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[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/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers re-sign Hartford Wolf Pack veteran Anton Blidh to 2-year contract

Hartford Wolf Pack

The New York Rangers took care of a little offseason business before this season is even over Wednesday.

They re-signed forward Anton Blidh to a two-year, two-way contract, worth $775,000 annually at the NHL level. The 30-year-old could’ve become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

It’s the second two-year, two-way deal he’s signed with the Rangers, first doing so on June 7, 2023. He played only one game with the Rangers the past two seasons, spending the rest of the time with New York’s AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.

Anton Blidh sets a new career high in goals thanks to this beauty pic.twitter.com/jkkUFVAJDo

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) February 9, 2025

Blidh is second on the Wolf Pack with 17 goals and third with 30 points this season. He’s also got 80 penalty minutes, third most on the team. His goals and points totals are both career highs.

He has five multiple-point games this season with Hartford, including three two-goal games. Blidh hasn’t scored a goal in his past 14 games and has four assists in that span.

Last season, Blidh appeared in one game for the Rangers and was pointless in a 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Jan. 13, 2024. He has 85 games of NHL experience with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Rangers, including 32 with the Bruins in 2021-22.

Blidh has four goals and eight assists in the NHL.

Related: Why Peter Laviolette believes it’s time to scratch Gabe Perreault against Flyers

Rangers have seven pending unrestricted free agents, some key RFAs this summer​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Rangers still have seven UFAs to make decisions on this summer, though no big names. They already traded pending unrestricted free agents Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith before the March 7 deadline.

Calvin de Haan is probably the most well-known name among New York’s UFAs. The veteran defenseman will be a healthy scratch for the 16th consecutive game Wednesday when the Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers, and is not expected to be re-signed at season’s end.

The other pending UFAs are players who’ve largely played with Hartford this season. Topping that list is veteran goalie Louis Domingue and the Wolf Pack’s leading scorer Alex Belzile. Defensemen Chad Ruhwedel and Ben Harpur, and forwards Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Riley Nash, are also on that list.

More importantly, the Rangers need to work out a new deal with restricted free agent defenseman K’Andre MIller, who also has arbitration rights. Forwards Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, Arthur Kaliyev and Juuso Parssinen, and defenseman Zac Jones, will be RFAs this summer.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...rtford-wolf-pack-anton-blidh-2-year-contract/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers season on brink after wild 8-5 loss to last-place Flyers

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn ImagesDennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Such is the New York Rangers season that even on a night they scored five goals in an absolute must-win game against a last-place opponent, they still lost. Their 8-5 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers drops the Rangers’ tragic number to be eliminated from playoff contention down to one.

That means even if the Rangers (36-35-7) win each of their final four games — not likely since they’ve had one four-game winning streak this season, back in October — all the Montreal Canadiens need to do is pick up one point in their four remaining games to clinch the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

With their slim playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Rangers entered the third period Wednesday tied 2-2. They scored three goals, and even had a 4-3 lead at one point, but the Rangers had no answer for Tyson Foerster, who completed a hat trick with two third-period goals, nor the rest of his Flyers teammates.

Congrats to Tyson Foerster on his first NHL hat trick! #Flyers pic.twitter.com/YUG9Vi4pYj

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) April 10, 2025

Philadelphia scored six goals in that third period, two into the empty net, and finished with a season-high eight. It was also the most goals allowed by the Rangers this season; they surrendered seven on three occasions.

As he was for each of those three defeats when New York allowed seven goals, Jonathan Quick was in net for the Rangers against the Flyers. Though he made several eye-popping saves, there were at least a couple goals Quick would’ve liked back. He ended the night with 21 saves, and didn’t get much help from his scrambling teammates in the head-spinning third period.

Artemi Panarin scored his 300th NHL goal in the loss and Mika Zibanejad had three assists for the Rangers, who’ve lost three in a row and next visit the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Thursday.

300 CAREER GOALS FOR ARTEMI PANARIN pic.twitter.com/1sS7ZQJV23

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 10, 2025

Jonny Brodzinski scored his career-high 11th goal on the same day he was named the Rangers nominee for the Masterton Trophy. J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider also scored for the Rangers.

Rookie goalie Aleksei Kolosov made 24 saves for the Flyers, who ended a six-game losing streak on the road. Travis Sanheim and Owen Tippett contributed a goal and an assist each. Sean Couturier, Jakob Pelletier and Garnet Hathaway also scored.

Related: Why Peter Laviolette believed it was time to scratch Gabe Perreault against Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers 8 – New York Rangers 5​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Before the fans had a chance to settle into their seats, Zibanejad was off on a breakaway slightly more than a minute into the game. When he was slashed on the hands from behind by Flyers defenseman Cam York, Zibanejad was immediately awarded a penalty shot at 1:15 of the first period.

With a major opportunity to seize the game by its throat, Zibanejad instead completely missed the net on his forehand attempt, eliciting groans from the MSG crowd. Less than three minutes later, those fans were roaring their approval after Quick made a sensational post-to-post save, getting his glove on Travis Konecny’s shot at 4:06.

On the next trip down the ice, it was Kolosov’s turn to make a sensational save, when he robbed Will Cuylle’s slam dunk one-timer on the doorstep at 4:18.

The Rangers had the better of the play, though some of that momentum was negated when they were completely shut down on a powerless power play at 6:54, and allowed Ryan Poehling’s short-handed breakaway, though the Flyers forward hit the crossbar with his shot

That made it almost ironic that the Rangers then scored the first goal of the game on a short-handed breakaway of their own at 11:33. Zibanejad’s cross-ice pass through the neutral zone sprung Trocheck in all alone, and he made no mistake, with a deft fake and slick backhand finish just under the crossbar to make it 1-0 Rangers.

Vincent Trocheck shorthanded goal

(via @BR_OpenIce) pic.twitter.com/s6cvHaNACL

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 10, 2025

It was New York’s League-leading 16th short-handed goal of the season; Trocheck is now tied with Kreider for the Rangers lead with four shorties. Quick picked up his first point of the season — and second in two seasons with the Rangers — with the secondary assist.

A minute later, the Rangers nearly doubled their lead when they entered the Flyers zone with a 4-on-2 rush. Braden Schneider, the trailer, accepted a pass and snapped a shot on net that was stopped by Kolosov, who then quickly pounced on the rebound.

The Rangers out-shot the Flyers 12-5 and had a 6-2 advantage in high-danger chances in the first period, per Natural Stat Trick.

The home team wasn’t as effective in the second period, though. The Flyers tied the score 1-1 when Foerster beat Quick glove side for his 20th goal at 9:03. Then Philly grabbed a 2-1 lead when Hathaway’s shot leaked through Quick’s pads for a short-handed goal at 16:43.

On top of that, Panarin was hit in the face by the puck at center ice and spent several minutes in the dressing room getting stitches in his mouth. Good thing for the Rangers, Panarin returned to action before the period ended.

That’s because Panarin scored a beauty to tie the game 2-2 at 18:32. His milestone goal was a gorgeous backhand finish after he finessed his way through the Flyers defense.

Entering the third period tied and desperately in need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Rangers instead allowed the Flyers to once again take the lead. Sanheim zipped a seam pass to Noah Cates on the doorstep, but Quick made a huge pad save. However, Sanheim cleaned up the rebound and scored his eighth goal to make it 3-2 Flyers at 3:05.

The Rangers, though, not only had an answer, they had two. Brodzinski’s left-wing shot deflected off a Flyers stick up and over Kolosov to tie the game 3-3 at 5:38. Then Miller scored off the rush on Zibanejad-‘s third assist of the night, his 20th goal giving the Rangers a 4-3 lead at 7:01.

J.T. with a RIP. pic.twitter.com/erwuqDjTOO

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 10, 2025

With the Garden rocking, the Flyers found a way to quickly silence the Rangers fans. Tippett hammered a long shot from right wing on net that bounced off Quick and then caromed into the net off Pelletier, who was charging toward the crease. Exactly one minute after the Rangers took the lead, the game was again tied at 8:01.

The see-saw battle took another twist when Couturier buried a big rebound into a gaping cage at 11:55.

Then the Flyers did something neither team had been able to do all night. They managed to take a two-goal lead. The Flyers took advantage of a blown coverage, and Foerster was left wide-open in the left circle. Sanheim found him with a seam pass and Foerster blasted his second of the game past a diving Quick to make it 6-4 Flyers at 15:33.

A big blow from Tyson. #PHIvsNYR | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/4lQCsdmzio

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 10, 2025

But the Rangers didn’t quit. With Quick on the bench for an extra attacker, the Flyers turned the puck over in their own end after a nice sliding play by Adam Fox, and Kreider was all alone between the circles to bury his 21st goal of the season with 1:50 remaining in regulation.

After the ensuing face-off, the Rangers got bodies to the net and Kolosov made one huge save to keep the Flyers in front. Foerster then bodied Fox off the puck at the red line, and completed his hat trick by sending a long shot into the empty Rangers net at 19:05.

Tippett closed out the scoring with another empty-netter, this one bar down from his own end of the ice with 11.7 seconds left.

It was yet another in a long line of massively frustrating losses in this lost season for the Rangers.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...son-on-brink-wild-8-5-loss-last-place-flyers/

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers face dilemma with conditional 1st-round pick they traded away in 2025 NHL Draft

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

Once this season mercifully comes to an end, the New York Rangers can dive right into a critical offseason for the organization. There are a slew of important decisions to make, including one that involves a first-round draft pick they traded away — and was traded again, this time to one of their rivals in the Metropolitan Division.

As part of the J.T. Miller trade on Jan. 31, the Rangers sent a conditional 2025 first-round draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks. That pick then was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade that sent veteran defenseman Marcus Pettersson to the Canucks.

The condition on the pick is that it is top-13 protected. That means if the Rangers finish 20th or worse overall this season, general manager Chris Drury has the option to keep this year’s first rounder and send next year’s first-round pick to the Penguins with no protection.

With a week to go in the season, the Rangers are 23rd out of 32 teams — meaning that as of today, Drury has a decision to make. Even if the Rangers move ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings before the season ends (each of those teams enters Thursday with 79 points, tied with the Rangers but with a game in hand on New York), the Rangers would be 20th overall in the League.

That leaves Drury with a decision on the top-13 protected pick.

Keep in mind that per NHL Draft Lottery rules, a team can only move up a maximum of 10 spots. That means to have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick, the Rangers need to finish no better than 11th in the League this season.

Complicating matters is that the the 2026 draft is considered much deeper than this year’s. But the Rangers certainly hope to finish much higher in the standings next season and this year could be a chance to land one of the top picks.

What to do? Drury has until 48 hours before this year’s draft to notify the Penguins if the Rangers are keeping this year’s pick or relinquishing it.

Related: Rangers own up to ‘shitty feeling’ with playoff hopes just about at end

Rangers must choose between keeping 2025 1st-round pick or one in 2026​

The Rangers currently have eight selections in this year’s draft after the first round — many accumulated from the bevy of moves Drury made throughout the season. They have only a first- and third-rounder in the 2026 draft from rounds 1-4.

So do the Rangers take advantage of the high pick this year hoping to get an impactful player a year earlier, or keep their already small draft capital intact for 2026, when there’s believed to be more talented prospects available.

That the pick going to Pittsburgh, which is in need of young talent as much as any team, adds weight to Drury’s decision following the draft lottery. Though his job is to do what’s best for the Rangers, he doesn’t want to directly help a division rival satisfy its biggest need.

Some have mentioned how rolling the pick to next year’s draft could send the wrong message to the seemingly sensitive locker room. Setting the expectation that the team could be as bad or worse next season, making it a better pick for the Rangers in a more talented draft.

The Rangers have plenty of picks to satisfy the cupboards or be creative at this year’s draft without the first rounder initially at hand. Retaining the first rounder in next year’s loaded draft doesn’t have to send a message one way or the other.

It’s hard to gauge which is the right choice, though it seems hard to imagine Drury passing on a top-10 pick this year after the misery of how they ended up in this position. The way this season unfolded makes you wonder who would be available if the Rangers dangled a top-10 pick as part of a trade package to land a young player who could impact the current roster right away.

The days of dreaming on a Brady Tkachuk blockbuster have passed. But a top-10 pick and, say, K’Andre Miller or Alexis Lafreniere or Brennan Othmann, could land the Rangers a significant return. That would benefit the Rangers immediately and in the long term.

Or they could keep the top-10 pick (assuming they land in the top-10 after the lottery) or wherever that pick ends up. Or is the better play sending the pick to the Penguins, counting on a deeper draft next season, is the play.

There’s no simple answer. Drury very well could wait right up until that 48-hour window before letting the Penguins know what the decision is.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ma-conditional-1st-round-pick-2025-nhl-draft/

 

[New York Rangers]

3 Rangers takeaways after keeping playoff hopes alive by embarrassing Islanders 9-2

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn ImagesDennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers are still all but certain to miss make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But they did sweep the Battle of New York.

One night after an embarrassing 8-5 home loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Rangers humiliated their archrivals, the New York Islanders, 9-2 at UBS Arena on Thursday night, completing a sweep of the season series for the first time since 2003-04 and keeping their slim playoff hopes alive. They outscored the Isles 23-5, winning each of the four games by at least three goals.

The win kept the Rangers’ microscopic playoff hopes alive. However, the Blueshirts could be eliminated before they take the ice for their next game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh on Saturday afternoon if the Montreal Canadiens get a point in their road game against the Ottawa Senators on Friday night.

The nine goals were the most the Rangers have ever scored against the Islanders in a road game and matched the most they’ve had against their local rivals in any regular-season game. The Rangers scored nine times for the fourth time in the past 30 years and matched the Pittsburgh Penguins (against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 12) for the most goals in a game this season.

The Islanders came out looking like the Rangers on most nights in recent weeks – disinterested, sloppy and uncompetitive. With starting goalie Ilya Sorokin sidelined with a lower-body injury (likely for the rest of the season), backup Marcus Hogberg was neither good nor well-supported. The Rangers lit him up for four goals in the opening period and never looked back.

Meanwhile, the Blueshirts looked like the group that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season in the opening 20 minutes. They were hustling, winning puck battles, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them for easy goals. They forechecked with vigor and backchecked like it was a playoff game.

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

“Anytime you can score early, get the momentum early, it’s big for the game,” said center Vincent Trocheck, who scored the third of the Rangers’ four goals in the opening period.

Following the big first period, Jusso Parssinen’s second-period goal made it 5-0, and after Maxim Tsyplakov’s power-play goal with 54 seconds left in the middle period got the Isles on the board, Brett Berard sandwiched two third-period goals around one by Isles forward Hunter Fasching before Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin added goals in the final 4:06.

“The start was really good. I thought we were just good defensively and on attack,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought we have been starting games a lot better, but it’s nice when you can put up some goals and get rewarded like that.

“Then, I think, just finishing strong, too, I thought the third period was good.”

When the Islanders finally started generating some pressure in the second period, Igor Shesterkin looked like the goalie who won the Vezina Trophy four years ago. He finished with 44 saves, including 19 on 20 shots in the second period.

“Every night you know what you’re getting out of him,” Trocheck said. “We can always rely on him when we make mistakes, and tonight was no different.”

Related: Why Rangers face dilemma with conditional first-round pick they traded in 2025 NHL draft

3 Rangers takeaways from 9-2 victory against the Islanders​

Here are three takeaways from the Rangers’ wipeout of their local rival.

1. Where has this team been?​

As much as Rangers fans enjoyed seeing the Blueshirts toy with their suburban rivals again, they had to be shaking their heads and wondering why their heroes couldn’t have played like this when the games mattered more. After all, they had lost their previous three games while being outscored 17-6.

Bu on this night, the big guns came out firing – Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Trocheck each had a goal and an assist in the first period, while Adam Fox and J.T. Miller each chipped in two assists in the opening 20 minutes. The power play needed just 29 seconds to score on its only opportunity of the game after going 3-for-35 in the previous 13, and Shesterkin played like the goaltender who will become the NHL’s highest-paid player at his position next season.

IGR. pic.twitter.com/CHPqMlbI6T

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 11, 2025

Yes, it helped that the Isles didn’t have Sorokin, one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders. Hogberg was awful, though his teammates gave him no help, handing out turnovers like parking tickets during the Rangers’ four-goal first period.

This wasn’t like beating the San Jose Sharks, the NHL’s worst team, 6-1 on March 29. This was beating their biggest rival, in their own building, in a game that was basically over after the first period. Ten players had multiple points, the first time the Rangers have been in double figures in multi-point scorers since Oct. 24, 1979.

2. Sweep dreams​

There almost certainly won’t be a playoff trip for the Rangers, so they’ll have to settle for four wins in as many games against their suburban rivals.

This was the fourth time the Rangers have swept the season from the Islanders since they entered the NHL in the fall of 1972. It’s also the most dominant the Rangers have ever been against the Islanders during a season series — they won all six games against the 1972-73 expansion Isles, but two of those wins were by one goal.

The only time the Blueshirts were more dominant was in the first round of the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when they swept the best-of-7 series while outscoring the Islanders 22-3.

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The stakes weren’t high this time, considering each team figures to be heading home for the summer next week, but Trocheck said there’s still something extra about beating the Isles.

“Any time you play New York-New York, it’s always a game you want to take pride in,” he said.

3. Too little, too late?​

Kudos to the Rangers (37-35-7) for rebounding from their monstrosity of a showing against the Flyers at the Garden 24 hours earlier. They blew the game open early and were never threatened and kept piling up goals. Good teams stomp on opponents when they’re down, and the Rangers did just that against the Isles.

The bad part is that when they wake up in the morning and head for Raleigh, they’ll be six points behind the Canadiens (39-30-9), who will be going for their seventh straight win when they visit the Senators on Friday night.

“We know what the situation is,” Trocheck said. “We have to just focus on each game, try to get better, whether it’s a push to make the playoffs or a push to make ourselves better going into next season.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ff-hopes-alive-by-embarrassing-islanders-9-2/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers prospect Ty Henricks to play for NCAA National Championship with Western Michigan

Connor Hamilton-Imagn ImagesConnor Hamilton-Imagn Images

For the second straight year, the New York Rangers will have at least one of their prospects playing in the NCAA National Championship game.

Ty Henricks, a sixth-round pick (No. 183) in the 2023 NHL Draft, will take part in the title game this season as a member of Western Michigan University after their thrilling 3-2 win against defending champion Denver in double overtime on Thursday at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Last season, Rangers prospects Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue played in the national championship game for Boston College, which lost to Denver 2-0. Perreault signed his entry-level contract with the Rangers last week and played three NHL games, so far, after Boston College was eliminated in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament this season.

Henricks, a 6-foot-5 forward, is an intriguing prospect, though certainly not on the level of Perreault, the 2023 first-round pick.

Playing primarily on the fourth line as a freshman this season, Henricks is ninth on Western Michigan with seven goals in 40 games. He has 12 points and is plus-15.

The Rangers prospect scored a goal in his first NCAA game, Oct. 11 against Ferris State, and had a two-goal outing against North Dakota on March 1. His eventful first season now comes with an opportunity to play in the NCAA championship game.

Related: Rangers prospects Ty Henricks, Brody Lamb capture NCAA regular-season titles

Rangers prospect helps Western Michigan reach NCAA National Championship game​

Western Michigan came out firing in the program’s first ever Frozen Four appearance, nearly taking an early lead just over a minute into the game when Zach Nehring rang a shot off the crossbar and Liam Valente had a shot barely saved by Denver goaltender Matt Davis.

HOW DID THIS PUCK STAY OUT

Frozen Four semifinal on ESPN2/ESPN+ NOW pic.twitter.com/OLvImCm5QI

— ESPN (@espn) April 10, 2025

The Broncos continued to dominate the opening period, and had the first power play of the night when Kieran Cebrian was called for boarding at 11:34. Though Western Michigan generated five shots with the man advantage, Denver withstood the pressure and the score remained 0-0 at the end of the period despite a 12-3 shot deficit.

Denver was unable to capitalize on the power play early in the second period when Alex Bump went to the penalty box for slashing at 2:40. Then Denver’s Samu Salminen took a penalty for holding at 5:32, which led to a power-play goal by Western Michigan defenseman Brian Kramer, when he rifled a shot from the point into the back of the net.

WESTERN MICHIGAN FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET FIRST

ESPN2/ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/sPUK7GxSxS

— ESPN (@espn) April 10, 2025

Owen Michaels doubled the lead for Western Michigan, sniping a shot over the shoulder of Davis at 14:32.

A laser shot puts the Broncos up two goals pic.twitter.com/VnC7C8DezU

— ESPN (@espn) April 10, 2025

Holding onto the 2-0 lead, Western Michigan successfully killed a hooking penalty by Iiro Hakkarainen at 16:22, and were able to generate two shots on goal when short-handed to head into the third period with a whopping 32-8 shots advantage.

After killing off an early penalty, Denver finally scored at 6:49 of the third on a goal by Aiden Thompson. Then late in the period, Jared Wright tallied the tying goal on a scramble in front of the net at 17:21. After review to challenge for goaltender interference, the call on the ice stood and the game headed to overtime.

The first shot on net in overtime came from Western Michigan’s Cole Crusberg-Roseen, who nearly beat Davis to win the game. Alex Bump and Michaels were also denied, and the Pioneers were able to clear the puck from danger. Hakkarainen also was stopped on a couple of chances.

Though Denver won the opening face-off in the second overtime, Western Michigan quickly gained possession, and pushed into the offensive zone. Matteo Costantini slid a pass to Michaels, who beat Davis 26 seconds into the frame to send the Broncos to the National Championship against Boston University on Saturday night.

WESTERN MICHIGAN WINS IT IN DOUBLE OT

The Broncos punch their ticket to the National Championship game in their first-ever Frozen Four appearance pic.twitter.com/phGNsoHSlL

— ESPN (@espn) April 11, 2025

“It’s a focused group. They never lose belief in themselves,” said coach Pat Ferschweiler, who has led the Broncos to a tournament berth in each of his four seasons in Kalamazoo.

“They came in unhappy with the third period. But I think our biggest mistake was not scoring on all our chances in the second. Denver has a championship pedigree. They’re going to push and make it hard on you. But we knew over the entirety of the game, I thought we were the better squad.”

Henricks finished the game with one shot on goal and an even plus-minus rating.

The win Thursday was a program-best 33rd of the season for Western Michigan. The Broncos have won each of their past four games by one goal and are on a nine-game winning streak going into the national title game against BU, which defeated Penn State 3-1 in the other semifinal.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-national-championship-game-western-michigan/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Hurricanes: 3 things to watch for trying to avoid sweep, keep playoff hopes alive

James Guillory-Imagn ImagesJames Guillory-Imagn Images

One day after being granted a reprieve and with their playoff hopes still alive — even just barely — the New York Rangers travel to Raleigh for a must-win game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon at Lenovo Center.

The Rangers (37-35-7) still need to win out in their final three games and need the Montreal Canadiens to lose each of their remaining games in regulation in order for New York to earn a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. But they still have a pulse thanks to Montreal’s 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Friday night.

The game in Raleigh will be over before the one in Toronto between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs begins Saturday, so the Canadiens will know if the Rangers are still in it by time they take the ice. Can you imagine the pressure on that young Canadiens team if the Rangers defeat the Hurricanes?

But to get there, the Rangers must find a way to defeat the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division. And make no mistake, the Hurricanes would love to end the Rangers season, reverse what happened in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.

The Rangers kept their playoff hopes alive and ended a three-game losing streak by mauling the Islanders 9-2 at UBS Arena on Thursday. They had seven different goal scorers, 11 players recorded at least one point and 10 skaters had a multiple-point outing.

Artemi Panarin’s 36th goal of the season makes it a four-goal first period for the Rangers! pic.twitter.com/YIYKTSysKJ

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 11, 2025

Not to be overshadowed was Igor Shesterkin, who was brilliant with 44 saves, including 19 on 20 shots in the second period. His outstanding play masked some of the Rangers deficiencies in their own end. Even in a 9-2 victory, defensive breakdowns were a constant theme for the Rangers on Thursday.

The Hurricanes return home after a winless four-game road trip (0-3-1). Despite a Seth Jarvis goal late in the third period that forced overtime, the Hurricanes closed their trip with a 5-4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Outscored 18-8 and shut out once on the trip, the Hurricanes are happy to be back at Lenovo Center, where they have the best home record in the Eastern Conference this season (30-8-1). Carolina’s won eight of its past nine games on home ice.

This is the fourth and final meeting between the division rivals this season. The Hurricanes seek a sweep of the season series after winning the first three by an aggregate 11-4, including a 4-0 shutout at Madison Square Garden in the most recent meeting Jan. 28.

Related: NHL insider speculates Rangers will fire Peter Laviolette, keep Chris Drury

3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Hurricanes​

James Guillory-Imagn Images

1. Goals galore​

In their past four periods of play, the Rangers have scored 12 goals. In their past two games, the total is 14. Yes, we know the Rangers still lost one of those games, but the point is their offense has come to life again.

Seven different skaters found the back of the net against the Islanders (10 in the past four periods). Scoring was so contagious that even Alexis Lafreniere potted one after scoring just twice in the previous 26 games. And shock of shocks — the Rangers even scored a power-play goal, just their fourth in the past 50 opportunities.

Since Jan. 2, the Rangers have scored 142 goals, fourth most in the NHL. They’ve scored four goals or more 21 times in that span, tied for second in the League. After finishing seventh in the NHL last season averaging 3.39 goals per game, the Rangers are 12th this season (3.08).

2. Panarin’s push​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Artemi Panarin scored two more goals and had three points in the win against the Islanders to continue his heater down the stretch. The 33-year-old is finishing strong with 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists) in 20 games since March 2.

Bread scored his 300th NHL goal in the loss to the Flyers on Wednesday, and is now three goals shy of his second 40-goal season and three points away from his fourth straight 90-point campaign, and fifth of his career.

Panarin’s moved into a tie for 11th in the NHL scoring race with 87 points, just one behind Jesper Bratt of the New Jersey Devils.

3. That would be Cool​

Will Cuylle played a powerful game against the Islanders. He was flying on a line with Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller, scoring his 19th goal and adding an assist to go along with eight shot attempts, five hits and three blocked shots.

Will Cuylle! 2-0 Rangers! pic.twitter.com/gDkwTtHblh

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 11, 2025

The 23-year-old needs one goal to reach 20 for the first time in the NHL. He’s fourth in the League and already broke the Rangers record with 295 hits, just five shy of a nice round 300- number.

Cuylle has been an outlier on this disappointing team. The Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner continues to exceed expectations.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Panarin – Trocheck – Brodzinski

Cuylle – J.T. Miller – Zibanejad

Kreider – Parssinen – Lafreniere

Berard – Carrick –Rempe

Soucy – Fox

Miller – Borgen

Vaakanainen – Schneider

Shesterkin

Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes

When: Saturday, April 12 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Lenovo Center

How to watch: ABC

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/game-preview-hurricanes-try-avoid-sweep/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers embarrassment includes being 1st NHL team to miss playoffs twice after winning Presidents’ Trophy

James Guillory-Imagn ImagesJames Guillory-Imagn Images

The 2024-25 New York Rangers were hoping to make history this season by winning the Stanley Cup for the fifth time in franchise history and the first since 1994. These Rangers did make some history, but hardly the kind they were hoping for.

Instead of giving their fans dreams of their first championship in 31 years as the postseason approaches, the Rangers joined the dubious list of teams who went from winning the Presidents’ Trophy one season to missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs 12 months later.

What was likely for some time became reality Saturday, when the Rangers were officially eliminated with a 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh. The Rangers were bounced from playoff contention with two games remaining on their schedule.

Even more ignominious is that the Rangers not only became the fourth team to go from regular-season champs to early vacationers since the NHL instituted the Presidents’ Trophy in 1985-86, they’re now the first franchise to do it twice — the Blueshirts sandwiched regular-season titles in 1991-92 and 1993-94 with a playoff miss in 1992-93.

The 2007-08 Buffalo Sabres and 2014-15 Boston Bruins are the only other teams to go from regular-season champs to playoff non-participants the next season.

In all, the Rangers have won the Presidents’ Trophy four times, including last season. The Detroit Red Wings lead all teams by winning it six times – all between 1994-95 and 2007-08.

Here’s a look at how this season’s Rangers compare to their three predecessors on this infamous list.

Related: NHL Insider speculates ‘tight-lipped’ Rangers will fire Peter Laviolette, keep Chris Drury

2024-25 New York Rangers​

Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images​

Record: 37-36-7 (10th in Eastern Conference with 2 games remaining)
Previous season: 55-23-4 (114 points)
Win Stanley Cup in Presidents’ Trophy season: No (lost to Florida Panthers 4-2 in Eastern Conference Final)

What happened: Things looked promising for the Rangers when they arrived in Calgary to face the Flames on Nov. 21. They were 12-4-1, had won three in a row and, at least on the outside, looked like a Stanley Cup contender.

Instead, a 3-2 loss that saw Igor Shesterkin face 49 shots was the beginning of a 4-15-0 stretch to close 2024, leaving the Rangers chasing a wild-card berth instead of a Presidents’ Trophy repeat. They’ve demonstrated little consistency during 2025, leaving plenty of points on the table (they are 2-7 in overtime, with six of the losses coming in games they led in the third period) and showing little of the drive and compete level that characterized their play in 2023-24.

One indication of the drop in play: The Rangers are the only team in the NHL this season that hasn’t won a game after trailing by multiple goals. Another: Since their slide began in mid-November, the Rangers haven’t won more than two games in a row; the are 0-4-4 in their eight opportunities to win a third straight game.

The power play, which helped carry the Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24, is in the bottom quarter of the League rankings. None of their big guns will approach his offensive numbers from the previous season, while Shesterkin and backup Jonathan Quick have had to cope with a barrage of Grade A chances on a nightly basis.

What will follow: GM Chris Drury reworked the roster during the season to try to avoid missing the playoffs, dealing captain Jacob Trouba and forward Kaapo Kakko, the second player taken in the 2019 NHL Draft, among others. What he’ll do – and whether he’ll be around to do it – are major questions facing the franchise, as is the fate of coach Peter Laviolette.

2014-15 Boston Bruins​

Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images​

Record: 41-27-14 (96 points; 9th in Eastern Conference)
Previous season: 54-19-9 (117 points)
Win Stanley Cup in Presidents’ Cup season: No (lost to Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in Eastern Conference Second Round)

What happened: The 2014-15 Bruins have the best record of the four teams that missed the playoffs in the season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. But they paid a huge price for their inability to win shootouts.

Boston went to the tiebreaker 14 times and lost 10 of those games. Offense in general was an issue; Boston had just three players with 20+ goals (Brad Marchand was tops with 24), and Patrice Bergeron’s 55 points led the team – no one else topped 50.

Still, the Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins were even with 95 points after Boston’s 2-1 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins’ 5-3 road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 4. It was the Bruins’ fifth straight win – and their last. Neither team fared well in the race to the final night of the season, but the Bruins lost their two games in regulation while the Penguins were 0-2-1.

On April 11, 2015, Pittsburgh shut out the Sabres 2-0 and the Bruins lost 3-2 in (what else!) a shootout to the Tampa Bay Lightning. That left the Penguins holding the second wild card, two points ahead of the Bruins.

What followed: The Bruins came up three points short of a playoff berth in 2015-16, this time losing out to the Philadelphia Flyers. But they made the playoffs in each of the next eight seasons (and got to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2019) before crashing and burning this season.

2007-08 Buffalo Sabres​

Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images​

Record: 39-31-12 (90 points; 10th in Eastern Conference)
Previous season: 53-22-7 (113 points)
Win Stanley Cup in Presidents’ Trophy season?: No (lost to Ottawa Senators 4-1 in Eastern Conference Final)

What happened: The free agency bug bit the Sabres hard after they matched the 1974-75 team for the best regular-season record in team history. Center Danny Briere, who led the 2006-07 Sabres with 95 points, jumped ship and signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, while Chris Drury, who was second on that team with 37 goals and first with 17 power-play tallies, signed with the Rangers.

With Ryan Miller in goal, the 2007-08 Sabres allowed 242 goals, the exact same number they’d surrendered when winning the Presidents’ Trophy a year earlier. But the departure of Briere and Drury made a big difference on the attack; through scoring was down throughout the League, the Sabres scored 53 fewer goals, finishing with 255 after leading the NHL with 308 in 2006-07.

Buffalo lost its first two games, didn’t get to more than one game above .500 until mid-December and paid a huge price for its inability to win shootouts — the Sabres were 4-9 in the tiebreaker. They didn’t get above seven games over NHL .500 until ending the season with a meaningless 3-0 victory in Boston against the Bruins, who finished four points ahead of Buffalo in the race for the last playoff berth.

What followed: Buffalo missed the postseason again in 2008-09, but won the Northeast Division in 2009-10 with 100 points and qualified for the postseason in 2010-11. However, the Sabres were bounced in the first round each time and haven’t made the postseason since then; their 14-year drought is the longest in NHL history.

1992-93 New York Rangers​

Credit: USA TODAY Sports​

Record: 34-39-11 (79 points; last in Patrick Division)
Previous season: 50-25-5 (105 points)
Win Stanley Cup in Presidents’ Trophy season?: No (lost to Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 in Patrick Division Final)

What happened: Mark Messier’s second season on Broadway was nowhere near as good as his first, when he had his last 100-point season (107) and won the Hart Trophy as League MVP for helping the Rangers lead the NHL in points for the first time since 1942.

The second-round loss to the Penguins in a series they led 2-1 after winning Game 3 in Pittsburgh appeared to have some early hangover effect – enough so that they fired coach Roger Neilson halfway through the season, replacing him with Ron Smith, who had been running their AHL team in Binghamton.

However, the Rangers eventually found enough of their game from the previous season to be alone in third place after a 5-4 road win against the Ottawa Senators on March 22. Despite having lost star defenseman Brian Leetch with a season-ending ankle injury, they were just two points out of second place – but only one point ahead of the fourth-place New Jersey Devils and three in front of the New York Islanders.

Then the roof fell in. The Rangers were 0-3-1 in their next four games, including a damaging 3-2 overtime loss to the Islanders at the Garden on April 2. After a 4-0 road win against the Washington Capitals two nights later, the Rangers lost their last seven games, all in regulation and six within the Patrick Division. They ended up last in the division at 34-39-11, becoming the only team in NHL history to finish below .500 the season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

What followed: The greatest season in Rangers history – and the only Stanley Cup championship in the past 85 years. On the day after the ’92-93 season ended, general manager Neil Smith axed Ron Smith and replaced him with Mike Keenan, who had been fired as GM by the Chicago Blackhawks after stepping down as coach. Keenan’s lone season in New York ended with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, a trip the Rangers had hoped to make after this season as well.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ayoffs-twice-after-winning-presidents-trophy/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers prospect scores tournament-winning goal as Western Michigan wins NCAA title

Jeff Curry-Imagn ImagesJeff Curry-Imagn Images

Ty Henricks, selected by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (No. 183) of the 2023 NHL Draft, scored the tournament-winning goal for Western Michigan in a 6-2 victory over Boston University in the NCAA Championship Game on Saturday night at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Henricks was alone near the left post and rifled a pass by Cam Knuble past BU goalie Mikhail Yegorov at 5:18 of the second period to give the Broncos a 3-1 lead.

BU got within 3-2 when Shane Lachance poked the puck into the net off a power-play scramble at 9:18, but the Broncos put the game away with three third-period goals, two by Owen Michaels, and won the title in its first Frozen Four appearance.

OKAY TY! @ty_henricks makes it 3-1 Broncos with 14:42 left in the second period. #MFrozenFour x ESPN2 / @WMUHockey pic.twitter.com/ARfmIHXfgw

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 13, 2025

“Our will was there. We weren’t going to lose this game,” Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler told ESPN.

Michaels, who was named the Frozen Four’s most outstanding player, also had two goals — including the winner in double overtime — in a 3-2 semifinal win against Denver on Thursday to go along with his two on Saturday.

Western Michigan – the alma mater of former Rangers general manager Neil Smith – grabbed a quick 1-0 lead when Wyatt Schingoethe scored 1:38 into the game. BU tied it midway through the period when Cole Eiserman poked in a loose puck in the crease; the goal stood after a video review.

First goal of the Natty feels #MFrozenFour x @WMUHockey pic.twitter.com/VLV2PsrNTS

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 13, 2025

But the Broncos regained the lead at 15:01 when Cole Crusberg-Roseen pumped home a shot from the right circle for a 2-1 lead.

The second-period goals by Henricks and Lachance sent the game into the third period with Western Michigan up 3-2. After the Terriers came close to tying the game, the Broncos took a 4-2 lead when Michaels scored at 7:16, calling his own number on a 2-on-1 break and beating Yegorov past his blocker.

Related: Rangers prospects Ty Henricks, Brody Lamb capture NCAA regular-season titles

The Terriers appeared to cut the lead to 4-3 with 8:04 remaining when Matt Copponi jammed in a rebound through goalie Hampton Slukynsky’s legs. Although replays clearly showed the puck going over the line, the goal was disallowed because the whistle had blown.

Iiro Hakkarainen’s goal with less than four minutes remaining made it 5-2, and Michaels closed the scoring by hitting the empty net with 2:07 to play.

The win was a program-best 34th of the season for Western Michigan (34-7-1). The Broncos had won each of their previous four games by one goal and finished the season on a 10-game winning streak. BU has won five NCAA titles; the last came in 2009, with former Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk playing a key role.

Rangers prospect helps Western Michigan win NCAA title​

Henricks, a 6-foot-5 freshman forward, is an intriguing prospect — though certainly not on the level of Gabe Perreault, New York’s first-round pick (No. 23) in 2023, who signed with the Rangers after Western Michigan eliminated Boston College on March 30. He’s played primarily on the fourth line; it was his eighth goal in 41 games. Henricks finished with 13 points and was plus-16.

Connor Hamilton-Imagn Images

He had one shot on goal and an even plus-minus rating in the victory against Denver, the defending champion.

The Rangers prospect scored a goal in his first NCAA game, Oct. 11 against Ferris State, and had a two-goal outing against North Dakota on March 1. He capped an eventful first season by helping Western Michigan win its first NCAA Championship.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ing-goal-as-western-michigan-wins-ncaa-title/

 

[New York Rangers]

Frustrated Calvin de Haan has plenty to say about ‘f—-d’ Rangers tenure, just not yet

Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images

Calvin de Haan is pissed. And now that this miserable New York Rangers season is just about over, the veteran defenseman is apparently ready to unleash his simmering anger.

Just not quite yet.

Beat writers Mollie Walker (New York Post) and Peter Baugh (The Athletic) each reported that de Haan had a few choice words about his situation with the Rangers on his way to the ice for an optional practice in South Florida on Sunday.

The 13-year NHL veteran reportedly said that it’s “f—-d” how the Rangers have treated him since he was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1, as part of the Ryan Lindgren trade. He also reportedly said “just wasting time,” perhaps about taking part in practice after being a healthy scratch for 18 straight games.

De Haan told the reporters he’d speak with them after practice. However, after speaking to a member of the Rangers public relations staff, he begged off and said he’d speak another day, likely on breakup day later in the week.

Because his initial comments were posted on social media, de Haan posted a lengthy statement on X (formerly Twitter) to explain himself.

“I’m not trying to be the villain or gain attention or throw shade on the organization, I would have preferred a scrum setting to chat about how my time with the Rangers has gone,” de Haan stated in part. “As a player you have to respect the lineup decisions whether you like them or not, it’s just been frustrating not being able to compete and do what I love to do. I hope everyone understands.”

Going to get ahead of this now…

I was hoping that I would have been able to express in a scrum setting versus a quote as I was going onto the ice and having it on the Internet 30 seconds later. I said what I said because I am frustrated , and any competitor who says that they…

— Calvin de Haan (@cal_dehaan) April 13, 2025

Related: Mark Messier believes ‘spirit was missing’ for Rangers during this miserable season

Rangers will turn to rookie Matthew Robertson instead of Calvin de Haan against Panthers​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It seems that de Haan held his tongue until the Rangers were officially eliminated from playoff contention, which they were Saturday following a 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 33-year-old played three games in a row after the trade, and the Rangers snagged five of six points (2-0-1). He hasn’t played since, after Carson Soucy was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in a pre-deadline trade. The Rangers are 6-10-2 in the past 18 games without de Haan in the lineup.

Soucy, Urho Vaakanainen and Zac Jones each have received playing time instead of de Haan, who had one assist and was plus-4 in the three games he played with the Rangers. He had seven assists and was minus-8 in 44 games earlier this season with the Avalanche.

“Did I help win those games I played, maybe? Maybe not? But we still won and collected some crucial points to climb the standings,” de Haan said in his statement. “I understand the youth movement in the NHL, and I’m getting older in hockey years and I may not play every single night. I feel like I can still contribute and help teams win. I know I’m not going to play 20 minutes a night in the role I’ve been in the past few years, but again I feel like I can still keep up and help a team in certain facets of the game.”

Maybe the final straw for de Haan was that the Rangers recalled defenseman Matthew Robertson from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Sunday and coach Peter Laviolette said the 24-year-old will make his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers on Monday.

Braden Schneider won’t play the final two games of the season because of an upper-body injury. The Rangers were carrying two extra defensemen before electing to sit Schneider, but added Robertson to give him an opportunity with nothing on the line for the Blueshirts.

De Haan is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Since he is not part of New York’s future, it makes sense to get a look at Robertson instead.

The Rangers close out the season Thursday at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning. So, de Haan should have the chance to get things off his chest either Friday or Saturday.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/frustrated-calvin-de-haan-statement/

 

[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers Daily: 2 games for kids to impress; Canadiens can clinch with win

Ed Mulholland-Imagn ImagesEd Mulholland-Imagn Images

The standings points won’t mean anything for the New York Rangers in the final two games this season. Not now. Not after they’ve already been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention for the first time in four seasons.

But there are some things for individual players to play for, beginning Monday when the Rangers visit the Florida Panthers and then Thursday when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden.

Take for example Matthew Robertson. The 24-year-old defenseman will make his NHL debut Monday, six years after being a second-round draft pick by the Rangers and after four seasons toiling in the American Hockey League with Hartford. He’s got two games to show that he’s got some NHL promise before the Rangers decide whether or not to sign the pending restricted free agent who has arbitration rights.

Small sample size for each side is better than zero sample size.

Coach Peter Laviolette said that top prospects Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann will get back into the lineup now that the Rangers are officially out of the race. Each should play in the top six, get substantial minutes. Even if there are substantial issues in their game, let each work through ups and downs at the NHL level before the summer arrives. Especially Perreault, who’s only played three games since turning pro after Boston College was knocked out in the NCAA Tournament.

Gabe Perreault is a New York Ranger

Welcome to the League! pic.twitter.com/O9gKXU2vrl

— NHL (@NHL) April 2, 2025

How great would it be if Othmann can finally break through and score his first NHL goal? Yes, that’s a rhetorical question. It’d be really great. The 2021 first-round pick has come close a bunch of times in his 20 games this season. Maybe he can head into the offseason with a good vibe.

Just because those kids are coming in shouldn’t mean others should be coming out of the lineup. Brett Berard? Keep him in there. Juuso Parssinen? Play him. Zac Jones? Yes, him too.

As for the veterans, let Artemi Panarin try to reach 40 goals (he’s got 37) for the second straight season and 90 points (he sits at 89) for the fifth time with the Rangers. As for the others, if anyone’s banged up — like Braden Schneider — no reason to dress them. If everyone’s healthy, really there’s no reason to play Chris Kreider nor Mika Zibanejad is there?

That’s the sad truth of where we are at to close out the 2024-25 season two months too soon.

CLICK HERE to shop at the Forever Blueshirts store

New York Rangers news​

James Guillory-Imagn Images

Our Tom Castro breaks down how Mika Zibanejad’s late-season surge could affect his murky Rangers future.

Well, there’s reason to look forward to Calvin de Haan’s breakup day session with the media later this week, after he began to rip the Rangers organization at practice Sunday.

Peter Laviolette is well aware his days as Rangers coach may be numbered.

Braden Schneider won’t play the final two games of the Rangers season due to an upper-body injury. Matthew Robertson was recalled from Hartford and will make his NHL debut Monday against the Florida Panthers.

Mark Mesier addressed the Rangers issues on ABC, including why the “spirit was missing” with them all sreason.

The Rangers week ahead features final two games before curtain comes down on miserable season.

Our three Rangers takeaways from their 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, includes more of the same brutal defensive mistakes we’ve seen all season.

NHL news and rumors​

In case you missed it, Gabriel Landeskog scored his first professional goal since June 20, 2022 (Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final) when he tipped home a shot for Colorado of the American Hockey League against Henderson on Saturday, playing his second game in three years after returning from multiple knee surgeries.

The Rangers are no longer the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners. Their reign ended officially Sunday when the Winnipeg Jets clinched the best regular-season record in the NHL. Interestingly, the Jets did so when the Washington Capitals lost their game to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and then Winnipeg went out and lost 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers.

Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg left that game after a Connor McDavid one-timer hit him in the knee. Jets coach Scott Arniel was optimistic Samberg will be OK moving forward.

Stud defenseman Zeev Buium officially signed his entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild Sunday and could make his NHL debut against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

How about those Blue Jackets. Though they’re hanging on by a thread in the Eastern Conference playoff race, they won their fourth straight game and swept a weekend home-and-home against the Capitals with a 4-1 victory Sunday.

Despite the Blue Jackets’ surge, the Montreal Canadiens can clinch the second wild card in the East with a win of any kind against the Chicago Blackhawks at home Monday. It would be their first playoff appearance since losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

Ivan Demidov is expected to make his NHL debut with the Canadiens on Monday. He joined the team Sunday after signing his entry-level contract once the KHL season ended.

New Jersey Devils forward Paul Cotter will have a hearing with NHL Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech on Sunday.

Ilya Sorokin returned from a lower-body in jury to make 25 saves and lead the Islanders to a 1-0 win against the Devils.

The Calgary Flames are not going away in the Western Conference playoff race. They defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-2 for their third win in four games, and can still finish anywhere from seventh to ninth in the conference.

Two of the bottom feeders in the East met Sunday, and it was the Boston Bruins that skated past the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1.

Tim Stutzle scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Watch Alex Ovechkin score his 896th career goal for the Capitals in their loss to the Blue Jackets.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/daily-2-games-kids-impress-opportunity/

 

[New York Rangers]

Multi-goal comeback a first for Rangers in 5-3 win over Panthers

Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesSam Navarro-Imagn Images

Talk about too little, too late. The New York Rangers did something Monday they hadn’t been able to accomplish all season in a 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena.

The Rangers (38-36-7) rallied from a multiple-goal deficit to win for the first time this season. They were the only team in the NHL not to have done so before Monday, their 81st game of the season, and first since being eliminated from playoff contention Saturday.

Though it was a meaningless game, it was still a feel-good victory. The Rangers wiped out a 3-1 deficit in the second period and scored the final four goals to defeat the team that kncoked them out of the playoffs last spring in the Eastern Conference Final en-route to winning the Stanley Cup.

Playing in his 800th NHL game, Vincent Trocheck scored the game-winning goal, short-handed, against his former team early in the third period. Matt Rempe had a goal and an assist in the win for his first career multiple-point game.

Short-handed goal for New York!

Scored by Vincent Trocheck with 16:20 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by J.T. Miller.

Florida: 3
New York: 4#NYRvsFLA #TimeToHunt #NYR pic.twitter.com/z5FsbJ1b1u

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 15, 2025

Speaking of firsts, Matthew Robertson made his NHL debut, six years after the Rangers selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft. The 24-year-old defenseman was paired with Adam Fox and nearly scored on the first shift of the game, but was denied when Sergei Bobrovsky made a sharp save just 15 seconds into play.

J.T. Miller and Juuso Parssinen each had a goal and assist, and Jonny Brodzinski scored the other goal for the Rangers, who had lost four of five games coming in.

Jonathan Quick made 27 saves and moved past Grant Fuhr for sole possession of 13th place on the all-time NHL wins list with No. 404 in his stellar career.

Bobrovsky finished with 20 saves for the Panthers. The loss locked them into third place in the Atlantic Division and a likely first-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning when the playoffs begin this weekend.

Sam Reinhart scored two goals for Florida and Carter Verhaeghe had the other.

Related: Mika Zibanejad’s late-season surge could impact his Rangers future one way or the other

New York Rangers 5 – Florida Panthers 3​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Rangers and Panthers exchanged one goal apiece in the first period and a pair each in the second period to skate to a 3-3 tie after 40 minutes of play.

Reinhart opened the scoring with his first of the game just 2:22 into play. He hammered a slap shot past Quick on the power play, off a touch pass from Sam Bennett.

Zac Jones did his best to try and even the score for the Rangers, but was stoned twice by Bobrovsky, who made a pair of quick glove saves on the defenseman 30 seconds apart, at 5:44 and 6:15.

A couple minutes later, Rempe gained position on Seth Jones in front of the Panthers net and banged home a rebound for his third goal of the season at 8:43. It all started with Parssinen winning an offensive zone face-off. Rempe then dished the puck back to K’Andre Miller at the left point and dashed for the net, where he ended up to be in perfect position to tap home a loose puck when Bobrovsky failed to handle Miller’s shot cleanly.

Matt Rempe puts the Rangers on the board! pic.twitter.com/TuhjPp5GH7

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 14, 2025

Each team hit a post before the first period ended. First, it was Alexis Lafreniere for the Rangers, after a pretty set up by Jones at 11:14. Then at 14:45, Reinhart blew past Carson Soucy on the rush and fired a shot that caught iron.

Tied 1-1 entering the second period, the Panthers again grabbed the lead. Verhaeghe chipped a short rebound past Quick when Fox was unable to tie him up at 4:32.

The Rangers fourth line came close to tying the game twice after Verhaeghe’s 20th goal. Rempe sprinted into the offensive zone on right wing and made a power move to the net, but Bobrovsky made an outstanding poke check to deny him at 6:53. Then at 10:10, Bobrovsky made consecutive big-time stops against Chris Kreider and Brodzinski.

Florida rewarded its goalie when Reinhart potted his second goal of the game and 39th of the season at 13:54, tapping in a pretty feed from Aleksander Barkov.

After a largely quiet period, the Rangers broke out to tie the game with a pair of goals 1:38 apart. Parssinen cut to the net and perfectly deflected a K’Andre Miller pass/shot past Bobrovsky at 15:55. Mika Zibanejad then set up J.T. Miller with a gorgeous pass off the rush, and Miller wired home his 22nd goal at 17:33 to tie the score 3-3.

J.T. Miller ties the game! pic.twitter.com/3hSbfvbgW6

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 15, 2025

Rempe took a tripping penalty 2:44 into the third period and it was a major turning point. Just not how you might think.

The Panthers didn’t capitalize, but the Rangers did. They scored their League-leading 17th short-handed goal — second most in franchise history — and grabbed their first lead of the night at 3:40. This time J.T. Miller was the one making a sweet pass; and Trocheck buried it with a left-wing snipe for his team-high fifth shorty to make it 4-3.

Gabe Perreault came very close to extending the Rangers lead and scoring his first NHL goal, but was denied by a sharp Bobrovsky with under five minutes to play. But Brodzinski’s 12th of the season capped the big Rangers comeback at 16:31 to make it 5-3.

Jonny B. buries it. pic.twitter.com/asUk2DGcaA

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 15, 2025

Rempe started the charge to the net, Kreider swept a pass in front from the goal line and Brodzinski was able to chip it into the net, as the fourth line struck again.

Though irrelevant in the standings, it was a good win for the Rangers, especially considering the opponent and how the victory was fueled by so many unheralded players.

So, that leaves one more game this season for the Rangers. They will host the Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Thursday before hey head off to a much-too-early summer vacation.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/multi-goal-comeback-first-5-3-win-panthers/

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Dylan Roobroeck eyes 20th Goal; Callum Tung injured in 1st pro win

Hartford Wolf Pack

The Hartford Wolf Pack head into the final week of the 2024-25 AHL season after winning two of three games last week and ending a four game skid (0-2-2-0).

Dylan Roobroeck’s two-goal performance helped secure a 3-2 win Wednesday against Bridgeport. Hartford followed up with a 6-2 loss on Friday to Providence and a 5-3 win Saturday against Bridgeport.

The seventh-place Wolf Pack (29-32-7-2, 67 points) look to end the season on a high note, despite not making the Calder Cup Playoffs. They are 5-3-2-0 in their past 10 games.

Related: Matthew Robertson ‘overall really good’ for Rangers in NHL debut

Hartford Wolf Pack news-n-notes​

Callum Tung – Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Dylan Roobroeck eyes 20th goal​

Dylan Roobroeck is firing on all cylinders heading to the finish line is his rookie season. The 20-year-old center has 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in 10 games. He is tied with Alex Belzile for the Wolf Pack lead in goals (19), and tied for ninth among all AHL rookies. The hulking forward has three two-goal games (Mar. 15 and 21, Apr. 9), including the one last week.

Roobs' hunt for 20 continues with this beauty pic.twitter.com/LpBcpHdfqS

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) April 12, 2025

Roobroeck has 33 points (19 goals, 14 assists) in 70 games. He is fourth on the team in scoring. He’s also coming along nicely, with 19 points (13 goals, six assists) in the second half of the season, compared to 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in the first half (35 games each).

Right place, right time for Roobs. pic.twitter.com/AmFLYJp4Yo

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) April 10, 2025

Jackson Dorrington’s quiet, reliable game​

Jackson Dorrington’s weekend was full of firsts. The 21-year-old defenseman recorded his first pro point (assist) on Friday. Then, he followed up with his first goal and game misconduct on Saturday (in a large scrum).

JACKSON DORRINGTON’S 1ST PRO GOAL pic.twitter.com/yRQczj2tC5

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) April 13, 2025

Coach Grant Potulny paired the prospect with numerous defenseman (Blake Hillman, Casey Fitzgerald, and Brandon Scanlin) in his first seven games, and Dorrington has responded by playing a steady, reliable game. He’s also played on the penalty kill and clearly profiles as a strong defensive-minded d-man.

Potulny on Dorrington: Any young player, it’s hard to come from junior hockey or college hockey to the American League. The jump is monumental. I think Jackson’s had some really good games. He’s still getting acclimated to the speed of the game. #NYR

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) April 12, 2025

Cont: That’s the one area that, as he goes…he’s gonna be a little bit better, a little bit better. He’s doing a nice job on the penalty kill. Great job getting the puck through. #NYR

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) April 12, 2025

Callum Tung injured in first win​

Callum Tung will always remember his first pro win Saturday against Bridgeport, for many reasons. The 21-year-old goaltender stopped 11 of 12 shots before sustaining an injury early n the second period, when he stretched to make a save. He was helped off the ice and did not return. He was credited with the win, even though Talyn Boyko played the remainder of the game.

wolf pack goalie callum tung had to be helped off the ice after getting injured stretching out to make a save. he had trouble putting weight on his his left side, struggling to get up a couple times & seemed to be in considerable pain. hopefully its not as bad as it looked. pic.twitter.com/6IKC99wHeG

— hope (@nohopeleague) April 13, 2025

This is a tough blow for the prospect since he looked sharp in two games with the Wolf Pack after leaving UCONN a couple weeks ago. Tung is 1-1-0 with a 2.28 goals against average and a .893 save percentage, and likely will miss the final two games of the season. But expect him to be back in teh mix next fall, likely competing for playing time with Dylan Garand.

Upcoming Games​

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

Wednesday, April 16 vs Charlotte Checkers (Panthers) at 7pm, XL Center​

• This is the eighth and final meeting in the season series. Hartford is 4-2-1-0.
• Charlotte is 41-22-3-3 for 88 points. They are second in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Checkers are 7-3-0-0 in their past 10 games.
• John Leonard leads the Checkers with 59 points (35 goals, 24 assists) and is tied for ninth in the AHL. Next is Trevor Carrick with 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists).

Friday, April 18 vs Bridgeport Islanders (New York) at 7pm, XL Center​

• This is the 10th and final meeting in the season series and Hartford’s final game of 2024-25. Hartford is 7-2-0-0 against its biggest rival.
• Bridgeport is 15-48-4-3 for 37 points. They are last in the AHL. The Islanders lost five straight (0-5-0-0) and are 2-8-0-0 in their past 10 games.
• Chris Terry leads the Islanders with 66 points (19 goals, 47 assists). Next is Brian Pinho with 48 points (25 goals, 23 assists).

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...roobroeck-eyes-20th-goal-callum-tung-injured/

 

[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers Daily: Being pissed off at wasted opportunity; Logan Couture calls it quits

Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesSam Navarro-Imagn Images

Watching the Eastern Conference playoff race literally come down the final days of the 2024-25 regular season should really piss off the New York Rangers.

It’s possible that someone could snag the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with fewer than 90 points. The previous few seasons 91 points was the lowest cut-off point; and in 2021-22, all eight teams from the Eastern Conference had at least 100 points.

This is to say, the Rangers (38-36-7; 83 points) should be slamming their heads into the wall at their major missed opportunity this season. With their roster, their collective experience, fairly strong playoff pedigree and Stanley Cup-winning coach, how the hell did the Rangers not get at least 90-something points and make the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Well, we know why they didn’t. We’ve documented over and over again for months why the Rangers failed to reach the postseason.

But it doesn’t mean Chris Drury, Peter Laviolette, James Dolan and the players shouldn’t be furious watching the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets fumble away chances to clinch a playoff berth.

Those two upstarts make for great stories in the NHL this season, with long winning streaks and dreadful losing streaks. What they also make for is an opportunity for a team like the Rangers, the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, to have slipped past the Canadiens and Blue Jackets, even during one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.

No one pulled away from the Rangers here, well, maybe the Ottawa Senators, the first playoff wild card in the East, did. But really, not even the New Jersey Devils pulled away from the Rangers. Did you know that the Devils have just 91 points? Yet, they’re third in the Metropolitan Division. That’s still eight points up on the woeful Rangers.

Go ahead Rangers, keep slamming your head against the wall. You earned it.

Meanwhile, let’s see if the Canadiens can get one point in their final game Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes and clinch that second wild-card berth. Or will we head to the final day of the season, when the Blue Jackets will try to win their sixth straight game, and force their way into the playoffs with 89 points?

That’s right, 89.

The Rangers should be so pissed off with themselves.

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New York Rangers news​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The annual NHLPA player poll is always fun fodder to spark some debate. This year’s poll was released Monday and includes a pretty big oversight when it comes to how Rangers center Vincent Trocheck was totally overlooked in this one category.

Matt Rempe really stuck with it this season and is now reaping the benefits of his hard work. Here’s a look at the Rangers forward after the first multiple-point game of his NHL career.

Speaking of firsts, we have a complete breakdown of Matthew Robertson’s first game in the NHL with the Rangers on Monday.

The Hartford Wolf Pack hit the final week of the AHL season and rookie center Dylan Roobroeck is one goal shy of 20. Here’s the latest on the Rangers prospect, as well as an injury update on goalie Callum Tung.

There were plenty of winners and few losers in our breakdown of the Rangers’ 5-3 win in South Florida on Monday.

A new kind of Rempe Mania is alive and well. That’s part of our three Rangers takeaways from the win Monday.

NHL news and rumors​

Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Logan Couture officially announced his retirement from the NHL. Here’s what’s next for the San Jose Sharks, per our friend Sheng Peng at San Jose Hockey Now.

Gabriel Landeskog is back with the Colorado Avalanche after playing two games in the AHL this past weekend and could be activated for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Colorado captain hasn’t played an NHL game in three years due to multiple knee surgeries.

Despite missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs in three of their four seasons, the Seattle Kraken will stick with Ron Francis as general manager next season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs shut out the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 to clinch their first Atlantic Division title. They will face the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference First Round.

So, what does Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz foresee in the first Battle of Ontario playoff series? “It’ll be a bloodbath.”

Watch Auston Matthews score his 400th NHL goal in that Maple Leafs win Tuesday.

Marc-Andre Fleury replaced Filip Gustavsson in overtime — at Gustavsson’s suggestion — and made five saves to pick up his 575th and final win in the NHL, when the Minnesota Wild defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2.

Despite defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 in a shootout, the Calgary Flames were eliminated from playoff contention in the Western Conference after 81 games in the regular season.

The St. Louis Blues clinched the final playoff spot in the West with a 6-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club, and set up a first-round playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets. That means brothers Brayden and Luke Schenn will face each in the postseason.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1, but the real fun begins this weekend when those teams meet in the first round of the playoffs.

The New Jersey Devils ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-4 overtime win against the Boston Bruins.

Watch Brian Dumoulin’s OT winner for the Devils.

How about those crazy Chicago Blackhawks?! Watch Frank Nazar bury a Connor Bedard feed for the overtime game-winner against the Ottawa Senators, one night after a shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ted-opportunity-logan-couture-calls-it-quits/