The Rangers played their second game of the season in last night’s home opener at Madison Square Garden. Offense wasn’t an issue. They scored five times against Connor Ingram. On the other hand, the defense struggles in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club (HC).

Facing a dangerous opponent that possesses great speed and skill, the Rangers fell behind early. They chased the game throughout. It was the explosive speed of Utah HC that took advantage of some mistakes in coverage. They either were tied or led throughout the contest. That more than anything never allowed the Rangers to get comfortable. It was a sharp contrast from the 6-0 drubbing they put on the Penguins on Oct. 9.

Following Rangers PA announcer Joe Tolleson introducing the team, John Brancy performed the national anthem. He really is outstanding. While the late John Amirante will always be fondly remembered by fans, Brancy brings his own energy and passion to the ice before games. He’s become a fixture at The Garden.

If there was a disappointing aspect, MSG Network never aired anything for viewers regarding the tragic losses of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. If you weren’t at the game, you got nothing. That is inexcusable. That wasn’t the case for the Devils home opener, which also aired on MSG on Oct. 10. When it comes to how the Rangers operate, it’s par for the course. It was tasteless.

Coach Peter Laviolette started his top line. Of course, I’m referring to Alexis Lafreniere, Artemi Panarin, and Vincent Trocheck. They are the number one line. I will no longer acknowledge the other line as such. They don’t deserve it. Especially after another lousy performance by Mika Zibanejad. He finished with a minus-4 rating. There won’t be any excuses made in this blog for Zibanejad.

Even the Trocheck line had some issues with the former Arizona Coyotes. It really is a shame that they never could survive in the desert. That’s a failure NHL commissioner Gary Bettman owns. When they played their games at Mullet Arena on the Arizona State campus, that was a sign that they were doomed. It definitely looked like a great atmosphere for games. But it’s for college hockey. Current Utah forward Josh Doan played his games there. The son of former NHLer Shane Doan is a promising rookie for a team that’ll score plenty of goals. In three games (all wins), they’re up to 16.

Less than four minutes into the game, Utah HC struck first. On a play in transition that was started by Nick Schmaltz, he moved the puck up to Clayton Keller. Keller then gained the Rangers zone and found a wide open Barrett Hayton for a goal that Igor Shesterkin had no chance on.

Rangers captain Jacob Trouba got lost in coverage, allowing Keller to set up Hayton for his third goal of the season. It wasn’t a good start on home ice for Trouba. Although he later had a key primary assist on a big Braden Schneider goal, he was on for three goals against. Two were at even strength. With Ryan Lindgren still sidelined with an upper-body injury sustained against the Islanders in a preseason fight with Scott Mayfield, Trouba is playing with Schneider for now. Fortunately, that experiment will be over soon.

Trailing by one, the Blueshirts responded less than five minutes later to tie the game. It was the unique combination of Lafreniere and Panarin who combined on a goal. Lafreniere carried the puck into the Utah zone and made a drop pass for Panarin, who used a defenseman as a screen to beat Connor Ingram for his first of the season. He would add another later. In two games, Panarin has two goals and two assists. Lafreniere has a goal and two helpers.

The game remained tied at one until a wild second period. The teams combined for seven goals on 21 shots. Utah HC beat Shesterkin four times on 11 shots. The Rangers got three past Ingram on 10 shots. A couple were unconventional. That included a goal scored by Jack McBain less than two minutes in to restore a one-goal lead.

Vladislav Kolyachanok threw a puck towards the net that took a carom off Trocheck right to McBain, who put it in. McBain would later be physically involved with Adam Edstrom. The period also featured a pair of fights.

The Blueshirts were put on the power play due to Kevin Stenlund going off for goalie interference on Shesterkin. Panarin got his second of the game to tie the game. After taking a pass from Adam Fox up top, he skated into open space and beat Ingram with a wrist shot from the left circle for the Rangers’ first power-play goal of the season. Trocheck drew the other assist.

A turning point came when they thought Victor Mancini had scored his first NHL goal. He beat Ingram with a good shot. However, it was waved off right away due to Matt Rempe being called for interference with Ingram in the crease. Laviolette unsuccessfully challenged. Rempe didn’t initiate the contact. Ingram came out to get in position with Rempe posting up in the blue paint. By rule, it’s incidental contact. Here was what Fox and Laviolette had to say about the tough call that went against them.

I understand what their argument is. It’s a tough rule. If a goalie comes out and initiates the contact, is it really the skater’s fault? It’s a thin line. Laviolette wants his players to go to that area. Rempe was where he should’ve been. Incidental contact wipes out goals. They don’t use it as often. Wes McCauley should’ve explained it better.

With the former Yotes on the power play, Ingram negated it by holding Chris Kreider. That led to some four-on-four. The advantage went to Utah HC. On a play behind his net, K’Andre Miller made a lousy reverse that resulted in a turnover. Alex Kerfoot quickly fed Keller for a goal in front that made it 3-2. Stenlund doubled up the lead when he surprised Shesterkin with a wrist shot from a sharp angle.

On the next shift, Miller got credit for a goal on a lucky bounce. His dump in banked off the boards and went into an open net with Ingram caught behind the cage. That made it 4-3.

Five seconds later, it was fight night on 33rd and 7th. The fourth line was involved in two scraps. Sam Carrick dropped the gloves with Michael Kesselring. Edstrom then took on McBain in an entertaining bout. He caught McBain flush to get the knockdown. Unfortunately, due to NHL rule, both Edstrom and McBain were ejected for being the second combatants. It’s a bad rule because it hurts teams. Each side loses a skater. That doesn’t make sense.

Another call that left some perplexed was Will Cuylle getting whistled for goalkeeper interference. Ingram came way out of his crease to make a play on a loose puck. Cuylle and Utah HC defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. Both were in a race for the puck with Ingram, who was aggressive on the play. Cuylle made a play on the puck and accidentally bumped into Ingram. It was a bad call. Fortunately, the Rangers killed off the penalty.

A bit later, Miller was sent off for high-sticking Logan Cooley. The bad penalty allowed Utah HC to go back ahead by two. Hayton and Schmaltz combined to set up Dylan Guenther for a laser in the slot. He’s up to five goals.

Trailing by two, the Rangers came back with a crucial goal late in the period. On a good forecheck by the third line, Cuylle moved the puck up for Trouba. He then found an isolated Schneider on the left point. That allowed him to move in and beat Ingram with a snapshot for his first of the season. The Rangers still trailed 5-4 after two periods.

Cuylle had a good game. He was active throughout and got rewarded. The line with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko has clicked so far. They’ve shown good chemistry and created chances off the cycle. Kakko looks like he fits in well with Chytil. They have familiarity due to playing together. Cuylle provides a combination of size, speed, and grit. His play creates space for both Chytil and Kakko. It’ll be a line to follow closely.

With the Rangers still down by a goal, the work from both Kakko behind the net and Cuylle in front resulted in them tying the game with 7:04 left in the third period. Kakko centered in front for a Cuylle shot that rebounded off Ingram. Both Cuylle and Fox were in the area. Fox poked the loose puck off Cuylle and in to make it 5-5.

It’s that kind of effort that usually gets rewarded. Cuylle finished the game with a goal and assist. He didn’t earn a Star of the Game. But anyone who watched knows he impacted the game. His hard work allowed the Rangers to get a point.

In overtime, nothing was decided until the final minute. On a play behind the net, Keller was allowed to come out in front and whip a backhand past Shesterkin inside the crossbar for the game-winner. Miller was by himself. He had to stay with his man on the other side. Zibanejad got caught napping. He didn’t make the switch onto Keller, who had too much time to get his second of the game. Keller has long been overlooked. He won’t be this season.

It was a disappointing result. Utah HC has a lot of young talent. They should have one of the best offenses in the league. In the postgame, I thought both Henrik Lundqvist and Steve Valiquette were on the money. Valiquette emphasized that when you get into that type of run and gun mentality, it’s better to slow things down. They needed to play more below the hash marks and create more offense off the forecheck. Lundqvist gave some credit to Utah HC. They have talented players. If they get enough goaltending and defense, they have a good chance to make the playoffs.

Undoubtedly, the Rangers will watch video today before getting ready for the Red Wings on Monday. They then have their first road trip of the season. That includes a return trip to Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 17. They will then visit the Maple Leafs next Saturday, Oct. 19. The three-game road swing concludes against the Canadiens on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

In a nice moment, McCauley recognized Sam Rosen by pointing to the broadcast booth before the opening faceoff. This is Rosen’s last season behind the mic as the Rangers TV voice. He was also given the ceremonial puck as a memento. It was a nice touch.