On a beautiful October Sunday in the Big Apple, the New York Rangers are unbeaten in regulation through five games. A 4-1 win last night over the Toronto Maple Leafs up north improved their record to 4-0-1.

They have nine points in their first five games and are currently second in the Metropolitan Division. Only the New Jersey Devils have more. Boosted by playing eight games, they are up to 11 points following a 6-5 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. It’s probably a good bet that the close Hudson rivals will be battling for the division all season long.

With Artemi Panarin and Igor Shesterkin leading the way early on, the Rangers remain one of the league’s best teams. Alexis Lafreniere continues to improve while playing with Panarin and Vincent Trocheck on the top line. With a goal on Saturday night in Toronto, he has recorded a point in every game. He’s up to three goals and three assists for six points. Panarin is tied for the league lead in scoring with a dozen points (6-6-12). Trocheck has two goals and five assists for seven points.

In four starts, Shesterkin is 3-0-1 with a 1.97 goals-against-average (GAA), and .935 save percentage. His push for a goalie record contract extension is looking good. He stoned the Leafs by making 17 saves in a busy third period. Time and time again, he shut down the league’s best finisher, Auston Matthews. He finished last season with 69 goals. Matthews was able to beat Shesterkin once. But it was due to him overpowering Adam Fox to get to the front and snipe. There wasn’t much the Rangers’ netminder could’ve done. He prevented several other opportunities against the ever dangerous Leafs captain.

The Rangers conclude their three-game road swing with a visit to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Berard Starts Well for Hartford

Meanwhile in Hartford, Brett Berard is off to a fast start. The 22-year-old Providence, Rhode Island native continues to impress in his second pro season. After a strong training camp that earned praise from Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, Berard has four goals and two assists for six points in three games for the Wolf Pack.

In Saturday night’s 6-5 overtime win over the Bridgeport Islanders, he scored twice and had six shots. Berard notched the winner in overtime on the power play. Setting up in the right circle, he buried a Casey Fitzgerald pass on a one-timer that beat Islanders goalie Marcus Hogberg short side. Benoit Oliver-Groulx drew the secondary assist. He led the Pack with four points (2-2-4) in their second straight win.

“We had a couple of set plays we were trying to run,” Berard told reporters following the game. “There really are no positions at that point of the game. Just trying to find a lane and get the puck on net. And that’s what happened at the end there. My teammate [Fitzgerald] gave me a perfect pass. … It hit a stick on the way in. But a goal’s a goal. So. It was pretty exciting.”

With four goals in his first three games, Berard can’t explain why he’s scoring. “I say it all the time. I’m not really focused on points. It’s nice seeing the puck go in. I guess it’s my game but not really my game. I’m trying to play fast down low. I have to use my size to my advantage. Quick and elusive behind the net and make plays. Luckily so far, the puck’s been able to go in the net. … I’m a big believer that if you do the right things, good things will happen.”

That approach has definitely helped Berard in his development. Not the biggest in stature, he’s five-foot nine, 165 pounds. But his strong work ethic is evident. An effective player with good speed and grit, the former Providence College product is still looking to crack the NHL. Teammate Brennan Othmann debuted last season for the Rangers. He appeared in three games. The 2021 first round pick didn’t register a point. Othmann has two goals and two assists for four points so far in his second pro year with the Pack.

Unlike Othmann who went 16th overall in 2021, Berard wasn’t a high draft pick. He was taken in the fifth round with the number 134 pick in 2020. Instead of playing juniors, he took the collegiate route with the hometown Providence College Friars. He played under coach Nate Leaman in Hockey-East.

Berard spent three years at Providence honing his skills. In 91 games, he finished with 33 goals, 39 assists, and 72 points. His best season came in 2021-22 when he paced the Friars in scoring with 38 points (18-20-38). Following the 2022-23 season in which he ranked second in team scoring with 24 points (10-14-24), he signed with the Rangers. Berard got into three games for Hartford as a 20-year-old.

Since, he’s become a staple on the Pack. He led them with 25 goals and added 23 assists for 48 points last season – ranking third in team scoring. Berard added a goal and five helpers in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Hartford lost in the second round.

Represented Team USA

Berard also has international experience. He twice represented Team USA at the World Junior Championships. He played in 2021 and 2022. He was part of the gold medal winning roster in 2021. Playing a checking role on the third line, Berard had a good tournament, finishing with a goal and four assists. He got to play for Leaman.

Team USA was led by Trevor Zegras, who led all skaters with 18 points. It was the big line with Alex Turcotte and Arthur Kaliyev that were at the forefront of USA’s gold medal victory. Berard was a key penalty killer. An area he excelled at due to his speed and hustle.

Watching him back then, I saw a player who looked like a third line player that could kill penalties. That looks like his ceiling. There once was another Rangers’ draft pick that wasn’t taken too high. He also represented Team USA at the World Juniors.

Ryan Callahan had a similar role on the 2005 USA roster. He played mostly on the third line and penalty kill. Although they didn’t have the same success as a team finishing fourth, Callahan had a goal and two assists. A 2004 fourth round pick, Callahan became a classic overachiever. He went from being a third liner to making it all the way to the top line, even becoming the Rangers captain.

His gritty style made him a fan favorite. Callahan spent eight years as a Blueshirt before moving to Tampa in a memorable captain for captain trade at the 2014 trade deadline. Martin St. Louis came back in return. He was the driving force behind the Rangers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final. Callahan wound up doing well for the Lightning, setting career highs in assists (30), and points (54) in 2014-15. He was part of a team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2015. Callahan finished with eight points during that run.

Injuries derailed his career. However, he was very successful. In 15 seasons (NYR, TBL), Callahan had 186 goals and 200 assists for a total of 386 points in 757 games. Affectionately known as Captain Cally, he’s still fondly remembered as a Blueshirt. These days, you can’t miss him on TV. He’s usually calling games with John Buccigross on ESPN. Callahan has become an excellent analyst. It’s nice to see him have success in the booth.

If Berard can wind up with a similar career path, he’ll become another beloved Ranger. At some point this season, his NHL debut on Broadway awaits. When it happens, there’ll be some palpable excitement. Hopefully, it comes soon.