite player at his position. I think he’s one of the very best in the game. Those types of players are difficult to replace.”

The Rangers recalled veteran goalie Spencer Martin and rookie defenseman Scott Morrow from Hartford of the American Hockey League late Tuesday afternoon. They reassigned forward Brett Berard to Hartford, a possible sign that captain J.T. Miller is set to return from an upper-body injury that sidelined him seven games.

MORE TO COME

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/igor-shesterkin-adam-fox-injury-updates

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers owner James Dolan patient and confident: ‘Don’t give up on my team’

James Dolan is confident that the New York Rangers have the right people in place to get the organization back on a successful track. And the Rangers owner plans to remain patient with general manager Chris Drury and coach Mike Sullivan despite uneven on-ice results so far this season.

Dolan rarely speaks publicly about the Rangers, or New York Knicks, the NBA team he also owns. But he was a guest Monday on WFAN radio in New York, appearing in studio with host Craig Carton, wearing a Rangers scarf on his way to the Blueshirts game against the Utah Mammoth at Madison Square Garden.

“You have to be patient. The team has to jell together. They have to see that they can win. They have to believe in themselves,” Dolan said about the Rangers. “I think the team from last year didn’t really believe in themselves. So, installing that kind of culture — and hockey is even harder because there are more players, right? — that’s going to take a while.”

Dolan sounded pragmatic, yet upbeat about his hockey team. That’s even though the Rangers (20-18-6) own the worst points percentage (.523) in the Eastern Conference, have the second-fewest wins on home-ice in the NHL (five), and are the second-lowest scoring team in the League, averaging 2.59 goals per game.

However, with historic parity in the NHL this season, the Rangers are right in the middle of a tight playoff race.

“I’m being patient. We’re not out of it by any means. We’re still very much in it,” he said,

“Don’t give up on my team this year.”

A couple hours after Dolan’s hopeful take, the Rangers were on the receiving end of a nasty 1-2 gut punch. Star goalie Igor Shesterkin sustained a lower-body injury in the first period. And then the Rangers blew a third-period lead and lost 3-2 to the Mammoth in overtime.

Shesterkin appeared to be seriously hurt, unable to place weight on his left leg when helped off the ice. The loss was New York’s fourth in its past five games (1-3-1).

Rangers owner willing to be patient with Chris Drury, Mike Sullivan ‘installing new culture’​

The Journal News-Imagn Images

Though the latest turn of events isn’t positive, Dolan sees that the Rangers are headed in the right direction in one key area: culture. That was at the heart of his answer when Carton asked Dolan if he still believed in Drury, even after the Rangers failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

“Yes, absolutely. He and Mike Sullivan are installing a new culture into that club, and that does not happen overnight.”

Carton didn’t question Drury’s role in building that failed 2024-25 team, nor how his heavy-handed approach created a serious chasm between the players and management that helped torpedo a once-hopeful season.

“What I can tell you about Mr. Drury from the day I hired him is Chris Drury is a winner and a competitor. He’s won, himself, he can’t stand to lose,” Dolan said.

It’s no secret Dolan is a fan of Drury, his hand-picked choice to replace both John Davidson as president of the Rangers and Jeff Gorton as GM in May of 2021. And Sullivan is the coach Drury always wanted to hire, before finally doing so this past spring.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

So, it wasn’t surprising that former coach Peter Laviolette appeared to be the scapegoat for the culture issue last season.

“We thought they they needed a change in the coach, right?,” Dolan said. “This coach [Sullivan] is a culture coach. He’s also a collaborator and a builder of teams. “

In nearly three decades owning the two sports tenants at MSG, Dolan’s been historically more hands-off with the Rangers than the Knicks. He trusted Glen Sather, despite a rocky start to his tenure as the head of hockey operations. And clearly, he buys into Drury’s vision.

“As an owner you have to be patient. The guy sets out a plan. When I get impatient is when we veer off the plan, reach for the shiny thing and think we can win a championship or build a championship team in one fell swoop,” Dolan explained. “You know, I’ve been at this for almost 30 years and I can tell you it does happen once in a while but I don’t think that’s the way. I don’t think that’s how we’re going to win.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...n-interview-support-chris-drury-mike-sullivan

 

[New York Rangers]

What’s next for Rangers after Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox injuries

Let’s start here. The New York Rangers aren’t raising the white flag just because two of their biggest stars are injured and will miss important games during a crucial stretch of the season.

However, it’s fair to question if the Rangers are capable of remaining afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race without Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox in the lineup for a considerable stretch.

Shesterkin is on IR with a lower-body injury sustained in the first period of New York’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth at Madison Square Garden on Monday. That means the 30-year-old goalie must miss at least one week of action.

Igor Shesterkin needed assistance off the ice following a collision with JJ Peterka pic.twitter.com/6OG2P0Jdk1

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 6, 2026

It appears to be a good sign that the Rangers didn’t place Shesterkin on LTIR, because that designation would keep him out a minimum of 10 games and 24 days. Emily Kaplan of ESPN reported that Shesterkin avoided the “worst case scenario” with his injury.

Yet, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan offered no timeline nor any guarantee that Shesterkin wouldn’t be out longer term, when he met with reporters after practice Wednesday. He also didn’t speak to the severity of Shesterkin’s injury nor that of Fox, who landed on LTIR with a lower-body injury.

Sullivan did confirm that the 27-year-old defenseman was hurt late in the third period during the loss Monday.

Mike Sullivan does not have more information on the injury timelines of Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox pic.twitter.com/Nig41DRhEP

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 7, 2026

The Rangers schedule features 13 games between now and the Olympic break in early February. After that three-week break, the Rangers play four games before the March 6 NHL trade deadline. So, there’s a lot riding on the games they play here in January, since the Rangers (20-18-6) own the second worst points percentage in the East, yet remain within striking distance of a playoff spot.

“We can’t really fill ‘Foxy’s’ shoes, we can really fill ‘Shesty’s’ shoes, so it’s going to have to be all of us coming together to boost the team, 20 guys as one, basically,” alternate captain Vincent Trocheck explained Wednesday.

Here’s what’s next for Rangers after latest brutal injury news​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

There’s no sidestepping that losing Shesterkin and Fox at the same time is a brutal blow for the Rangers. That’s a former Vezina Trophy winner as top NHL goalie, and prior Norris Trophy winner as best defenseman. Arguably, they are New York’s two most indispensable players.

Let’s examine how the Rangers go about filling the huge void created by their dual absence.

Rangers have ‘ultimate faith’ in veteran goalie Jonathan Quick​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Rangers are extremely fortunate to have a three-time Stanley Cup champion and winningest United-States-born goalie in NHL history (407 victories) ready to step in for Shesterkin. Not only is Jonathan Quick all that historically, but he’s had an outstanding season so far as Shesterkin’s understudy. Don’t be fooled by the 3-6-2 record, Quick has a 2.23 goals-against average and .919 save percentage — each fourth best among NHL goalies who started at least 10 games this season.

The possible rub here is that Quick turns 40 this month and must play significantly more often now than he has to this point. The Rangers spread out his workload considerably, which was easy to do with Shesterkin starting a League-high 34 games. The Rangers don’t have that luxury now, so they’ll cross their fingers and hope Quick and his body are up to it at this stage of his career.

“We have ultimate faith in ‘Quickie.’ He’s an elite goaltender, he’s a fierce competitor. His body of work in this league speaks for itself,” Sullivan said Wednesday. “Just look at what he’s done for our team this year. Every time he goes in, he gives us timely save after timely save. So, I’ve got a ton of confidence in his ability to help us.”

Backup to the backup​

Spencer Martin – photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Quick’s not going to start every game in Shesterkin’s absence, especially if Igor is out longer term. So, the Rangers recalled veteran goalie Spencer Martin from Hartford of the American Hockey League, going with the more experienced option rather than their top goalie prospect Dylan Garand.

Martin’s not a star, but the 31-year-old does have 66 games of NHL experience. That includes nine games last season, when he filled in for the Carolina Hurricanes in a similar situation when Frederik Andersen got hurt. By comparison, Garand is in his fourth pro season and yet to play in an NHL game.

Spencer Martin in the crease for the Rangers at practice pic.twitter.com/IqWVwoQYow

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 7, 2026

The Rangers signed Martin in November after he left the KHL for this exact scenario. A veteran like Louis Domingue in previous seasons that can step in and make quality starts in an emergency.

“It’s a blessing. It’s just an opportunity. Third goalie on the depth chart, you don’t hope for anyone to get hurt at any position, but for me it’s exciting to get here and be a part of this,” Martin said after practice Wednesday.

Let’s try this again​

Less than a week after he was activated from long term injured reserve, Fox is right back on LTIR. The Rangers were 6-5-3 when he missed 14 games due to an upper-body injury, and 1-1-1 with him back in the lineup for three games before this lower-body injury. It’s simply a terrible turn of events for both player and team.

At least the Rangers know the drill here. Braden Schneider moves up from the third defense pair to take Fox’s spot on the top pair with Vladislav Gavrikov. Rookie defenseman Scott Morrow likely gets the chance to slot in on the third pair after he was recalled from Hartford. Morrow also practiced on the second power-play unit Wednesday.

The Rangers really missed Fox on the top power-play unit during his first extended absence. They thrived when he returned, scoring five times in eight opportunities.

Adam Fox – New York Rangers (4)
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/nj2ZfGoE8X

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) December 31, 2025

Sullivan deployed a five-forward group for most of those 14 games, and it simply didn’t work out. In the final game Fox missed, Gavrikov played the point, and scored the first power-play goal of his career. That’s the look the Rangers plan to go with Thursday, when they host the Buffalo Sabres.

“If they have success, we’d be more inclined to stay with it. If they don’t, we’re just going to feel through that process and go from there,” Sullivan said about the PP1 grouping with Gavrikov.

Reinforcements​

Not all of the Rangers injury news this week is bad. J.T. Miller practiced in full Wednesday and is a game-time decision to play against the Sabres. The Rangers captain missed seven games with an upper-body injury. He slotted into the top power-play group at practice, and skated on a top-six line with Vincent Trocheck and Jonny Brodzinski, who filled in for the ill Alexis Lafreniere.

Also, rookie center Noah Laba practiced in a no-contact jersey. He’ll miss his third straight game Thursday with an upper-body injury, but his return is on the near horizon.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-next-after-igor-shesterkin-adam-fox-injuries

 

[New York Rangers]

Buyers or sellers? Rangers face crucial question after latest injuries

It’s no secret that the New York Rangers seek help in the trade market, trying to improve their roster and work their way back into a playoff position. They were in on star defenseman Quinn Hughes before the Vancouver Canucks sent him to the Minnesota Wild last month, and they’re reportedly interested in Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood.

But with No. 1 goaltender Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve and sidelined for at least a week, and top defenseman Adam Fox on LTIR and possibly out until after the Winter Olympics next month – both with lower-body injuries sustained in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday — the new question is whether the Rangers outlook before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6 changes from buyer to seller.

The reported cost for Sherwood is, at minimum, a first-round draft pick (they have two) – and likely more. That’s a big price, but the Rangers need offensive help desperately – they’re 30th in the NHL with an average of 2.59 goals per game. Sherwood has 17 goals in 42 games and is second in the NHL with 202 hits, so he can help them in two areas. He carries a cap hit of $1.5 million on his expiring two-year deal, and can be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Rangers (20-18-6) aren’t light years away from a playoff spot – they enter their home game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday three points out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference that’s currently held by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The problem is that the five teams between the Rangers and Pens each has games in hand on the Blueshirts.

And did we didn’t even mention that the Rangers have the second worst points percentage out of 16 teams in the East.

New York owns its own first-rounder as well as the Dallas Stars’ top pick, so general manager Chris Drury has some cards to play if he wants to go shopping. At the same time, the Rangers have one of the League’s weakest prospect pools – 20-year-old forward Gabe Perreault hasn’t shown much since being recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League, and no one else in the system appears ready to make an impact.

So is it time to buy or time to sell? The only certainty for Drury is that he can’t stand pat – either he buys to make a playoff push or sells to bolster the pool of young talent.

Why Rangers should be buyers​

Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

The Rangers are not a young team. Shesterkin just turned 30 and backup Jonathan Quick turns 40 this month. Top forwards Artemi Panarin (34), Mika Zibanejad (32), Vincent Trocheck (32) and J.T. Miller (32) are all 30 or older — as are depth forwards Jonny Brodzinski (32), Conor Sheary (33, on LTIR), and recent recalls Justin Dowling (35) and Anton Blidh (30).

Top-pair defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov is also 30, and second-pair blueliner Carson Soucy is 32. Even goalie Spencer Martin, called up from Hartford after Shesterkin’s injury, is 30.

It’s the kind of lineup that screams “win now.” Panarin, Zibanejad, Miller and Trocheck each has a no-move clause in his contract, meaning that he can’t be traded, waived nor sent to the minors without his consent. Thus, there’s a case to be made that the time to buy is now.

The Rangers are a top-heavy team that lacks quality depth. Panarin is the only player averaging at least a point per game (16 goals, 46 points in 43 games), and he can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Help is needed — quickly — for the Rangers to make the postseason.

If Shesterkin returns sooner rather than later, that’s another reason for the Rangers to buy not sell. He gives the Rangers an elite No. 1 goalie, a difference maker in net, that most of the other mediocre teams in the tight playoff race simply can’t match.

Why Rangers should be sellers​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It’s too early to say the Rangers won’t return to the playoffs after missing them last season. It’s not too early to say that they’re more likely than not to miss the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2017-18 and 2018-19.

The upper-body injury that sidelined Fox for 14 games in December sent the power play into a funk, and it’s hard to see how that won’t happen again now that he’s on LTIR. He is their lone effective puck-mover on the blue line, and with 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 30 games, is the only D-man who concerns opponents with his offensive abilities.

Shesterkin leads the NHL in games started (34) and shots faced (946); there’s no word from the Rangers as to how long he’ll be out. Quick is a fine backup goaltender, but he’s no Shesterkin at this stage of his career. How he handles the heavier workload may determine the Rangers fate. Martin spent his career bouncing between the AHL and NHL.

And let’s face it, even with Shesterkin healthy, the Rangers struggled to find any kind of consistency in the season’s first half.

Then there’s Panarin. Still a dynamic offensive player, he’s the biggest chip the Rangers have to help restock their roster. Extension talks gained little traction earlier in the season, so if the Rangers continue to flounder, Drury must approach Panarin about waiving his no-move clause.

If Drury opts to sell, it sounds like he’ll have owner James Dolan’s blessing. Dolan told WFAN on Monday, before the injuries to Shesterkin and Fox, that, “As an owner, you have to be patient. The guys (Drury and coach Mike Sullivan) set out a plan. When I get impatient is when we veer off the plan and reach for the shiny thing.

“I’m being patient. We’re not out of it by any means. We’re still very much in it. Don’t give up on my team this year.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...y-sell-trade-deadline-shesterkin-fox-injuries

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers NCAA prospects report: Malcolm Spence helps Michigan remain No. 1

As the calendar turned to 2026, six New York Rangers prospects took to the ice with their respective collegiate teams for NCAA play and exhibition games this past weekend.

Malcolm Spence, New York’s top pick in 2025, helped the Michigan Wolverines hold off the U.S. National Under-18 Team 7-5 in an exhibition matchup Saturday. Spence stood out with three assists, though that’s not included in his season total.

The freshman forward had the primary assist on Michigan’s first and fourth goals, both coming in the first period. On what proved to be the game-winning sixth goal for the Wolverines, Spence was credited with a secondary assist.

Quick lil wrister from Robo. Michigan is on the board. pic.twitter.com/fSUPDj0isv

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) January 4, 2026

Through 20 NCAA games with Michigan, Spence has seven goals and five assists for 12 points.

Michigan begins the new year at the top of the USCHO.com and USA Hockey College Hockey Poll with a 16-4-0 record. The Wolverines host Notre Dame this coming weekend in Big Ten action.

The U.S. National Under-18 Team faced another NCAA opponent Sunday, losing to Michigan State 4-2 in an exhibition contest. Freshman defenseman Sean Barnhill had one shot on goal for the Spartans. The 6-foot-6 blueliner is still searching for his first NCAA goal, though he remains solid defensively and has a plus-9 rating on the season, with three assists through 18 games.

Michigan State climbed one spot in both polls this week. The Spartans are 14-4-0 and continue Big Ten conference play on the road this week against Ohio State.

Disappointing run for Rangers’ EJ Emery, Team USA at 2026 World Juniors​

Credit: USA Hockey

Rangers’ 2023 first-round pick EJ Emery was the seventh defenseman for Team USA on Friday when the hosts were eliminated by Finland in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Junior Championship. Emery played just five shifts for a total of 4:01 TOI in the 4-3 overtime loss. It was a disappointing end for Team USA, who were looking to win a third straight gold medal at the World Juniors. Emery did not record any points during the tournament and finished with a minus-1 rating, playing four of five games.

The sophomore defender returned to the North Dakota lineup Sunday, when the Fighting Hawks rolled over Mercyhurst 6-1 in non-conference play. Emery skated on the second pair and had four shots on goal with a minor penalty for roughing.

North Dakota remained fourth in the polls with a 16-4-0 record. The Fighting Hawks continue NCHC play on the road against Colorado College this Friday.

Ty Henricks had a secondary assist for Western Michigan in a 4-0 shutout win over Notre Dame on Friday in non-conference play. Henricks earned his assist on the Broncos second goal of the game.

The sophomore winger picked up another secondary assist on Saturday, when Western Michigan shut out Notre Dame by the same 4-0 score. Henricks earned his assist, just as he did on Friday evening, on an Owen Michaels goal, this time in the second period to open the scoring for the Broncos.

O Mikes stays hot! pic.twitter.com/zGumony0Qn

— WMU Hockey (@WMUHockey) January 4, 2026

The assist came 1:38 into the period and was all the Broncos needed for their fifth straight win. Henricks needs just one more goal to tie his freshman total of eight. Through 20 games this season, the sophomore left wing has seven goals and nine assists for 16 points.

Western Michigan gained one spot and is sixth in the polls this week. The Broncos are 14-6-0 and continue NCHC play on the road against Denver on Friday.

Brody Lamb and the Minnesota Golden Gophers played to a 3-3 overtime tie against Bemidji State in an exhibition game last Friday. The two Minnesota schools skated in an exhibition game for the third time in four years. Lamb, a senior captain, had three shots on goal and two face-off wins with an even rating.

Minnesota is currently out of the Top 20 with a record of 8-10-1. The Golden Gophers travel to University Park, Pennsylvania, this week for a pair of games against Penn State.

Rasmus Larsson returned to the Robert Morris lineup when the Colonials dropped a 3-1 decision to Sacred Heart in Atlantic Conference play. Larsson was the seventh defenseman and saw his first action since Nov. 22.

It was just the sixth game that he played this season, and he is still looking for his first point since transferring from Northern Michigan. The Colonials are 4-12-2 and travel to RIT in Rochester, New York, for a pair of games this weekend.

Defenseman Drew Fortescue and Boston College return to the ice Friday, when they host Stonehill at Conte Forum. The Eagles are 11-6-1 and ranked 13th in the polls.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...cts-malcolm-spence-helps-michigan-first-polls