Lafreniere’s Hat Trick Highlights Latest Rangers Win

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Derek

Suddenly, the Rangers can’t stop winning games. They won for the fourth straight time in a nationally televised game on ESPN. Alexis Lafreniere’s hat trick highlighted a Rangers 5-2 win over the Islanders at an energized Madison Square Garden.

Lafreniere completed the third hat trick of his NHL career with a pair of empty netters that helped the Rangers improve to a perfect 3-0 at MSG. A total role reversal from last year when they didn’t even score a goal in their first three home games. In fact, that team didn’t get a win on home ice until Nov. 10, 2025.

Unlike the forgettable centennial season when five of the first seven opponents shut them out, the Rangers have found a way to score 14 goals so far in their three victories at The Garden. After defeating the Mammoth this past Sunday, they again scored four or more goals to give their fans plenty of reasons to cheer.

Following an early surge from the Islanders, who got the game’s first three shots on a sharp Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers responded with a strong push. Able to forecheck effectively, some extra effort from Lafreniere created a goal. Following a Sean Durzi shoot in behind the Islanders net, Lafreniere hustled and out-muscled Matthew Schaefer on the boards to send a pass in front that Oliver Bjorkstrand buried past Semyon Varlamov for his first as a Blueshirt.

The game also marked the NHL debut for Cole Beaudoin. After putting up five points last weekend in Hartford, the 20-year-old prospect centered the fourth line. Wearing number 53, he was mostly effective during his shifts at even strength. An active player who brings size and a defensive presence, Beaudoin made some good plays on the wall for linemates Bjorkstrand and Jaroslav Chmelar. He finished the game with three hits and went 6 for 11 on faceoffs over 9:57 of ice time.

On a Rangers cycle behind the net, Beaudoin got caught setting an illegal pick to go off for interference on Tony DeAngelo. With him off for two minutes, the Rangers got the job done to kill the penalty.

With less than eight minutes remaining in the period, Brayden Schenn and J.T. Miller agreed to have a fight. After the draw, they dropped the gloves. In a brief exchange of two gritty veterans, Miller got the decision with a take down.

Following a Victor Eklund hold on Vladislav Gavrikov, the Rangers went to work on the power play. Despite not capitalizing, they moved the puck around well to generate some chances. The best came when Mika Zibanejad had Will Cuylle right in front, but he was unable to beat Varlamov.

A few minutes later, Lafreniere slashed Bo Horvat from behind to prevent a scoring chance. The Islanders went on their second power play. While on it, Schaefer had an attempt blocked by Zibanejad, who helped Shesterkin freeze the puck. The only Islanders shot on the man-advantage came from Eklund, which Shesterkin handled. Despite trailing in shots 9-5, the Rangers took a one-goal lead to the dressing room.

At the start of the second, Lafreniere doubled the lead by getting his first of the season on a nice snapshot past Varlamov only 25 seconds in. After Gavrikov got the puck to Zibanejad, he made a perfect lead pass for Lafreniere, who cut in and scored from the left circle.

But just when it looked like the Rangers had the momentum, a soft call sent Eeli Tolvanen off for hooking Logan Stanley. This time, the Islanders cashed in on the opportunity thanks to some nice work from Schenn and Matias Maccelli. After receiving the puck from Schenn along the boards, Maccelli centered for Bo Horvat, whose quick one-timer beat Shesterkin for a power-play goal that put the Islanders within one.

A couple of shifts later, some more strong work from Schenn behind the net resulted in Cal Ritchie tying the game. He trapped a wandering Pavel Dorofeyev before feeding Ritchie in front who was patient enough to tuck a forehand around Shesterkin for his first to tie it at 4:52. Dorofeyev didn’t recover in time, which left Ritchie alone for the goal.

Using the two straight goals they scored, the Islanders were more aggressive on the forecheck. Ondrej Palat just missed on a backhand attempt. On another defensive lapse, DeAngelo roamed free to get a shot right on that Shesterkin stopped.

Halfway through the second, Alberts Smits made a good pinch and had his heavy shot just miss. In particular, the 18-year-old Latvian was very effective at making strong defensive plays and going in transition throughout. He showed a lot of confidence for just his fifth NHL game. He was rewarded with 15:27 of ice time, including a 13-second power play shift. If he keeps improving, it won’t be long before he records his first point.

On one Islanders sustained forecheck, Schaefer kept getting the puck in dangerous position. But his three attempts never reached the net. Tolvanen blocked a pair and one hit his own teammate. When play was finally frozen, a scrum ensued between Casey Cizikas and Smits, who didn’t back down. While Schaefer watched, Smits went back at Cizikas, who had some remarks for Smits as they went to the box.

Following a 4 on 4, Gavrikov drew a penalty on Schenn for holding to put the Rangers on a power play. Following a couple of good saves from Varlamov on Miller and Cuylle, Gabe Perreault created Bjorkstrand’s second of the game with some superb vision. After Cuylle got the puck over for Perreault, he circled around and made a bullet pass across that Bjorkstrand buried to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead with 2:53 remaining.

The assist gives Perreault points in four straight games. Despite playing on the second power play unit, he continues to assert himself well. He’s already set up two power play goals thanks to great passes. When he isn’t doing that, he’s either scoring or creating offense on the number one line, which is clicking on all cylinders. Zibanejad and Lafreniere both had great games. Overall, the line was dangerous throughout due to their forecheck. With Lafreniere putting up four points, all three are leading the way offensively.

On another shift at even strength, Perreault had a backhand sail wide. The more you see him, the more he looks like a first line player who’ll have a big third season to earn a long extension. Unlike other young players who aren’t as skilled, he’ll be worth it. If his strong start continues, Chris Drury better not wait too long. The price will go up.

In the third, with Kartye off for holding DeAngelo, the Islanders failed to convert. To their credit, the Rangers penalty kill didn’t give up anything. Instead, they outworked the Islanders to erase their fourth power play.

On one shift, Mike Sullivan had Smits and Adam Fox together to get a glance of the future. It almost backfired when Palat was able to sneak through both and get a shot off that hit the crossbar. They left too much of an opening and almost got burned.

A bit later, Shesterkin easily handled a long Schaefer offering for a stoppage. Despite having a pile of attempts, the 2025-26 Calder winner only got two shots on goal. He also hit the goalpost. For once, he wasn’t the best defenseman on the ice. Instead, that belonged to Fox, who made subtle plays and finished a plus-3 in 23:49 of work. Partner Gavrikov had his best game so far with two helpers and a plus-3 with a team best 24:10.

The Zibanejad unit nearly doubled the lead. But Varlamov denied both Zibanejad and Perreault in close to keep the Islanders down by one. For his first game back in 676 days due to two knee replacements, he was good finishing with 19 saves on 22 shots. It’s a credit to him for being able to come all the way back.

For playing their fifth game in eight days, the Rangers proved that they were the fresher team by playing better in the third. Not only did they outshoot the Islanders 12-5, but they defended extremely well.

Eventually, Islanders head coach Pete Deboer lifted Varlamov for an extra attacker. Thanks to some dogged checking in the neutral zone, Zibanejad stopped Schaefer short of the red line to force a turnover. That led to Miller setting up a Lafreniere one-timer into a vacated net with 1:38 left.

Just over half a minute later, he got another for the hat trick. It was well deserved for Lafreniere, who’s brought a stronger mindset to the rink. His hard work is paying off so far. Sullivan is rewarding Lafreniere by trusting him late game situations.

With nothing happening except for time winding down, Adam Pelech picked a fight with Bjorkstrand, who Sullivan stuck out late for possibly another hat trick. The Islanders veteran defenseman was visibly frustrated. The move lacked class. Bjorkstrand isn’t known for fighting. It was pointless.

Perhaps it’ll be remembered the next time the teams meet, which isn’t until Dec. 20 in Long Island. Circle the date.

THREE STARS:

3rd Star Mika Zibanejad 2 assists, 3 SOG, +3 in 20:05

2nd Star Oliver Bjorkstrand 2 goals incl. PPG, +1 in 8:58

1st Star Alexis Lafreniere 3rd career hat trick, assist for 4 points, +4 in 18:54

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Ovechkin to Retire at End of Season

Posted on October 6, 2026 by Derek

On Monday after a team practice, Alexander Ovechkin made an announcement in the Capitals locker room that this will be his final season. Before anything was revealed to the media, he wanted to make sure he told his teammates and coaches that his 22nd season will be it. It was a nice gesture with a personal touch from the NHL’s all-time goalscorer.

“This is going to be my last year. For me, and for my family, it’s very important for you guys to know first. It’s sad, but it is what it is.

We have an unbelievable team this year. And you know, 82 games left. Let’s make the playoffs. Let’s have fun. And enjoy the moment because you know, times fly for guys who are first year or experience guys. … I remember that moment, and enjoy the time because how I said, and times fly. It seems like yesterday, I was here my first year and right now, this is my 22nd year. … It’s hard, but let’s enjoy it, and let’s do some special thing this year.”

In all my time watching Ovechkin over the years, he’s always been one of my favorite hockey players. From Day One, the energy and passion that he’s brought is a big reason for all of his success. When he first arrived, he played the game with so much joy that it was infectious for both teammates and fans. It was similar to Ilya Kovalchuk, who joined Ovechkin in Washington at the end of his career. At least the two Russian stars got to play together before Kovalchuk retired from the NHL in 2020.

The astonishing thing about Ovechkin is how he took the league by storm as a 20-year-old rookie following the lockout. The 2004 first overall pick scored 52 goals with 54 assists for 106 points to win the Calder Trophy over Sidney Crosby in a memorable 2005-06 rookie class that included Dion Phaneuf and Henrik Lundqvist.

By his third season, he won the Hart Trophy by leading the NHL in goals (65) and points (112). He also paced all skaters in even-strength goals (43), power-play goals (22), game-winners (11), and shots-on-goal (446). Ovechkin repeated as the Hart winner in 2008-09 by scoring a league-leading 56 goals with 54 assists and 110 points. That same year, he led the Capitals out of a 3-1 first round deficit to beat the Rangers in seven.

After advancing, that set the stage for the first installment of the Crosby versus Ovechkin rivalry in the playoffs. The Eastern Conference Semifinals lived up to its billing with the two superstars scoring and setting up big goals in a hard fought seven-game series.

Three games needed overtime to decide, including Games 5 and 6. Following Evgeni Malkin winning the fifth game, the Caps got a goal from David Steckel to force a deciding seventh game. Backed by a Crosby goal on the power play, the Pens chased Semyon Varlamov en route to a 6-2 win. Although Ovechkin got one back on the power play, it was too late. Crosby added another power-play goal in the third period as the Pens reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Ultimately, the deeper Pens won the Stanley Cup by avenging a six-game loss to the Red Wings by defeating them in a classic seventh game, which required a great Marc-Andre Fleury save at the buzzer to preserve the victory.

For a while, the Ovechkin Caps went through some disappointing postseasons that continued to see them get eliminated early. That included consecutive series defeats to the Rangers in 2012 and 2013. After failing to qualify for the postseason in 2013-14, Barry Trotz took over behind the bench. A no-nonsense head coach who had success with the Predators, he got Ovechkin to buy into a more defensive minded system. He still continued to score goals, winning the Rocket Richard with 53 goals in 2014-15.

Despite having the Rangers close to the brink in Game 5, the Caps couldn’t close them out, losing in sudden death on a Ryan McDonagh overtime winner. After a furious third period rally fell short at home, they took the Rangers to overtime in the deciding seventh game. Ovechkin scored in the opening period. But Kevin Hayes tied it in the second on the power play. With nothing decided due to both Lundqvist and Braden Holtby going save for save, the Caps iced the puck before a stoppage. When play resumed, Derek Stepan won the game to once again break Washington hearts.

As he continued to score 50 or more, Ovechkin was still without a Cup. Once again, the Caps lost to the Crosby Pens in the second round. History repeated itself with the Pens winning the Cup in 2015-16. Unfortunately, it happened again the following year in the same round. Only this time, the Caps had home ice advantage due to winning the Presidents’ Trophy despite Ovechkin’s production falling to 33 goals and 69 points. He didn’t have a good series against the Pens, who went into Washington and won the deciding seventh game 2-0 behind a 29-save shutout from Fleury. Ovechkin had five points and finished minus-5. The Pens repeated as champs with Crosby winning the Conn Smythe for a second straight year.

In 2017-18, the pressure was on the Caps to win led by their captain. Once again, they finished first in the Metropolitan Division. Ovechkin bounced back to win the Rocket Richard with 49 goals, and had 87 points.

After getting past the Blue Jackets in the first round, the stage was set for Ovechkin to square off against Crosby for a third consecutive postseason. Unlike the previous two meetings, it was the Caps who prevailed in six. Despite Crosby doing what he usually does, Washington took the series due to having the better goalie. Holtby outperformed Matt Murray to backstop the Caps to the Conference Finals. After using a four-goal third period to come back and take Game 5 at home, they defeated the Pens 2-1 in Game 6 thanks to Evgeny Kuznetsov’s goal in overtime, which Ovechkin set up.

Facing the Presidents’ Trophy winning Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals, they came back to defeat them in seven. It was a strange series that saw the road team take the first four games. Following a Lightning 3-2 win to hold serve in Game 5, the Caps got back-to-back shutouts from Holtby to win the series. That included a 3-0 victory at home and a 4-0 triumph on the road to stun the Bolts. Holtby stopped all 29 shots in the elimination game. Ovechkin set the tone with a goal 62 seconds in. Andre Burakovsky tallied twice and Nicklas Backstrom scored the empty netter to finally send the Caps to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Facing the upstart Golden Knights, the Caps’ experience proved to be the difference. After falling behind in the series, they took the next four to win their first ever Stanley Cup. Ovechkin scored three goals and added two helpers for five points in the Cup triumph. He had plenty of help from Kuznetsov, Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, and John Carlson. It was truly a team victory with Holtby besting Fleury, who joined Vegas as a their first ever draft pick.

Ovechkin led the playoffs with 15 goals and six power-play goals. He finished with 27 points, which ranked second behind Kuznetsov, who finished with a remarkable 32 points to lead all scorers. Ovechkin won the Conn Smythe.

Despite being in his thirties, he continued to score at a frenetic pace by winning two more Rocket Richards the following two seasons. Following a Covid shortened 2020-21, Ovechkin came back to score 50 goals at age 36 in 2021-22. It likely was the final time in his brilliant career that he hit the 50-goal mark. He’s scored 50 or more in nine seasons.

In 2024-25, he was dialed in. With Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record 894 goals within range, the 39-year-old Ovechkin started that season on fire. Even a broken foot couldn’t prevent him from healing quickly and returning to impeccable form. Nothing was going to stop him from tying and breaking Gretzky’s record.

It finally happened versus the Islanders at UBS Arena on April 6, 2025. Fittingly, it came on the power play where he made his living. On a play in transition started by Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson gained the Islanders zone and found a trailing Ovechkin for a wrist shot that beat Ilya Sorokin at 7:26 of the second period. Ovechkin went into a slide to celebrate the 895th goal of his remarkable career while fans cheered him.

The record came while the Caps played the Islanders on the NHL on TNT. Kenny Albert had the call of the record breaking goal. Ovechkin received a standing ovation from the crowd that included Gretzky and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. His wife and son were in attendance as the Islanders honored him with a video tribute that included career highlights and congratulations from Crosby and Malkin for the special occasion. He was congratulated by the entire Islanders roster at center ice as “Ovi, Ovi, Ovi!” chants filled the arena.

Despite missing a month, Ovechkin finished the season with 44 goals and 73 points in 65 games. For his effort, he won the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

For the 21st time in his career, the Great Eight scored at least 30 goals or more in 2025-26 by finishing with 32. He entered his final season with an NHL record 929 goals, along with a record 331 power-play goals, and 141 game-winners. There’s never been a better goalscorer in hockey history.

Whatever happens over the remainder of the season, Ovechkin will one day take his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside the greats.

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Rangers Recall Cole Beaudoin

Posted on October 6, 2026 by Derek

On Tuesday afternoon, the Rangers recalled prospect Cole Beaudoin from the Hartford Wolf Pack. He’s set to make his NHL debut when the Rangers host the Islanders in the Battle of New York tonight.

Acquired with Sean Durzi from the Mammoth for Vincent Trocheck on July 1, the 20-year-old center followed up a good training camp with a quick start to his professional career in the American Hockey League. In his first two AHL games, Beaudoin recorded a goal and four assists for a team-leading five points.

To make the roster move, the Rangers put center Joe Veleno on the injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. He’ll miss at least four games over a week. In order to make a spot available for Beaudoin, they placed defenseman Matthew Robertson on waivers yesterday. Robertson cleared today and will be assigned to Hartford.

For Beaudoin, it’s an early chance to show the Rangers what he’s capable of. A former Mammoth 2024 first round pick taken 24th overall, the six-foot-two, 212 pound left-handed center plays the game with tenacity. His willingness to go to the dirty areas was noticeable during preseason. A strong skater with skill, he has the potential to become a fixture on the third line.

For the time being, Beaudoin will replace Veleno and anchor the fourth line, which includes Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jaroslav Chmelar. When asked why they didn’t consider just sending Chmelar down due to him being waivers exempt, Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan emphasized why they decided against it.

“The question is: Do we just put guys in the lineup and send guys down just because they’re waivers exempt, or do we put the guys in the lineup that we think are going to give us the best chance to win? We chose to make a decision based on the latter. We think the guys that are in the lineup are deserving to be in the lineup through their performance and their play. Jaro is one of those guys.”

It’s a refreshing change from past seasons when coaches often favored playing veterans over younger players. That includes Sullivan, who had a personal attachment to nephew in law Conor Sheary last season. However, since Chmelar came up last year, it was obvious that the organization likes him. Since being a healthy scratch for the season opener, Chmelar has remained in the lineup over Matt Rempe, who’s clearly the 13th forward.

If Beaudoin makes a good first impression, it’s possible that Rempe’s days could be numbered. If there’s a justification for keeping him, it’s due to what he can bring for certain matchups. The Rangers don’t want to get pushed around. The season is only a week old and we’ve already seen Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini injured by pest Brady Tkachuk, who gave him an extra shot following a clean hit. Ironically, former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba responded by taking on Tkachuk.

There’s also the likelihood that Rempe could be next to go on waivers. The Rangers have already lucked out with Dylan Garand, who came back up to post his first NHL shutout. Robertson will play for the Wolf Pack until something happens. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if he’s traded at some point. Would any team even blink an eye if Rempe was available? He’d probably clear and go down.

The game has changed. More teams are icing 12 skaters who have enough skill to contribute. It remains to be seen when Rempe could return to the lineup. The Rangers like what they have. A true four line team more in Sullivan’s vision. He hasn’t shied away from bumping up the versatile Tye Kartye into the top six by demoting Bjorkstrand, who remains on the second power play unit. Kartye is effective on the forecheck by freeing up space for J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev. We’ll see how long that combination lasts.

Varlamov Gets Start for Islanders

After 675 days away due to plenty of rehabilitation for surgery on both knees, Semyon Varlamov makes his return for the Islanders tonight. It’ll be his first start since Nov. 29, 2024.

The 38-year-old veteran goalie has worked hard to make it back. Without him last season, the Islanders over relied on Ilya Sorokin in their attempt to make the playoffs. Despite finishing second for the Vezina, Sorokin ran out of gas down the stretch.

Varlamov was definitely missed. Instead, Islanders head coach Pete Deboer sparingly used David Rittich, whose play declined last season. If he can return to form, Varlamov is a significant upgrade as a backup. He’s dominated the Rangers throughout his career, bringing in a 14-8-2 record with a 2.59 goals-against-average, .915 save percentage, and five shutouts, which are the most against a single opponent.

Igor Shesterkin will oppose him for the Rangers. He is 9-10-1 against the Islanders with a 2.68 GAA, .909 save percentage, and one shutout. Twelve of the 52 goals he’s allowed to the Islanders have come on the power play.

Shesterkin is off to a hot start, bringing in a 2-1 record with a 1.67 GAA and .934 save percentage. He’s been in the headlines due to becoming the 18th goaltender in NHL history to score a goalie goal. Recently named the First Star of the week, he has a two-game point scoring streak with an assist on an Eeli Tolvanen empty net goal in a Rangers win over the Mammoth this past Sunday.

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Robertson Goes on Waivers

Posted on October 5, 2026 by Derek

Today, the Rangers placed defenseman Matthew Robertson on waivers. What precipitated the move was a lower-body injury that center Joe Veleno sustained during last night’s game against the Mammoth. Due to a cap crunch, the Rangers can’t afford to recall a center without exposing a player to waivers.

Unfortunately, Robertson became the odd man out on the roster. With the organization deciding on who to call up from the Hartford Wolfpack, the well- respected 25-year-old had to go to create enough space for a corresponding move for tomorrow’s game against the Islanders.

It isn’t exactly fair to Robertson, who proved that he was capable of becoming a regular on the blue line last season. The 2019 second round pick took part in 74 games while posting six goals with 12 assists for 18 points in 2025-26. A solid skating stay at home left pair defenseman, he’s in the second season of a multi-year deal that pays him $850,000. If he goes unclaimed on Tuesday, he’ll be assigned to Hartford.

Criticism Warranted for Drury

Despite having a much better offseason, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury deserved criticism for the current cap situation. Had he not doubled down by signing both Urho Vaakanainen and Juuso Parssinen for a combined $2.755 million, the Rangers wouldn’t be in this predicament.

It’s Drury’s fault that Robertson is on waivers. He’s also responsible for signing Taylor Raddysh, who didn’t make the team. It’s remarkable how bad he is at managing the salary cap.

At this point, I hope Robertson is claimed by an NHL team tomorrow. He deserves an opportunity to play elsewhere. He doesn’t belong in the American Hockey League. It would serve the Rangers right if he wound up on a rival that they might see later this season.

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Perreault’s Fast Start A Reason For Excitement

Posted on October 5, 2026 by Derek

Entering the season, the Rangers decided not to sign Gabe Perreault to a contract extension. So far, Perreault is off to a fast start in his second season, which could lead to team president and general manager Chris Drury changing his mind.

Following a quiet season opener that saw the Rangers get shut down by the Bruins on Sept. 29, they’ve reeled off three straight wins to pull into first place in the Metropolitan Division.

The 21-year-old Perreault has been noticeable during the three-game winning streak by recording a point in each victory. It started against the Lightning when he scored his first goal on a nice deflection of an Adam Fox shot pass on Oct. 1.

A game that became known for Igor Shesterkin scoring the first goalie goal in franchise history. For an encore when the Rangers returned to MSG on Sunday and won 4-2 over the Mammoth, he picked up an assist on an Eeli Tolvanen empty netter.

It was last Friday, Oct. 2 that Perreault had one of his most impactful games against the Red Wings. He set up Sean Durzi for a power-play goal in the first period of a 2-0 win. After taking a feed from Will Cuylle, the game-breaking Perreault came in with speed before finding an open Durzi for his first as a Ranger.

Perreault did it again on a second straight power play. On a similar play in transition, he found Durzi for what looked like another goal. However, Detroit successfully challenged that the play was offside to negate the goal.

In the same game, it was the dangerous Perreault again who nearly created a goal for linemate Alexis Lafreniere. He dangled around a Red Wings defender into the slot and had his backdoor pass deflected away. It would’ve been a tap-in for Lafreniere, who remains without a goal through four games.

Despite a slow start, Lafreniere has been around the puck often over the last two games. He’s been very active during shifts by creating offense for his line at 5-on-5. The chemistry he has with Perreault is evident, with the two playing well together during offensive shifts. They seem to know where the other is, which can wreak havoc for opponents.

Lafreniere has been stronger on the puck by using his combination of skill and strength to generate scoring chances. In the win against Utah, he had four shots-on-goal and drew two penalties by continuing to move his feet.

With the game tied early in the third period, he took a feed from Mika Zibanejad and had his one-timer rebound out right to Perreault for an easy finish that put the Rangers back ahead. Lafreniere picked up his first point of the season with a primary assist. He also came close to scoring but had his turnaround shot hit the goalpost.

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan showed confidence in Lafreniere, who was out late with them protecting the lead. After Tolvanen sealed it with an empty netter, Lafreniere drew a second penalty when he forced Mikhail Sergachev to take him down with a dozen seconds left.

For the game, he finished with 21:44 of ice time, which ranked second among Rangers forwards behind Zibanejad (24:32).

If they continue to play well, there’ll be no reason for Sullivan to consider making a change to the number one line. However, he did move up Tye Kartye into the top six last night. The very active Kartye played with goalscorer J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev on Sunday night.

Oliver Bjorkstrand was dropped to the fourth line. We’ll see if he returns to the second line for Tuesday’s game against the Islanders.

When you watch this team so far, they look very connected. It’s the total opposite of last year’s start. They’re forechecking effectively and defending well in front of Shesterkin and Dylan Garand, who recorded his first career shutout last Friday.

Veleno Being Monitored For Lower-Body Injury

The lineup could look different due to Joe Veleno leaving last night’s game with a lower-body injury. As usual, Sullivan didn’t provide an update. He’s being evaluated and didn’t practice on Monday.

It’s expected that the Rangers will recall a center from the Hartford Wolf Pack. Will they actually consider bringing up Cole Beaudoin? He had a strong start to his pro career with five points over the weekend. Only 20, it might be too soon for him to make his NHL debut in a rivalry game tomorrow night.

The safer bet is that either Justin Dowling or Anton Blidh gets the call. Either can serve as a placeholder for Veleno on the fourth line.

Unless they think Dylan Roobroeck can fill the void. He’s 22 and a former 2023 sixth round pick who projects as a checking center. We’ll see what the organization decides to do.

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Shesterkin Nearly Scores Another Goal in Rangers Third Straight Win

Posted on October 4, 2026 by Derek

Igor Shesterkin is becoming a dual threat for the

Rangers. Three days after becoming the first player in franchise history to score a goalie goal, he nearly had another one near the conclusion of a 4-2 win over the Mammoth at MSG.

With the Rangers on the verge of a third straight victory, the Mammoth pulled Karel Vejmelka again in hopes of a late comeback from two down.

Having already faked out the Mammoth by helping set up an empty netter for Eeli Tolvanen to earn an assist, Shesterkin had another chance to make history.

With over a minute left, he had enough time to gather the puck and fire it down towards the empty net. However, this time, Mikhail Sergachev was in the way to calmly prevent another potential goalie goal.

https://x.com/GinoHard_/status/2106907488368886203?fbclid=IwY2xjawUv4FZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjsc0eyWY5tbBwFnASvCy-iZY0xwDXbkHoLvmFifGau4g2xdXiRmpyj1g6Xc_aem_tBzDYuLmcqxOWze9L2ULrg

Of course, Sergachev was greeted with boos from the fans who had hoped to see history repeat itself.

Ultimately, it didn’t affect the outcome. Unlike last year, when they couldn’t buy a goal at home to start their centennial season poorly, the Rangers beat Vejmelka three times to improve to 2-0 at home this season. 

Facing one of the league’s most improved teams, they got goals from Vladislav Gavrikov, Gabe Perreault, and J.T. Miller to earn a hard fought victory.

After Perreault put them ahead with his second goal in three games, Miller picked up his first of the season for what proved to be the game decider.

On a strong forecheck from Tye Kartye, who was elevated to the second line, he moved the puck back up for a Gavrikov shot that went in off Miller’s skate to make it 3-1 with 7:13 left in the third period.

That proved to be crucial due to the Mammoth coming right back over two minutes later on an Andrew Peeke goal that was set up from former Islander Anders Lee.

Despite playing for the second consecutive  night, the Mammoth continued to press the attack for the equalizer. They outshot the Rangers 15-9 in the third.

It was the steady play of Shesterkin that prevented them from tying it. He finished the game with 28 saves and was named the game’s third star.

On a Utah shoot in, Shesterkin fielded the puck behind his own net and thought about going for it. Instead, he made the right decision by making a good outlet for Will Cuylle, who had his attempt blocked. However, the puck came to Tolvanen for his team-leading third to seal it with 75 seconds remaining.

https://x.com/spittinchiclets/status/2106906641174262232

For his part, Shesterkin earned a secondary assist that gave him a two-game point streak (goal, assist), which led to more cheers after Joe Tolleson announced the scoring of the goal.

Already off to a great start by stopping 71 of the first 76 shots he’s seen, Shesterkin is doing it all for the Blueshirts. When they return to MSG on Tuesday for the first of four meetings against the Islanders, what else will he have in store? Tune in and find out.

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A Garand Entrance: Rookie Goalie Gets First Career Shutout in Rangers Win

Posted on October 3, 2026 by Derek

What a week for Dylan Garand. After passing through waivers on Monday to be assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, he got the call from the Rangers to come back due to Joonas Korpisalo being placed on the injured reserve. He witnessed Igor Shesterkin making history by becoming the first Ranger to score a goalie goal in a win at the home opener.

A night later, Garand was perfect in his first start by making 22 saves to pick up his first career NHL shutout in a 2-0 win over the Red Wings on Friday night at Little Caesars Arena. He went from not knowing where he’d be to winning his first start of the season. It was well deserved for the 24-year-old from British Columbia, who’s now 3-0-1 in four starts with a sparkling .961 save percentage (5 GA on 118 shots).

“Awesome. So happy for him. He’s a great kid. He’s a good goalie. He showed it tonight. He’s got a calm demeanor in there. He made some big saves for us through the middle part of the game. Some of those saves that he made, they look a little bit easier than they actually are. He had to fight through traffic to find sight lines to make those saves, and I thought his rebound control was great. I couldn’t be happier for him,” Mike Sullivan said afterward on Garand, who became the eighth Rangers rookie goalie to record a shutout in four games or less.

Garand called it “the craziest week of my life.” He went from just getting an apartment in Hartford to getting recalled and picking up a shutout to spoil the Red Wings home opener.

When asked by reporters about what it meant, he told them, “Yeah. A lot. The team played really well. I just tried to battle and give them a win. Proud of the group. Whole D-corps was unbelievable tonight.”

Playing for the third time in four nights with an earlier start due to it being a national game on the NHL on TNT, the Rangers bent but didn’t break. They got off to a good start thanks to an early penalty on Nate Danielson for a hold on Oliver Bjorkstrand.

It was the second unit that delivered the game’s first goal. On a play in transition started by Will Cuylle, Gabe Perreault had enough time to find a cutting Sean Durzi for a shot that beat John Gibson for a power-play goal at 5:12. It was Durzi’s first as a Ranger since coming over from Utah this past summer for Vincent Trocheck. He nearly had his second on another power play.

With Michael Rasmussen boxed for roughing Jaroslav Chmelar, it was again Perreault who created what looked like Durzi’s second power-play goal. However, Red Wings bench boss Todd McLellan successfully challenged for offside, with Cuylle just ahead on the entry to overturn it.

As the period went on, the fresher Red Wings began to take control. They tested Garand for the remainder to outshoot the Rangers 11-8. To his credit, Garand stood up to the challenge. He was particularly good late in the first and during most of the second period.

The Rangers got into penalty trouble at the start of the second when Durzi took down J.T. Compher to put Detroit on the power play. But the Rangers penalty kill was superb to remain perfect on the season.

In three games, they’ve successfully killed off 10 penalties. In particular, the additions of Marcus Pettersson, Durzi, Joe Veleno, and Eeli Tolvanen have solidified a unit that also includes Vladislav Gavrikov, Braden Schneider, Adam Fox, Noah Laba, Tye Kartye, Cuylle, Mika Zibanejad, and J.T. Miller. Sullivan now has more defensive oriented players to lean on. That improved depth has already made a difference in the first two wins.

With Garand continuing to repel Red Wing shots, Durzi was challenged by Marco Kasper with less than eight minutes left in the second. After Kasper got in the first shot, Durzi responded with some hey makers to win the tilt with a knockdown on a strong right. The amusing part was that Kasper got off the first punch as The Beastie Boys “Fight For Your Right To Party” played over the speakers. Perfect timing.

Despite the Red Wings pressing hard for the equalizer, it never came. When Garand wasn’t making timely stops, his team defense was making it difficult for the Red Wings to get clean looks.

The Rangers defended extremely well in a tight checking third period. Not only did they hold Detroit to only two shots, but they forechecked well enough to kill time. They outshot the Wings 6-2.

Sullivan made one change by moving up an effective Kartye onto the third line, which meant Oliver Bjorkstrand went down to the fourth line. It was a case of it being a low scoring, defensive game. Kartye was more noticeable and earned the promotion. For a player that was claimed on waivers last year, he’s a strong two-way forward who can be plugged anywhere. The line with Laba and Cuylle did a good job spending time in the offensive zone.

Miller also had a very good night defensively. He was double shifted a couple of times with Kartye and Tolvanen by Sullivan. Miller hasn’t gotten going yet offensively, but his overall game has been solid. He had a big hit on one shift to separate a player from the puck in the defensive zone. Hopefully, the Rangers captain can add more offense when the Rangers return home for a 6 PM game on Sunday against the Mammoth.

With McLellan pulling Gibson for a 6-on-5, the diligent checking from Kartye led to a Tolvanen empty netter that sealed it with 1:16 remaining.

Chmelar Replaces Rempe

For a second straight game, Chmelar replaced Matt Rempe in the lineup. Sullivan made the late change for the home opener. So far, so good. The Rangers improved to 2-0 with Chmelar, who adds a different element than Rempe. He’s a better skater. In 13 shifts, he recorded two hits with a shot over 9:11.

The Rangers have to be pleased with Veleno so far. The new fourth line center has been a factor due to his skating and checking. A strong player on the walls, he’s effective on the cycle. He’s also trusted on the penalty kill, which looks improved. Veleno went 7-and-6 on faceoffs in 13:34 last night.

Trocheck Returns to MSG

When the schedule was released this past summer, one of the first games circled was October 4 at The Garden. A few months after being traded, Trocheck makes his MSG return on Sunday.

A well respected player who was a good Ranger, the 33-year-old who signed with the team as a free agent on July 13, 2022 was instrumental to the team’s success in 2023-24.

After Filip Chytil went down to a concussion against Carolina, Trocheck became a permanent fixture as the number two center between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere under former Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette. The trio became the NHL’s best scoring line that season. While Panarin set career highs with 49 goals, 71 assists, and 120 points, Trocheck had 25 goals with personal bests in assists (52) and points (77). Lafreniere went 28-29-57 for his breakout.

Trocheck was front and center scoring and setting up goals while dominating in the dots with a 58.7 win percentage. A hard-nosed player who created room for Panarin by finishing checks, he finished second on the Rangers in scoring and ranked among the league leaders in faceoffs that season.

The Blueshirts finished with the league’s best record to capture the Presidents’ Trophy. Although they came up short in their bid to win a Stanley Cup, it was an exciting season that saw them return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in three years. Trocheck was a big reason why they had success, leading them in postseason scoring with 20 points. Aside from Igor Shesterkin, he was their best skater.

Although they were never able to duplicate that success the last two seasons, Trocheck remained a consistent player for the Rangers. When his name was heavily rumored to be on the block last spring, he never let it affect him. He was finally moved to the Mammoth on July 1 for Durzi, prospect Cole Beaudoin and a conditional 2027 third round pick.

Despite returning tomorrow as an opponent, Trocheck will be warmly received and get a video tribute. In 313 games as a Ranger, he totaled 89 goals with 164 assists and 253 points. A popular former teammate, it should be fun to see him back.

In his first game with the Mammoth, he picked up an assist in a 6-0 win over the Blackhawks.

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Kenny Albert Predicted the Shesterkin Goalie Goal

Posted on October 2, 2026 by Derek

One of the things that makes Kenny Albert so great is that he has a feel for the dramatic. Aside from being one of the best broadcasters who doubles as the lead announcer for the NHL on TNT and works on the NFL on Fox, Albert usually can tell when something is about to happen.

Case in point, look no further than last night. With the Rangers comfortably in front of the Lightning in the home opener at The Garden, Jon Cooper lifted Andrei Vasilevskiy early with his team trailing 4-1. By taking the Vezina winner out with over four minutes to play, that meant the Rangers had more chances to score into a vacated net. While it was understandable why Cooper went for the 6-on-5 attack, the odds of a miraculous three-goal comeback were stacked against the Bolts.

Of course, when it comes to the NHL, anything’s possible. Crazy things have happened before when teams pulled the goalie. We’ve seen teams pull a magic rabbit out of the hat by scoring twice to come back from two goals down with less than three minutes remaining. However, it isn’t the norm. A lot has to go right for it to happen. The puck has to bounce your way.

While Albert was calling the game with Dave Maloney on MSG Networks, he called his own shot by accurately predicting that Igor Shesterkin could score due to the amount of time left. After both Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov came close to making it 4-2, the Rangers cleared the zone. As the Lightning were transitioning back up the ice, Albert said:

“This would be the perfect opportunity for Igor if he gets control of the puck.”

Several minutes later, Shesterkin took a puck that came right to him off the back boards and went for it. He made franchise history by becoming the first Rangers goalie to score a goalie goal. He’s the 18th different netminder in NHL history to score a goal. It’s the 21st time it’s happened. Albert’s call was perfect.

“Shesterkin will shoot for the empty net! He scores! He scores! Igor has done it! The first Ranger goaltender to score a goal.“

Of course, Albert had the insight that it could happen. Shesterkin has always been very aggressive when the opportunity has been there. A goalie who doesn’t mind coming out and handling the puck, he’s shot for the empty net before, but never scored before Thurday night.

A night that’ll be remembered forever by the Rangers and their fans. October 2, 2026.

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He Did It: Shesterkin Makes Franchise History by Scoring A Goal to Highlight Rangers Win

Posted on October 2, 2026 by Derek

He did it. For seven years, Igor Shesterkin kept trying to do it. It took him eight years to finally make history by scoring a goal to highlight an exciting 5-1 Rangers win over the Lightning to take the home opener at a boisterous Madison Square Garden.

With the game already decided, the magic moment came when Shesterkin took an errant Lightning shoot in and fired the puck down into an empty net at 17:26 of the third period to raucous cheers from the capacity crowd, who got their monies worth this time. What followed were excited teammates who poured off the bench to mob him after he celebrated becoming the 18th goalie in NHL history to score a goaltender goal.

When asked by MSG’s Michelle Gringas on the bench afterward what it felt like to become the first ever Rangers goalie to score a goal in franchise history, he said, “Actually, I don’t know. I thought I didn’t hear a whistle for icing. I thought I’ll keep trying to score and I did it.

“We did an awesome job, our penalty kill. Amazing. Everyone played the right way. Everyone played for the team. So, we’ll just try to get points for the team. We’ll keep doing that.”

Shesterkin also finished with 24 saves on 25 shots to earn the first star of the game. Unlike the season opener when the team didn’t play well in a 3-0 shutout loss to the Bruins, the Rangers were superb from start to finish. It was a total team effort in a convincing win over a disjointed Lightning, who were a couple of steps behind playing their first game of the season.

Their newest star had himself a special night. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his first goal and assisted on another to record his first two points as a Ranger. Playing for the second time in three nights, the 25-year-old forward was around the puck early and often. With the Rangers on the power play, Adam Fox set up Dorofeyev for a hard one-timer that caromed off Andrei Vasilevskiy right to Mika Zibanejad, who made no mistake burying his first of the season.

When they were at even strength, the Rangers played more like a five-man unit by attacking and defending with more purpose. There weren’t many gaps for the dangerous Lightning to exploit. That included the penalty kill, which was a big part of their success. They were a perfect 7-for-7 killing off a few too many unnecessary penalties.

That included one on Braden Schneider for a hold on Brandon Hagel. However, the normally potent Lightning attack found it difficult to break through. It was the same personnel except for one noticeable difference with John Carlson replacing former Bolt Darren Raddysh on the point. After Raddysh left for Toronto, Carlson signed with Tampa Bay.

The Rangers got plenty of work against a unit that features two-time Hart winner Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, Hagel, and Carlson. They were up to the challenge. Instead of overusing Zibanejad and J.T. Miller on the kill, head coach Mike Sullivan leaned heavily on Joe Veleno (6:33) and Tye Kartye (5:51) while shorthanded. He worked in Noah Laba, Will Cuylle, and Eeli Tolvanen to give the veterans a breather with another game on Friday at Detroit.

Following a successful kill to bail out Schneider, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Dorofeyev combined on a nice goal that made it 2-0. An aggressive Bjorkstrand forced a turnover in the neutral zone. After he stole the puck, he pulled ahead and then dished across to Dorofeyev for a nice finish.

The Rangers killed off a chintzy Cuylle holding minor a few minutes later. To put it mildly, the officiating wasn’t good. There were some calls that left the coaches shaking their heads. The refs are probably still in preseason mode.

Less than two minutes into the second period, the third line struck thanks to some diligent work from all three forwards. Following a strong Laba forecheck, Tolvanen centered a pass in front for Cuylle, but it never reached him with it instead ricocheting off a Lightning player in front for a 3-0 lead. Tolvanen got credit for his first as a Ranger after Lightning head coach Jon Cooper burned a timeout to take a closer look at the replay.

During a scrum, Schneider didn’t take too kindly to Jeffrey Viel, who tried to be a nuisance with Shesterkin. They each went off for roughing minors. Unlike the nightmarish opener that saw him make a bad read on J.J. Peterka’s goal, he was sharper. As a pair with 18-year-old rookie Albert Smits, they had a good night combining to go plus-five. Aside from one coverage mistake, Smits was steady in his true MSG debut. He logged 14:09 to become just the second 18-year-old Rangers defenseman to play at that age since former captain Dave Maloney.

The Lightning were finally able to get on the scoreboard thanks to some puck wizardry from Kucherov, who banked in a shot off Laba past Shesterkin. Point started the play at center ice with a nice lead pass for Ilya Mikheyev, who got the puck over for Kucherov. He then wisely sent the puck towards the front for his first of the season.

With the Rangers nursing a two-goal lead, they had to kill off a Miller penalty for hooking Anthony Cirelli. He took a couple of undisciplined penalties in the contest. The Rangers captain has to make sure he moves his feet. Following another easy kill, Gabe Perreault restored order when he deflected in a Fox shot pass to make it 4-1. Zibanejad got it started by moving the puck over to Fox, who patiently waited before finding Perreault wide open in front for his first.

Perreault had a much better game along with Alexis Lafreniere, with the two playing well off each other. Although he didn’t get on the score sheet, Lafreniere was more assertive by using his strength to get a backhand off and draw an iffy tripping minor on J.J. Moser early in the third.

The game remained 4-1 until there was less than three minutes remaining. With Cooper lifting Vasilevskiy with over four minutes to go, the media and fans knew there was a chance for something to happen. Shesterkin took advantage of a wide shoot in and quickly got off an accurate shot that hit the net for an emphatic celebration.

It was well deserved.

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Devils Open Up Against Flyers

Posted on October 1, 2026 by Derek

Following a frustrating 2025-26, the Devils made the wise move to replace Tom Fitzgerald with Sunny Mehta as the new team president and general manager. Since he took over, Mehta has overhauled the roster more to his liking.

By subtracting Jacob Markstrom, who the Panthers were willing to gamble on as their starting goalie, Mehta was able to address the team’s forward depth. After being able to pry Evan Rodriguez and Jesper Boqvist away from Florida to offset Markstrom’s $6 million salary, he signed free agent Anthony Mantha for a two-year deal worth $4.75 million AAV without trade protection. If he can flourish with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt on the number one line, pencil Mantha in for at least 25 goals and 50 points.

In a move that had to be made, Mehta moved on from Simon Nemec by dealing him to the Flames with Max Tsyplakov for Etienna Morin, a 2026 second round pick (Ryan Roobroeck), a 2027 first round pick and conditional 2028 first. A trade that established the Devils top six on the blue line. He added Declan Chisholm from Washington in a trade. Due to Jonathan Kovacevic starting the season on the injured reserve, Chisholm will start the season on the third pair with Brenden Dillon.

The remainder of the back end remains the same. Dougie Hamilton will be counted on to supply offense and log key minutes while teamed up with Jonas Siegenthaler, who plays more of a stay at home defensive game. Luke Hughes will look to bounce back from a tough season that saw him struggle defensively. At this stage, he must be more consistent for the money the Devils are paying him. A gifted player with great acceleration and skill, Hughes must deliver in order for the team to be successful.

Brett Pesce will again work with Hughes. Back fully healthy, he remains the team’s best defensive defenseman. A human eraser who’s very good at preventing goals, the former Hurricane can’t have another injury-riddled year. The Devils are already thin to begin with due to the injury to Kovacevic, who when he returns should be slotted on the third pair with Dillon.

One of Mehta’s best moves was stealing Luke Evangelista from the Predators, who for some reason were unwilling to extend the playmaking forward. Evangelista is coming off a breakthrough season that saw him notch career bests in assists (44) and points (56). He had the advantage of setting up Steven Stamkos, who scored 42 goals for Nashville.

However, the 24-year-old Toronto native is an emerging player who should solidify the top six. After Mehta signed Evangelista to a five-year extension for $7.25 million, he’s slotted to play with captain Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. Perhaps he can be the key to unlocking Meier, who hasn’t fulfilled expectations despite making close to $9 million. At some point, Meier must hit the 30-goal mark. Maybe it comes this season.

Mehta also acquired Amadeus Lombardi from the Red Wings at the 2026 NHL Draft for a fourth round pick (Adam Levac). If he can continue to show off the speed and skill that he displayed in training camp, the Devils could have a steal. Lombardi made the team, beating out Boqvist and Stefan Noesen to start on the fourth line. Cody Glass will anchor one of the better checking lines. Noesen looks much healthier entering the year. He’ll play on that line with Lombardi and Boqvist due to Connor Brown placed on the injured reserve.

Once Brown gets back, he’ll play with Glass and either Lombardi or Boqvist. The Devils might have to waive a forward. Noesen has a higher salary. He makes the most sense.

In net is where it gets interesting. For now, Jake Allen is the starter. A solid 1B goalie, he put up respectable numbers last season. However, he isn’t someone that can play daily. The Devils are hoping Nico Daws can fulfill his potential. He’s never really been given an opportunity to run with it. He was a bit shaky in the preseason. If he isn’t up to the challenge, we could see Remi Poirer in net later this month.

A waiver pickup, the 24-year-old netminder has never played an NHL game. He won 27 games and posted a 2.61 goals-against-average with a .912 save percentage in the American Hockey League for the Texas Stars last season. We’ll see if Poirier becomes an x-factor with so much uncertainty surrounding the Devils goaltending.

Sheldon Keefe returns for another season behind the bench. He isn’t Mehta’s guy. Considering the upgrades that were made to the offense, there’s considerable pressure on Keefe. If for some reason the Devils struggle early on, Keefe could become a coaching casualty.

The Devils should be able to score goals. An area that became problematic when Hughes went down to the steakhouse incident, which derailed 2025-26. A healthy Hughes is capable of eclipsing 40 goals and 100 points. He’ll need more help from Bratt, who’s been in a decline the past couple of years. Expect Bratt to return to form with Hughes up and running.

The keys to the season are how well the defense plays and what happens in net. It can’t be a repeat of last year.

PREDICTION: 3rd place in Metropolitan Division

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