Last night, the New York Rangers played their third game of the preseason. They lost to the New York Islanders 5-4 in regulation at Madison Square Garden.

Playing for the second straight time at home, the Rangers blew a 4-2 lead in the third period.

Unlike the overtime loss to the Boston Bruins, in which the defense broke down, it was more about the play of Dylan Garand. Taking over for Jonathan Quick after two periods, he allowed three goals on 10 shots, including a pair of soft goals to give the Islanders the come from behind win.

That included a goal to Caneron Berg that went off his shoulder and in to make it 4-3. The bad goal gave the Islanders momentum, which they carried throughout the third, outshooting the Rangers 10-5.

With the Blueshirts still protecting a one-goal lead, Gleb Veremyev got into position on Scott Morrow to redirect a Berg pass past Garand to tie the score with less than five minutes remaining. Veremyev was the Isles’ best forward scoring twice.

Kyle Palmieri gave the Islanders the lead 57 seconds later. After taking an Adam Pelech pass, Palmieri entered the Rangers zone pressured by Gabe Perreault. He skated into the dot and sent a backhand off Garand and in for the game-winner with 3:46 left in regulation.

On the play, Morrow was back defending. He kept Palmieri to the outside. Garand simply didn’t make the stop. The 2025 AHL All-Star will continue to be the number one goalie with the Hartford Wolf Pack this season.

For the Rangers, there were some positives in the defeat. Most notably, it was the play of the youngsters. The trio of Noah Laba, Brett Berard, and Brennan Othmann all played well.

During a brief stretch after falling behind the Islanders 2-0, the Rangers scored three straight goals to end the first period. After Vincent Trocheck deflected home an Adam Fox shot set up by Alexis Lafreniere, Othmann connected on the power play to tie the score. Taking a Morrow feed up top, he beat David Rittich with a good wrist shot for his first of the preseason. Conor Sheary helped set it up.

For a second consecutive game, Othmann was more involved offensively. He finished with a goal and three shots in just over 10 minutes while getting a look on the second line with Trocheck and Lafreniere. Othmann also made sure to be a pest around the net. He likes to play with an edge. If he eventually is successful in the NHL, it’ll be due to that tenacious style.

Following Othmann’s tying goal, Laba continued to impress by making a nifty pass in front for Berard, who buried his first of the preseason. They played on the third line with Sheary, who didn’t hurt his chances of making the roster by picking up two helpers. Playing on a pro tryout (PTA), the 33-year-old veteran has shown off the speed and hustle that once made him a key part of two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A depth player who can also play penalty kill, Sheary has played under head coach Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh. He has a real shot at making the team.

Numbers Game Hurts Kids’ Chances

If there’s an issue that could hurt the kids’ chances of making the Rangers, it’s the numbers game. According to PuckPedia, they currently have 13 forwards signed.

That includes former Devil Justin Dowling. He played in one game and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Dowling is signed for two years at just $775,000 on the cap. The second year indicates that it’s a two-way deal. The 34-year-old veteran was brought in for some reason when the Rangers already added Taylor Raddysh to a bottom six that includes Juuso Parssinen, Sam Carrick, Adam Edstrom, Matt Rempe, and Jonny Brodzinski. It doesn’t add up.

If Sheary is signed, that would add yet another forward. This isn’t a knock on Sheary, who’s proven that he’s capable of contributing in a supporting role. However, what was the point of signing Raddysh then? It’s too bunched up for any of the younger players to have a realistic chance of playing on the big club to start the season. 

Sullivan’s Lines at Practice Favor Vets

Furthermore, Sullivan prefers vets over kids. If you go based on his lines at team practice earlier today, it doesn’t look like there’s any room for Laba or Berard. Both have outplayed incumbents so far.

Laba looks better than Parssinen, who’s locked in for two years at an AAV of $1.2 million. On his third roster, the 24-year-old must prove that he is capable of becoming a dependable third line center. In 11 games after coming over from the Colorado Avalanche last season, Parssinen had two goals and three assists for five points. He’s two years older than Laba, who has only played 11 games at the pro level with Hartford. A likely destination for him to start 2025-26.

As for Berard, all the 23-year-old forward does is use his speed and grit to outwork bigger opponents. He isn’t shy about finishing a check and will absorb big hits to make plays. There’s some skill and smarts that make Berard easy to root for. He sure leaves it all out there. If he cracked the roster, he’d also play on the penalty kill. An area he excels at.

If Sullivan is going to start the season with more experienced players, that means that even Othmann is likely ticketed for Hartford. A 2021 first round pick who’s played in 25 career games without scoring a goal, the 22-year-old needs a chance to prove himself. Obviously, he’s blocked by Artemi Panarin, who sounds like he will play out the remaining year of his contract without signing a team friendly short-term extension.

As expected, with Panarin returning to practice, the top six look set. Trocheck and Panarin are slotted in with Lafreniere, who must have a better season. Captain J.T. Miller is between Will Cuylle and Mika Zibanejad, who could be poised for a bounce back year playing on the right side.

With Sullivan loving what he’s seen out of Rempe so far, the checking line likely remains the same, with Carrick centering Rempe and Edstrom. That only leaves two or three extra spots, which means it’s likely Brodzinski, Raddysh, and Sheary ‘if’ he’s signed.

State of Defense Looks Unchanged

Morrow has shown off his offensive potential when he’s played on the blue line. However, his defensive play still could use some work. It’s a real possibility that he’ll be reassigned next week.

Matthew Robertson hasn’t done much to convince anyone that he should be the extra defenseman. He’s on a two-way deal.

With Sullivan taking a look at Carson Soucy with Adam Fox last night, it remains likely that the defense will remain unchanged. Vladislav Gavrikov will team with Fox. Will Borgen remains on the second pair. The question is with whom. It might be Soucy by default.

Braden Schneider is still being held out of games. He played with Urho Vaakanainen on the third pair.

If that’s how they line up to start the season on Oct. 8, nobody will convince me the defense is better than it was when K’Andre Miller was here. Gavrikov will help strengthen the top pair. After that, there remain lingering questions.

Patience A Virtue

With the usual number of fans showing frustration over the potential roster, we must remain patient.

Nothing is guaranteed. If Parssinen struggles in October and Laba starts well in Hartford (assuming he is sent down), he’ll probably be the first player recalled. The same goes for Berard, who’s done everything possible to make the decision hard on the coaching staff.

What about Perreault? He certainly didn’t look out of place playing with Miller and Zibanejad yesterday. The explosiveness is there along with the skill. But he’s only 20. There’s plenty of time for him to get top minutes in the AHL. He can always get called up.

I’ve already covered Othmann. It’s become tiresome. Hopefully, this is the year he gets his chance and runs with it. I’m unsure of when that will be.

At the very least, the Rangers have no exhibition games this weekend. They will next play the Islanders on the road this Monday. We’ll see if they make anymore roster cuts.