News Rangers Team Notes

[New York Rangers]

3 Rangers takeaways after lackluster 4-0 loss to Devils further damages playoff hopes

Ed Mulholland-Imagn ImagesEd Mulholland-Imagn Images

Time is beginning to run out on the New York Rangers’ hopes of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.

A 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Saturday afternoon dropped the Rangers four points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference after the Canadiens held off the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Saturday night. The Rangers have six games remaining – four of them against the top 11 teams (by point percentage) in the NHL.

New York begins a stretch of four games in six days on Monday when the Tampa Bay Lightning (who clinched a playoff berth when the Rangers lost) come to Madison Square Garden.

For whatever reason, the Rangers didn’t seem very enthused about playing one of their biggest rivals in a game they absolutely needed to win. The special teams failed again, allowing the Devils to score a power-play goal four seconds after Sam Carrick was sent off for interference 10:52 into the second period of a scoreless game, then allowing a shorthanded goal 1:27 later.

The rest of the afternoon was almost academic. Jacob Markstrom made 26 saves for his second shutout of the Rangers at the Rock this season while improving his career record against the Blueshirts to 12-4-3. Timo Meier scored his second of the game with 4:59 remaining in the third period, and Nico Hischier’s empty-netter added insult to injury to a game that saw the Rangers allow just 16 shots, matching the fewest they’ve surrendered this season – they lost that game as well, 3-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 28.

The Rangers aren’t out of it by any means. But losing a game to a team that has little to play for – the Devils are all but locked into third place in the Metropolitan Division and a first-round playoff series against the second-place Carolina Hurricanes – doesn’t say much for a team that’s supposedly desperate to make the playoffs.

Related: ‘Brain-dead’ Rangers shredded by broadcasters during 4-0 loss to Devils

Three Rangers takeaways from 4-0 loss to Devils​

Here are three takeaways from a damaging Rangers loss to one of their biggest rivals.

1. Power outage continues​

The Rangers were third in the NHL on the power play last season at 26.4 percent. This season? Try 27th. New York is 34 for 198 (17.2 percent) after going 0-for-2 against the Devils. They are 2-for-43 since a second-period power-play goal against the Nashville Predators on March 2 – and have allowed three shorthanded goals in their past four games, including the back-breaker to the Devils 87 seconds after New Jersey had taken a 1-0 lead.

In other words, for the past five weeks, the Rangers’ power play is minus-1. For a team that has relied on its power play so heavily in recent years, failing to turn man-advantages into goals can be fatal.

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

“We’re looking for something offensively, maybe pressing too much,” coach Peter Laviolette said of the shorthanded goals. “Any time you’re doing that, you’re subject to get caught the other way.”

Defenseman Adam Fox, who quarterbacks the power play, said the lack of production with the extra man is killing the Rangers.

“It’s the difference right now, right? The margin is so thin,” Fox said. “I think 5-on-5 we’ve been pretty good, and you let up shorthanded goals, you let up power-play goals against, you lose games by 1-2. Tie 5-on-5 or even win the 5-on-5 game — it’s costing us. It has been for a little bit now.”

2. Three is not a lucky number, especially for the goalies​

The Rangers entered Saturday having won back-to-back games seven times since Nov. 14-19, the last time they’ve won three in a row. They had a chance to end that against the Devils – and failed again.

Instead, they fell to 0-4-4 when trying for a third straight win. That’s no way to make the playoffs.

The power-play issues have been the most noticeable problems, but they’re not the only ones. The Rangers are filled with east-west players who are being urged to play a north-south game. Igor Shesterkin has been fine in goal, and Jonathan Quick is a capable backup, but they’re facing far too many Grade A chances.

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The Rangers have relied on their goaltending, especially Shesterkin, to erase their mistakes. That’s not happening often enough this season.

“Obviously we have our goaltending, but like our I feel like our goaltending has been there,” said forward Mika Zibanejad, one of the players whose performance has dropped off sharply. “They’ve been helping us, and we’re not helping them.”

3. Do they really want it?​

There’s a line from an old song by folk singer Pete Seeger in which he laments that, “My get up and go has got up and went.” That’s a pretty good description of the Rangers as they push – not very hard – for a playoff berth.

Though it took New Jersey more than half the game to score, there was little doubt which team wanted the game more. Though the Devils are all but locked into the postseason, they played with much more spirit and energy than the Rangers, who are desperately seeking to avoid going from Presidents’ Trophy winners in 2023-24 to postseason non-participants this season.

The Rangers are the only team in the NHL that has not won a game this season when trailing by more than one goal. The four teams they’re battling with for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference – the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders – each have at least three such wins.

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

New York certainly played like a team whose drive and compete level had “got up and went” after the Devils grabbed their two-goal lead midway through the second period. Their 26-16 edge in shots on goal was deceptive; New Jersey controlled the tempo for most of the afternoon, and when the Rangers got an opportunity to score, Markstrom made sure the puck stayed out of the net.

“There just doesn’t seem to be that internal drive or fight right now from the Rangers,” ABC analyst Ray Ferraro said afterward of the team he played for during the 1995-96 season. “They seemed resigned (to missing the playoffs), but they’re still in it.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...loss-to-devils-further-damages-playoff-hopes/

 

[New York Rangers]

Winners, losers from Rangers shutout loss to Devils, including dismal special teams

Ed Mulholland-Imagn ImagesEd Mulholland-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers weren’t terrible Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center in a 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils. But that’s a low bar to climb over. They weren’t good enough, and the result was damaging to their playoff hopes with two weeks remaining in the NHL regular season.

After a slow start, the Rangers had more of the puck and the chances. They out-shot the Devils 26-16 overall (the fewest shots the Rangers surrendered in a game this season) and 22-9 in the final two periods. Yet, they were outscored 4-0 over the final 40 minutes.

Now, the Rangers (36-33-7) are four points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, with six games left to play. An uphill climb for sure.

Let’s look back at the Rangers-Devils game and break down the winners and losers.

Related: ‘Brain-dead’ Rangers shredded by broadcasters during 4-0 loss to Devils

Loser – Special teams – Rangers​

Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images​

This game was pretty much lost in a span of 1:27 midway through the second period. A scoreless contest became a 2-0 Devils lead when they twice exposed the Rangers on special teams. It took New Jersey all of four seconds to score on its first power play at 10:56, Timo Meier hammering home a slap shot after a Nico Hischier face-off win and quick pass from Luke Hughes. Then the Devils scored a short-handed goal when four Rangers were caught deep, and Jesper Bratt buried a 2-on-1 short-handed feed from Hischier at 12:23. Considering the Rangers haven’t won a single game when trailing by multiple goals this season, this was pretty much ballgame. The Rangers power play is now 2-for-43 since March 3 and been outscored 3-2, allowing three shorties.

Winner – Jacob Markstrom – Devils​

Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images​

The Rangers did have some good scoring chances, right up until the end of this game. They held a 26-16 advantage in scoring chances in all situations, per Natural Stat Trick, and 13-8 in high-danger opportunities. But Jacob Markstrom was the difference. The Devils goalie shut out the Rangers for the second time this season, stopping all 26 shots, including 22 over the final two periods when the Devils actually pulled away. Markstrom is now 12-4-3 all-time against the Rangers with a goals-against average of slightly above two goals per game.

Winners – Star players – Devils​

Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images​

Including Markstrom, the Devils won this game on the backs of their best players. That’s saying something, considering they were missing injured stars Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton. But that was OK in this one because Hischier (three points; one goal, two assists), Meier (two goals) and Bratt (one goal, one assist) came up big. Their best players were their best players.

Loser – Vincent Trocheck – Rangers​

Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images​

It’s not easy to target one Rangers player as a loser in this one, it was a collective fail. But it was a rough afternoon for Vincent Trocheck. One of the best face-off men in the NHL (59.5 percent), Trocheck lost 11 of 13 draws, including the one to Hischier which led directly to Meier scoring the first goal of the game. He also was on ice for Meiere’s second goal that made it 3-0 and Hischier’s empty-netter. Trocheck logged 19:06 TOI but failed to record a shot goal.

Loser – Hudson River rivalry – Rangers​

Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images​

The Devils not only took seven of eight points in the season series against the Rangers with a 3-0-1 record but their three wins were so lopsided that a lot of the luster came off this rivalry — at least for one season. The Devils outscored the Rangers 15-1 in their three wins, including 10-0 in a pair of Prudential Center victories. This comes after the Rangers swept the season series 4-0-0 a year ago, when they won the Presidents’ Trophy and the Devils missed the playoffs. Shoe, meet other foot.

Loser – 3-game winning streak – Rangers​

Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images​

For the eighth time since mid-November, the Rangers failed to win a third straight game. The Rangers haven’t had a three-game winning streak since Nov. 14-19 and are 0-4-4 when trying to win three in a row since. New York entered the game Saturday with two straight wins and a 2-0-1 three-game point streak. That inability to string together a winning streak is a big reason the Rangers are on the outside looking in at a playoff spot.

Winner – Montreal Canadiens​

Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images​

As the Rangers stumbled in Newark, the Montreal Canadiens rallied at home, erasing a 1-0 deficit early in the third period to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. That’s Montreal’s fourth straight win, and it doubled their lead to four points on the Rangers for that final wild card from the East. The Canadiens can push their lead to six points with a win Sunday against the Nashville Predators.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...s/winners-losers-rangers-shutout-loss-devils/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers’ rookie Gabe Perreault feeling ‘more settled in’ after first two NHL games

Ed Mulholland-Imagn ImagesEd Mulholland-Imagn Images

Gabe Perreault is just two games into his career with the New York Rangers, and while he’s still looking for that first NHL point, the Boston College standout has already taken plenty away from his first week as a pro.

While it was a whirlwind going from losing in the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament with BC on March 30 to making his Rangers’ debut at Madison Square Garden three days later, things are settling down for Perreault, and he is settling in.

“It’s been good, super fast,” the Rangers’ first-round pick (No. 23) in the 2023 NHL Draft said Sunday. “Not as much time. Kind of getting settled in more and more each day, so that’s been going well … Each day I’ve been getting more and more settled in. It’s kind of making it easier day by day, keep going from here.”

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Perreault is one of several players who are making the jump from college hockey straight to the NHL, and he’s finding that the main difference is speed. The game is so much faster at the NHL level, and that can prove difficult for a 19-year-old to handle.

However, Perreault has handled it like a pro thus far. He played well in his NHL debut, a 5-4 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild on April 2, and had some looks three days later in a 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils as he continues to learn from those around him.

“Growing up I was in Chicago and I saw a lot of Panarin,” the son of former NHL center Yanic Perreault said. “I think seeing him live, trying to take little things, obviously he’s unbelievable, so trying to take little things each day from all of those guys.”

Broadway Hat: NHL debut edition. pic.twitter.com/5NKQshziho

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 3, 2025

During his first two games, Perreault has been given top-six minutes playing alongside J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere. This may be the most valuable part of Perreault’s start to his NHL career, as he’s been able to pick the brains of his line mates after each shift.

“It’s been good,” Perreault said of playing with Miller and Lafreniere. “Obviously those are two pretty talented players. I think we’ve had a decent amount of chances, some good shifts. If I get to keep going with those guys, it’ll be good. We’ll see, but it’s been really good overall. When you’re playing with two guys like that, high-caliber, it’s pretty fun.”

Related: Winners, losers from Rangers shutout loss to Devils, including dismal special teams

Gabe Perreault experiencing learning curve on the power play​

Aside from adjusting to the pace of the NHL, one of the biggest learning curves for Perreault comes on the power play, where coach Peter Laviolette has been giving him reps on the second unit. They’ve been unsuccessful to this point but have generated some decent chances.

“That first game we had a couple looks, obviously didn’t get one,” he said. “Just keep improving each game and I think it’ll come. Especially that other unit, they’re getting a lot of chances and I think we are too.”

The Rangers’ power play as a whole has been abysmal this season — 27th overall and with two goals in their past 43 chances, including 0-for-2 with a shorthanded goal allowed against the Devils.

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Adjusting to the speed of NHL penalty-killers is something that will take time for a kid who was playing college hockey a week ago.

“Coming out of college, the NHL (penalty) kill is a lot quicker, they’re on you right away, so you really have zero time on the walls,” explained center Jonny Brodzinski, who plays on the second unit with Perreault. “Trying to talk to him that I’m going to be really quick for support on a lot of those if I’m playing the bumper position. Just knowing that he has me there for support, that’s the only way that you can really relieve some of that pressure at the NHL level.”

Officially official.

Congrats, Gabe! pic.twitter.com/IlGtRT4cV7

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 2, 2025

The Rangers have just six games remaining in the regular season and are four points behind the Montreal Canadiens, who hold the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. New York may have to win all of its remaining games to earn its fourth consecutive playoff berth.

That’s a tall task for a team that hasn’t won three straight games since Nov. 14-19. Hopefully they’ll get some scoring help from Perreault, who will have to continue to adjust to the NHL level.

“For him, just knowing that they’re going to be coming extremely fast,” Brodzinski said. “He’s got to learn how to navigate that and figure it out at this level.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ng-more-settled-in-after-first-two-nhl-games/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers coach ‘really happy’ Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s ‘massive record’ with 895th goal

Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesGeoff Burke-Imagn Images

Though Peter Laviolette wasn’t at UBS Arena Sunday afternoon when Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal to pass Wayne Gretzky for most all-time in NHL history, the New York Rangers coach is thrilled for the player he previously coached for two seasons.

“He’s an incredible goal scorer. If he puts the puck on net it’s got a chance of going in, and he puts it there often, he has his whole career,” Laviolette shared after Rangers practice Sunday. “Really happy for him. He was great to work with my time there in Washington and he’s done nothing but continue on his whole entire career just finding the back of the net. Like I said, it was only a matter of time before he got here.”

ALEX OVECHKIN IS THE GREATEST GOALSCORER IN NHL HISTORY! #Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/NKef3VvNaJ

— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025

Laviolette coached Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals for two seasons from 2021-23. Ovechkin lit the lamp often with Laviolette behind the Capitals bench, scoring 50 goals in 77 games during the 2021-22 season and following up with 42 goals in 73 games the following season.

During that span, Ovechkin passed Gordie Howe for the second-most goals in NHL history, scoring No. 802 against the Winnipeg Jets in December of 2022.

“In my time there, he was working toward No. 2 and eventually got it. So, then it becomes more and more on the table (passing Gretzky for No. 1 all-time), and talked about more and looked at more,” Laviolette said. “Now, being away from it, [I’m] watching it from the outside. In that time there, it was a lot of fun watching that as he was chasing down No. 2.”

When Ovechkin dipped to 31 goals last season and then was completely shut down by the Rangers in their four-game sweep of the Capitals in the first-round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, many questioned if The Great 8 could catch Gretzky or if it would take a couple seasons to do so. In addition, there were concerns that his chase of an individual record might hamper the Capitals progression as a team.

The complete opposite happened this season. The Capitals (49-19-8) are the top team in the Eastern Conference and Ovechkin’s scored a whopping 42 goals in 61 games, despite missing 16 due to a fractured fibula earlier in the season. His chase of The Great One’s record captured the attention of hockey fans worldwide, and he roared to the finish line, scoring six goals in his past five games.

Wayne Gretzky's speech as he passes the torch to the NHL's newest goals King, Alex Ovechkin pic.twitter.com/DrEiRWxZ3O

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

After tying Gretzky by scoring a pair Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovechkin scored a power-play goal from his office in the left circle at 7:26 of the second period against Islanders goalie — and fellow Russian — Ilya Sorokin to break what was long considered to be an unbreakable record.

“It’s big news inside the League, too, everyone keeps an eye on it, everybody’s tuned into it,” Laviolette explained. “It’s a massive record, it’s the biggest record, it’s a home run type record. For that reason, everyone watches it.”

To that end, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper and general manager Julien BriseBois — in town to play the Rangers on Monday — attended the game on Long Island on Sunday to witness history first-hand.

Related: Rangers week ahead includes biggest 4-game stretch of season

Rangers trying to keep playoff hopes alive despite falling 6 points out of second wild card​

Laviolette couldn’t be there because he was on the ice with the Rangers, who face a hugely important four-game week, beginning against the Lightning. The Rangers (36-33-7) are six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with six games to play. To Keep their playoff hopes alive, the Rangers just may have to sweep all four games this week and possibly win out.

That’s going to be difficult, especially because the Rangers haven’t won more than two straight games in five months, not since a three-game winning streak Nov. 14-19.

They were shut out by the New Jersey Devils 4-0 on Saturday, a demoralizing defeat and third in four games against their Hudson River rivals this season.

Laviolette is on the hot seat, just as he was following his second season with the Capitals. He guided Washington to a playoff berth in 2021-22, but the Capitals finished sixth in the eight-team Metropolitan Division the following season, and he was fired.

The Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy and set franchise records for wins (55) and points (114) last season, in Year 1 under Laviolette. They reached the Eastern Conference Final and were two wins away from playing in the Stanley Cup Final.

Now, it’d take a monster finish to even qualify as the eighth seed in the East. Which is unlikely. Leaving Laviolette’s future in doubt the coming weeks.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...vechkin-broke-wayne-gretzky-record-895-goals/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers can’t solve Andrei Vasilevskiy in 5-1 loss to Lightning as playoff hopes fade

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn ImagesDennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Playing with urgency and desperation, the New York Rangers pumped 40 shots on goal against Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. But the Rangers playoff hopes took a massive hit anyway with a 5-1 loss that left them six points out of a postseason berth with five games left to play.

It was an extremely disheartening defeat because the Rangers by and large dominated play 5v5. Overall they outshot the Lightning 40-23, but Vasilevskiy was simply brilliant in goal for the Lightning, making 39 saves.

Besides Vasilevskiy, the other difference maker was that the Lightning scored three power-play goals against a Rangers penalty kill that is wilting down the stretch. The game got away from the Rangers in the first period when they allowed three goals — two on the power play — in a dizzying span of 1:45.

The Rangers had no answers for Vasilevskiy nor for the Lightning’s three top forwards, who combined for nine points. Brayden Point had two goals and one assist; Nikita Kucherov had one goal and two assists; and Jake Guentzel had three helpers.

Brandon Hagel and Yanni Gourde also scored for the Lightning (45-26-6), who are two points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Mika Zibanejad scored a second-period power-play goal for the Rangers (36-34-7), who are six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Igor Shesterkin made 18 saves.

Related: Rangers week ahead includes most crucial 4-game stretch of season

Tampa Bay Lightning 5 – New York Rangers 1​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The Rangers came out flying Monday, but after running out to an 11-1 shots advantage and failing to score, they had a major meltdown and the Lightning struck in rapid succession to score three quick goals.

Perhaps the warning sign that the tide was about to turn came at 12:41 when Hagel wired a short-handed shot off the post. Chris Kreider was assessed a hooking penalty on the play and the Lightning went to work.

Shortly after Oliver Bjorkstrand came out of the penalty box and the Lightning went on a 5-on-4 advantage, they took a 1-0 lead. Kucherov got behind Will Cuylle to redirect a Point pass off the rush into the net for a power-play goal at 13:09.

Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point team up to break the ice for Tampa on the power play!#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/2EHym2DJN8

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 7, 2025

Seizing momentum, the Lightning scored again, just 36 seconds later. Gourde slipped away from Carson Soucy in front to collect the puck after Gage Goncalves’ shot was partially blocked. Falling to the ice, Gourde whipped a backhand shot past a diving Shesterkin and it was 2-0.

The goal was Gourde’s first in 16 games since the Lightning re-acquired him ahead of the trade deadline in a deal with the Seattle Kraken.

The visitors’ onslaught continued. Sam Carrick took a cross-checking penalty at 13:54, and one minute later it was 3-0 Lightning. Point won a battle with Vincent Trocheck and pushed the puck over the goal line just inside the post at 14:54 for his 40th goal of the season.

It’s Point’s third straight 40+ goal season and the fourth of his career. Kucherov picked up his 80th assist for dishing the puck to Guentzel, before the forward zipped a pass across the crease to Point. Kucherov now has 80 assists three seasons in a row, joining Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr as the only NHL players to do so.

Three Lightning goals in a span of 1:45 turned the game on its ear, and completely negated the Rangers fast start.

To their credit, the Rangers came out strong in the second period and, this time, outplayed the Lightning for the entire period. Yet they scored only one goal, a power-play tally by Zibanejad, when the puck deflected in off his skate at 3:16.

Mika Zibanejad gets the Rangers on the board

(via @NYRangers) pic.twitter.com/SOoji52NPG

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 8, 2025

There were a slew of Grade-A looks for the Rangers, including on another power play late in the period, when Artemi Panarin had three prime opportunities denied by a sharp Vasilevskiy. The Lightning goalie also made a big-time save on a deflected shot at the buzzer.

The Rangers out-shot the Lightning 18-5 in the second period. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Rangers had a whopping 88.87 percent expected goals share in all situations during the middle stanza.

But they trailed 3-1 because Vasilevskiy was proving why he’s still one of the best goalies in the world.

The Rangers came close twice to scoring early in the third period. Again, Vasilevskiy came up big. He robbed Alexis Lafreniere in tight with a great glove save, and denied Trocheck shortly thereafter.

Shesterkin had little to do the first half of the period. But midway through, he made a sharp save through an Anthony Cirelli screen and then stoned Cirelli on a bang-bang rebound attempt to keep it 3-1.

Zibanejad came so close to narrowing the deficit to one, when he took off on a short-handed breakaway at 11:37. However, his forehand shot hit off Vasilevskiy’s glove, hit the crossbar and stayed out of the net.

Three minutes later Victor Hedman wired a long shot off the post. Seconds after that, Zibanejad was hit in the mouth by a puck that deflected off Shesterkin’s stick. Zibanejad was bloodied and came off the ice. Shortly after, the Lightning increased their lead to 4-1.

Point was untouched by the left post and buried a quick seam pass by Guentzel for the Lightning’s third power-play goal of the game at 15:40.

The Rangers pulled Shesterkin for the extra attacker but Hagel scored into the empty net to put this game away with 2:42 left on the clock.

With the season slipping away, the Rangers just may have to win out over their final five games to have a chance at earning a playoff spot for the fourth straight season. Their next chance to get two points is Wednesday, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at MSG.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-solve-andrei-vasilevskiy-5-1-loss-lightning/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers forward breaks down outlook for final 5 games of season: ‘It sucks to be in this position’

Robert Edwards-Imagn ImagesRobert Edwards-Imagn Images

Jonny Brodzinski is an anomaly on the New York Rangers. On a roster full of players who’ve underperformed this season, Brodzinski is the rare case of one who’s exceeded expectations and earned a regular role in the lineup lately.

The 31-year-old forward also is a straight shooter — and he didn’t sugarcoat their situation for the final five games of the regular season following a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

“I think we just need to win out now. It’s no longer kind of a waiting it out kind of thing where we win a game and wait to see what they [the Montreal Canadiens] do. We have to win out and we need some help, too,” Brodzinski explained. “It sucks to be in this position. None of us wanted to be in it. It definitely sucks.”

The loss kept the Rangers (36-34-7) six points behind the Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Each team has five games remaining, beginning with Montreal hosting the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. The Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday and visit the Islanders at UBS Arena on Thursday.

Brodzinski’s not kidding when he says the Rangers need to win out, which would get them to 89 points, and then need help. Montreal’s magic number is five — any combination of five points earned by the Canadiens or lost by the Rangers will eliminate the Blueshirts.

It’s a far cry from where the Rangers were a year ago at the time, surging toward the postseason with the most wins (55) and points (114) in franchise history. Moreover, that was a resilient team which consistently fought back to overcome deficits and adversity.

In other words, the exact opposite of the current Rangers.

“Last year, we’d be going into the third periods down two, three goals and we were coming back to win those games,” Brodzinski noted. “That’s the difference between last year and this year. Bottom line is just putting pucks in the net.”

Well, it’s more than that. But, yes, the Rangers are 17th in scoring this season (2.97 goals per game) and were seventh last season (3.39). Their power play dropped from third in the NHL in 2023-24 (26.4 percent) to 27th this season (17.4 percent).

But it’s how the Rangers appear to fold that’s most worrisome. They are very fragile collectively. Monday, they allowed three goals in a span of 1:45 in the first period. A scoreless game turned into a 3-0 deficit for the Rangers in an eye blink. The game before it was two goals given up in 1:27 against the New Jersey Devils. Scoreless to down two. Lights out each time.

Here are some numbers to chew on: The Rangers are the only team in the NHL not to overcome a multiple-goal deficit and win at least one game this season. Also, they have surrendered multiple goals in less than two minutes 23 times. That’s sixth-most in the NHL — and the other five teams are out of the playoff race.

Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from latest loss, including 1st period meltdown against Lightning

Artemi Panarin admits Rangers truth: ‘This year, everything is harder for us’​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Maybe it’s the ignorance of youth. Or perhaps Will Cuylle is just a really positive guy. The 23-year-old forward was trying to sound optimistic after the loss Monday, but he did share some similar thoughts to Brodzinski’s.

“We need to win games. We need to get two points every game,” Cuylle stated. “You never know what can happen in the standings. Obviously, it’s tough right now where we are, but we’re not mathematically eliminated by any means.”

Artemi Panarin, who rarely speaks with the media, said ” no one gives up and tries every minute.”

That may be true, but there are times when it doesn’t look that way.

“It’s terrible … If we keep playing like that, we’re going to miss the playoffs,” Panarin said.

New York’s leading scorer then added, with a nod to last season, “This year, everything is harder for us. In both zones, O-zone, D-zone.”

Yes, he would be correct on that front. Nothing looks easy for the Rangers this season. As a result, nothing comes easy for them. But when they need to overcome this, they don’t. It’s a massive difference from how they handled adversity last season.

Coach Peter Laviolette is out of answers right now. That much is clear.

This was his latest stab at it in his brief postgame presser Monday.

“We needed to win a game tonight and we didn’t win,” Laviolette explained simply. “There’s been a lot of that throughout the course of the year.”

Yes. Yes there has.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...nski-breaks-down-outlook-final-5-games-sucks/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers fans outraged over Peter Laviolette’s latest comments: ‘I have no message right now’

Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers dropped another game Monday night, 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. The loss further complicates their remote chance to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight season.

New York is eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference after Montreal defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Tuesday night. The Rangers have five games remaining; the Canadiens have four.

The loss to the Bolts was bad enough for Rangers fans, as was New York allowing three goals in a 1:45 span in the first period. But a postgame comment by coach Peter Laviolette infuriated the faithful even more.

The veteran coach was asked what his message to the players was after their latest dismal defeat.

“I don’t have a message right now,” Laviolette said postgame. “I don’t go into the locker room after the games.”

Considering that a major section of the fan base wants Laviolette fired for overseeing one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, he didn’t do himself any favors in the court of public opinion.

To be fair, it’s not uncommon for NHL coaches to stay out of the locker room after a game, win or lose — especially with a veteran team like the Rangers. Each coach is different.

The frustrated bench boss kept his answers short when talking about the state of the team, and looked like he couldn’t wait to depart the interview room. For good reason.

The Rangers likely need to win all five of their remaining games, which would get them to 89 points, and hope the Canadiens fall on their face. Montreal’s magic number to eliminate the Rangers is three.

“We needed to win a game tonight and we didn’t win,” Laviolette said simply. “There’s been a lot of that throughout the course of the year.”

Related: Jon Cooper, Peter Laviolette among winners, losers from Rangers 5-1 loss to Lightning

Rangers fans react to Peter Laviolette’s postgame comment​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

As Laviolette continues to fail at coming up with answers for his team, nor to inspire them, Rangers fans continue to grow tired of the coach. Many want him fired, which may be the case if the Rangers fail to pull of a miracle and make the playoffs.

That’s despite Laviolette leading the Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy last season while setting franchise records for wins (55) and points (114).

Rangers CERTAINLY look like a team who’s Coach tucked his tail and started planning for vacation

— Chris Manno (@Mann_O_Steel17) April 8, 2025

It’s hard to disagree with the notion that Laviolette has checked out on the season, just by looking at him and listening to him. While that may not be the case — it would be career suicide — the players certainly appear to have checked out on their coach.

Despite the "warts" over the past three years, this was a likeable team…fans and players rallied around the "No Quit in NY" characterization. It's amazing the 180 that this team has done this season. They have become an incredibly unlikeable group.

— David Pack (@DavidPack_9) April 8, 2025

Like Laviolette, the players have a hard time finding answers.

“Just a couple mental lapses,” center Vincent Trocheck answered when asked what went wrong in the first-period meltdown. “I think just obviously the one penalty kill, a couple penalties, and then a turnover on the first five-on-five goal.”

Simply “a couple mental lapses” huh? Clearly Trocheck, one of the team leaders, doesn’t have any more answers than his coach.

Team scoring leader Artemi Panarin tried to sum things up by saying, “If we keep playing like that, we’re going to miss the playoffs. It’s hard because it’s last chances right now, but we still have them, so no one give up, we actually try to play hard every minute.”

That would be a nice change of pace, but even if the Rangers do turn things around and play hard every minute, it may be a case of too little too late. Still, the message from Panarin is much better after the loss than the one from Laviolette, who has Rangers fans in an outrage after admitting he had no message for his team.

Dudes checked out. No idea how this even happened. One of the biggest collapses from season to season I’ve ever seen in professional sports.

— TheRationalNewYorker (@TRR2468) April 8, 2025

The bottom line is that the Rangers have five games left, and will need a miracle run in order to earn a playoff berth. If they don’t make it — and it’s looking more and more that way — we may see be witnessing the end of Laviolette’s tenure behind the Rangers bench.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/fans-outraged-peter-laviolette-comments/