Through the first 13 games, there haven’t been many players who have impressed for the New York Rangers. An offensively challenged team, they needed someone to provide spark after suffering a 5-1 drubbing to the lowly Calgary Flames on Oct. 26.

Enter Will Cuylle. Having gotten off to a bad start, the third-year forward helped the Rangers turn it around to have a successful road trip. Moved onto a line with rookie Noah Laba and Alexis Lafreniere, Cuylle provided the impetus. In the blowout defeat at Calgary, Cuylle set up Laba for the first goal of his career with a nice touch pass in the neutral zone that allowed the speedy center to cut in and score.

Following the team’s third straight loss, it felt like they hit rock bottom. Especially after the Flames got three unanswered goals to pull away for their first win in regulation. It would’ve been easy for the Rangers to continue to revert to the form that ruined last season. Instead, they got well against a depleted Vancouver Canucks with a 2-0 shutout last Tuesday, Oct. 28.

It was another Cuylle pass that allowed Mika Zibanejad to break in and score for what proved to be the game-winner late in the first period. Jonathan Quick stopped all 23 shots to pick up the victory. Sam Carrick added the empty netter.

In the win, Cuylle played with Zibanejad and slumping star forward Artemi Panarin. When they fell behind the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 after a lackluster second period that saw them get outscored 2-0, Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan had seen enough of his top two lines. He made the switch that ignited his team to rally back from a two-goal deficit and pull out a 4-3 overtime win over the Oilers.

With Sullivan loading up the top line by moving captain J.T. Miller up with Zibanejad and Panarin, he decided to bump up Laba to the second line with Cuylle and Lafreniere. It was the play of that line that led to the turnaround. After taking a pass from Urho Vaakanainen, Cuylle turned on the jets to force Stuart Skinner into giving up a rebound that Braden Schneider deposited. Less than four minutes later, Conor Sheary set up Taylor Raddysh for the game-tying goal. In extra time, Miller coasted by Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard to win the game on a breakaway.

Pleased with how they played after the line adjustments, Sullivan kept his new lines intact for last night’s game against the Seattle Kraken. The Rangers started off November by pulling out a 3-2 overtime victory over the Kraken. It was Cuylle who played the hero when he took a Miller cross-ice pass and beat Joey Daccord at 2:42 of OT.

Back in the first period, after Vladislav Gavrikov and Chandler Stephenson exchanged goals 2:33 apart, Cuylle took a Lafreniere feed and took a shot through traffic that created a rebound that Laba put in for his second. That aggressive style is a big part of Cuylle’s game. In a game the Rangers largely dominated by limiting the Kraken to only 13 shots, they still required overtime due to Igor Shesterkin giving up a tying goal to Brandon Montour in the third period.

Even with the power play continuing to fire blanks, the Rangers were able to overcome it to finish the Western road swing 3-1-0. For the first time in almost a calendar year, they have won three in a row. In doing so, they upped their record to 6-5-2. That moved them into a wild card spot with 14 points. With both the Metropolitan and Atlantic Divisions full of parity, they should find themselves in the swing of things.

Before the road trip, Cuylle had only one goal. After putting up five points over the four games, he’s up to two goals and four assists for six points. His impact can be felt due to always being involved. That includes his 46 hits, which lead the team. A North/South player who doesn’t turn over the puck much, it’s the 23-year-old’s game that Sullivan wants to see more of from his team.

Ironically, even though he’s continued to struggle finishing, Lafreniere also plays a similar style. Keeping him with Cuylle and Laba, whose combination of size, speed, and grit make him an effective player, would be wise. Perhaps it can get Lafreniere going. If the line continues its progression, Sullivan could have an interesting decision when Vincent Trocheck returns.

For now, we should continue to see the three young forwards stick together. That’s a good thing for the Rangers moving forward.

Borgen Gets A Nice Welcome Back

On a night that saw former Rangers Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren face their ex-teammates for the first time since being traded last season, current Ranger Will Borgen got a nice welcome back to Seattle.

A hard-nosed defenseman who plays the game with a purpose, the 28-year-old Borgen has been a steady influence on the Rangers’ back end. While he won’t wow fans with tons of offense, he will certainly let opponents know he’s there. Since coming over from the Kraken last year in a trade that sent Kakko to the Pacific Coast, Borgen has become a key factor on the blue line.

Playing against his former team for the first time at Climate Pledge Arena, he was given a warm reception from Kraken fans during a stoppage that featured a video tribute. They made sure to include some big hits and a fight in the highlights. That personifies who Borgen is. While on the Rangers bench, he smiled and waved to the crowd.

Borgen had a solid game in his return. In 27 shifts while logging 20:13 of ice time, he had two hits and two blocks. He teamed with Carson Soucy (19:58 TOI) for an effective duo on the second pair. As usual, Borgen received the third most ice time on the blue line, trailing Gavrikov (21:47) and Adam Fox (25:04).

Fox Picks Up A Pair of Assists

In the win, Fox picked up a pair of assists. That included a secondary helper on Cuylle’s overtime decider. He moved the puck for Miller, who then drew attention before finding Cuylle wide open for the easy finish upstairs with Daccord already down.

In 28 shifts, Fox had two assists with two shots, six attempts, and a game best plus-3 rating. Very quietly, the former Norris winner is off to a good start. His 11 points (3-8-11) lead the Rangers in scoring. It’s been his steady play with new partner Gavrikov that’s getting attention.

If Fox and Gavrikov can keep it up, the Rangers should have one of the best defensive pairs this season. They rank first according to Natural Stat Trick, with a 57.38 CF. Due to the Rangers’ offensive struggles, they’ve only been on for one more goal than against (4 GF 3 GA) despite a dominant shot differential (95-78) at five-on-five.

Brodzinski Keeps Contributing

Playing for the third straight game, Jonny Brodzinski picked up a secondary assist on the Rangers’ first goal. It was the strong work he did down low that resulted in Fox finding Gavrikov for his first as a Ranger to open the scoring. It was his first assist of the season.

In the win over Edmonton, Brodzinski scored on a breakaway for his first of the season. When he plays, he’s capable of contributing. In five games, he has a goal and assist. During 2024-25, the 32-year-old veteran set a career-high in goals (12) while matching his previous career best in points (19). He’s a good fit on the fourth line with Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom due to his skating and the hustle he provides. That was evident on the Gavrikov tally.

With Brodzinski continuing to play well, it looks like Brennan Othmann will remain out of the lineup when the Rangers return to Madison Square Garden to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. There won’t be any video tribute for K’Andre Miller, who’s been out with a lower-body injury. He was placed on the injured reserve on Halloween.

The Hurricanes could also be without top defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who’s been on the IR with a lower-body injury since Oct. 23. Shayne Gostisbehere (lower-body) doesn’t have a timetable for his return to the lineup. He suffered the injury on Oct. 28. Despite the injuries, the Hurricanes still have a 7-4-0 record. It should be interesting to see what happens in two days at The Garden.