The slogan, “No Quit In New York,” was a popular one for the Rangers in 2021-22. They epitomized that team slogan to push the Lightning to within two games of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals.

Last season, the running joke was that it became, “Quit In NY.” At least that’s how it looked for most of 2022-23. A two games to none series lead soon became a crushing seven-game first round defeat to the Devils last spring. The lack of killer instinct led to the dismissal of former Rangers coach Gerard Gallant.

After taking their time, the Rangers hired the proven Peter Laviolette as their new coach. At the time, it felt like Rangers Team President and GM Chris Drury had settled on a coach who seemed to be headed in the wrong direction following his ouster with the Capitals. Maybe Drury’s patience proved to be a virtue.

After a 2-2-0 start that included ugly losses to the Blue Jackets on Oct. 14 and the Predators on Oct. 19, the Rangers haven’t lost in regulation since then. Buoyed by a franchise record 5-0 road trip, they’ve become a successful team under Laviolette so far this season.

They find a way to hang around in games and pull them out. When things aren’t going well, which was the case against the Blue Jackets in a rematch on Sunday night, Nov. 12, the Rangers don’t quit. They scratch and claw their way back like the gritty 4-3 comeback win they had over the Jackets at Madison Square Garden.

Make no mistake about it. The Rangers weren’t their sharpest facing an opponent that was playing for the second straight night. They were far too loose with the puck, which led to turnovers that fueled the Blue Jackets’ transition that threatened returning goalie Jonathan Quick.

To his credit, he showed no ill effects from the upper-body injury that kept him out against the Wild on Nov. 9. Quick made several big stops in a wide open second period that saw the Jackets get two consecutive goals in 19 seconds due to lackadaisical play.

Following a controversial ruling that negated an apparent tying Will Cuylle goal where enough replays on MSG Network showed that the puck squeaked in past Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, Quick made a huge save to deny Jack Roslovic with under a minute left in the second period to keep it a one-goal game headed to the third.

The Rangers saved their best effort for the third period. They out-shot the Blue Jackets 17-3. While they applied plenty of pressure to force Merzlikins into some tough stops, it looked like they’d fall short. Even with Vincent Trocheck winning every big faceoff on a night he went 22-and-7, the Rangers looked destined to lose again to the Blue Jackets.

That was until an Artemi Panarin shot in front went to Chris Kreider, who made a heads-up pass across for a clutch game-tying goal from Alexis Lafreniere with 11 seconds to spare. It was his second goal of the game.

Lafreniere has seven points (3-4-7) over his last four games. The former Rangers 2020 first overall pick has never played better. His confidence is at its highest. Give Laviolette credit for allowing Lafreniere to gel with Panarin and Trocheck.

Unlike his predecessor, who never had enough patience to keep lines intact, Laviolette has shown full trust in his younger players. That includes Cuylle, who both the incompetent refs and Toronto robbed of a goal earlier in the game.

It shows a lot of character for the Rangers to not show frustration after such a bad call. They also had every reason to be upset earlier in third period when Blue Jackets’ center Sean Kuraly decked Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren with an elbow that ended his night. Originally, the call was a boarding major. After the video review, they decided to reduce it to a single minor. Laviolette voiced his displeasure after the game.

Lafreniere The Shootout Hero

After an ugly overtime that decided nothing, the game went to a shootout. Similar to regulation, when both goalies shined by making some good saves, it was the play of both Merzlikins and Quick that kept dangerous shooters like Panarin, Johnny Gaudreau, Mika Zibanejad, and Patrik Laine off the scoreboard.

In the top of the third round, Laviolette rewarded Lafreniere with the Rangers’ third shot. With the crowd behind him, he made a great move by coming in down the middle and whipping a backhand upstairs on Merzlikins to give the Rangers the lead. It was the kind of skilled play that made Lafreniere a top pick.

Quick had to stop one more Columbus shooter to preserve the win. He did when he got just enough of a tricky Alexandre Texier one-handed attempt to push it on top of the net. That gave the Rangers their third win in a row to go 3-0 at home.

They’re 11-2-1 through the first 14 games, with their 23 points leading the Metropolitan Division. Nobody else has played as consistently as the Rangers. That’s why they sit atop the division. They continue to win games without Adam Fox, Filip Chytil, and Igor Shesterkin, who might be back by the next game at the Devils on Nov. 18.

The five-day break allows Laviolette to get Shesterkin extra rest. He hasn’t played since Nov. 2. Shesterkin was one of three goalies who practiced on Sunday prior to last night’s game. He and Louis Domingue worked at one end while Quick prepared for the Blue Jackets. It all worked out for the best.

Panarin Ties Gilbert

Among the highlights of the Rangers’ come from behind win over the Blue Jackets was Panarin extending his season-opening point streak to 14 straight. By recording two assists, he tied Rod Gilbert for the best start to a season in Rangers’ franchise history. For the season, Panarin has eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points during the 14-game point streak.

At the start of the 1972-73 season, Gilbert recorded a point in 14 consecutive games to establish the Rangers’ franchise record. The all-time Ranger registered 11 goals with 12 assists for 23 points over that stretch.

Gilbert is the Rangers’ all-time franchise leading scorer with 406 goals and 615 assists for a total of 1,021 points.

Zibanejad and Kakko Struggles Continue

As well as the Rangers have played, they haven’t gotten the expected production from Zibanejad. Over the last five games, he’s without a goal and only an assist. Making matters worse, he has barely done anything at even strength. Of his 10 points (2-8-10), Zibanejad has just three even strength points (1-2-3) in 14 games.

Lately, the Rangers top center has had issues hitting the net. He gets plenty of opportunities from the slot but keeps firing his shots over the top. Zibanejad seems to go through these struggles every year. At some point, they have to start going in. Regardless, he needs to be better at five-on-five.

While Zibanejad has had his issues, Kaapo Kakko continues to struggle at the start of the season. Once given the keys to the first line right wing job by a very patient Laviolette, the 22-year-old Kakko has been moved to the Rangers’ third line. Although he’s looked a little better playing with Cuylle and Nick Bonino, it’s been nine games since his last point.

Kakko scored his only goal of the season in a Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Kraken on Oct. 21. In 14 games, he has only a goal and an assist for two points. That’s hardly what’s expected from the fifth-year pro who set career highs in goals (18), assists (22), and points (40) last season.

Playing in the final year of a two-year contract with an average cap hit of $2.1 million, Kakko is at a crossroads in his career. Either he starts to contribute offensively, or the Rangers might start to consider the possibility of moving him for a different top nine forward who can fill the role.

As strong a player as Kakko is at puck possession, that’s how disappointing he’s been at getting inside against opponents. He isn’t the most physical player. At some point, that must change. In order for him to become successful, Kakko has to do a better job of driving towards the front of the net. He’s not incapable. The clock is ticking.

Rangers Hit The Road

After this week’s break, the Rangers will hit the road for four games. That’ll start this Saturday at the Devils on Nov. 18. It’s the first regular season meeting since being eliminated from the playoffs on May 1, 2023. Even if the Devils are still without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, it’s a big game.

The Rangers will then travel to face the Stars on Nov. 20 followed by the Penguins on Nov. 22. They’ll conclude the four-game road trip at the Flyers on Nov. 24.