There haven’t been many nights when things came together for the Rangers. Two days before Christmas, they gave themselves a holiday treat by coming back to defeat the Capitals 7-3 in D.C. The win was exactly what they needed entering the break.

At times, they didn’t establish much at 5-on-5 against one of the league’s best teams. Despite getting outplayed in a second period that saw the Caps outscore the Rangers 3-1 to take a one-goal lead to the locker room, it was the Rangers that responded with a five-goal explosion in the third period to stun the Washington home crowd.

It was quite a way to shrug off a dismal effort in a bad loss to the Predators. Unlike that game when head coach Mike Sullivan was forced to play 11 forwards and seven defensemen due to Gabe Perreault and Matt Rempe catching a bug that’s been going around the locker room, both were back for Tuesday night’s game. That allowed Sullivan to roll four lines and three defense pairs. Here’s the lineup he went with for last night.

Brett Berard was called up just in case Perreault and Rempe needed another game to recover. Both he and Conor Sheary were the healthy scratches. Sullivan stuck with a top six that continued to feature Mika Zibanejad between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Perreault rejoined Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle on the other scoring line.

For once, it was the play of the supporting cast that made a difference. Coming into the game versus his former team, Taylor Raddysh hadn’t scored a goal since Oct. 30. He’d been ice cold over the last month and a half. Perhaps seeing the Caps inspired him. Playing in front of the same fans that supported him last season, Raddysh scored twice and set up another goal for his second three-point game of the season.

That included opening the scoring when he slammed in a Jonny Brodzinski feed that slipped past Braden Schneider to end a long 23-game drought. It was only his second goal since recording a hat trick on Oct. 23.

The Rangers’ lead lasted just 23 seconds into the second period. On a botched coverage from Zibanejad, Ryan Leonard and Aleiksei Protas combined to set up John Carlson to tie the score. With Alexis Lafreniere hustling back to backcheck Protas, Zibanejad left Carlson open for his eighth that beat Igor Shesterkin.

With Carson Soucy in the box for holding Nic Dowd, some controversy followed. Following a Shesterkin save on Connor McMichael, it looked like he robbed Dylan Strome on the rebound of a power-play goal. At least ref Kelly Sutherland didn’t think the puck crossed the goal line completely. However, the Caps certainly felt differently about the play.

After conferencing with Toronto headquarters, the refs overturned the call on the ice, ruling that Strome’s shot indeed had gone completely in to give the Caps the lead on the power play. As play continued during the period, they kept waiting to hear back from the NHL on an explanation. That didn’t come until near the conclusion. Apparently, the league has its own camera inside the goal that can help determine whether it’s a goal or isn’t. They sent the screenshot to the TV networks.

Here’s the thing. If you’ve watched all the replays, there isn’t any that show the puck completely across the goal line. All you can tell is that Shesterkin made what looked like an unbelievable glove save with the puck on its edge in mid-air on the line. Here’s how it sounded on MSG Network.

When Sutherland made the official announcement that put the Caps ahead 2-1, Shesterkin immediately approached him to get an explanation. He thought he prevented a goal. If you go based on what the league sent out, then the puck completely crossed the line for a good goal. For some reason, it didn’t even look like the same play. Maybe if they could’ve sent out their own replay, it would’ve prevented a lot of confusion. A still shot isn’t the same as a replay.

Regardless, the Rangers didn’t let the decision prevent them from coming back and winning. Instead, they actually took advantage of a penalty Trocheck drew on McMichael. Somewhat miraculously, the number one unit converted on the power play thanks to some nice passing from Trocheck and Zibanejad that set up Cuylle for his 10th to tie the score.

But before you could get comfortable on the couch, Protas put the Caps back ahead with his 13th only 57 seconds later. On a play in the neutral zone, Hendrix Lapierre sent Sonny Milano in for a shot that rebounded right to Protas to make it 3-2. The guilty party was Brennan Othmann, who got caught in no-man’s land. He was puck watching while Protas came in and buried the rebound. When Othmann got back to the bench, Sullivan had some choice words for him.

The Rangers were mostly outplayed during the second with the Caps scoring three times on 15 shots. They took a one-goal lead into the third without Tom Wilson, who was out with an illness. At that point, it looked like it was going to be one of those games where they didn’t do enough to get a win. However, they had other ideas in the final period.

Sullivan didn’t bench anyone for the third. He instead kept playing everyone. At times, there were some different players on lines. Whatever he decided seemed to work.

On a rush up the ice started by Noah Laba on a drop pass for Cuylle up top, he sent a pass for Raddysh, who cut in and flipped a backhand that somehow went in past Logan Thompson for the game-tying goal at 8:10. He didn’t have much choice but to throw the shot on net. Perhaps Laba being in front distracted Thompson enough which allowed Raddysh to tie the game.

Over a minute later, Panarin took a Scott Morrow feed and had his shot tipped in by Lafreniere for his 100th career goal. With Morrow driving to the net, Lafreniere was parked in front and got a piece of the Panarin shot to finally catch a break. Earlier in the game, he had Thompson dead to rights, but hit the goalpost on a great move. No Ranger has failed to bury more chances than Lafreniere, who got his eighth. It was his first since Dec. 7.

Trocheck continued the fun when he steered in a Brodzinski rebound for his second goal in three games. On a quick faceoff win by Trocheck, Perreault tipped the puck back for a Brodzinski shot that came right to Trocheck to make it 5-3.

With the Caps pulling Thompson early in hopes of getting one to make it interesting, the strategy backfired when the trio of Lafreniere, Zibanejad, and Panarin combined on an empty netter scored by Bread with 2:16 remaining. It was his team-leading 14th. He also had an assist to hike his point total to 38 in 38 games.

Trocheck added another goal when he converted in front on a Cuylle pass to give him a multi-goal game. The trio of Cuylle, Raddysh, and Trocheck all recorded three points in the victory. That’s exactly what needs to happen for the Rangers moving forward after the holiday break.

They will celebrate tonight and Christmas with their families before headed to Belmont Park for what’s a crucial game against the Islanders. Having won three of four, the Rangers sit fifth in the Metropolitan Division with 42 points. They trail the third place Islanders by two in the standings. However, the Islanders have played two fewer games and have two more regulation wins (14-12). It’ll be the second of four meetings during the regular season. The Islanders took the first one 5-0 at MSG on Nov. 8. The final two are a home and home series on Jan. 28-29.

It’s hard to figure out this team. They remain a puzzle. Then again, look at the whole division. Even the Hurricanes have had their issues lately, blowing third period leads in losses to the Lightning and Panthers twice. The Flyers suddenly sit in second place having won a couple in a row. Even with Jack Hughes back, the Devils are still struggling to score goals after giving up a late goal to Adam Pelech in a 2-1 loss on Tuesday. They’ve dropped to sixth place with 41 points. The Pens can’t seem to beat anyone lately. And the Blue Jackets just traded for Mason Marchment, who’s scored three goals so far.

Even the Red Wings, who suddenly have risen to first in the Atlantic, still have questions in net. If you can explain who the best teams in the East are, please go right ahead. Unlike the West where you have the dominant Avalanche followed by the Stars and Wild, no team has cracked 50 points in the East.

The hockey isn’t great by any stretch. It’s a mediocre product despite Connor McDavid blowing past Nathan MacKinnon to take a six-point lead for the Art Ross. Most of the league has average goaltending. There should be more moves coming once the holiday freeze is over. However, most teams won’t be selling. That’s what makes it compelling.

World Juniors On Deck

While there won’t be any NHL games until this Saturday, the World Junior Championships starts on Dec. 26. The tournament host location takes us to the great hockey state of Minnesota.

After repeating as champions in 2025, Team USA doesn’t look to have as strong a roster. Gone are Trey Augustine, Zeev Buium, Drew Fortescue, Leonard, Oliver Moore, Danny Nelson, and Perreault. Returning are Cole Eiserman, James Hagens, Logan Hensler, Cole Hutson, Adam Kleber, Max Plante, Teddy Stiga, and Brody Ziemer. Trevor Connelly will miss the WJC due to an injury.

E.J. Emery will be on the blue line. The Rangers selected him 30th overall in 2024. He’s in his second year for North Dakota. In 17 games, he has two goals and two assists.

USA won’t be in the same Group as Canada, who should be the heavy favorites. The Canadians are loaded with talent headlined by Michael Misa, Tij Iginla, Porter Martone, and Gavin McKenna. They also boast Jett Luchanko, Braeden Cootes, Michael Hage, and Brady Martin. Zayne Parekh and Harrison Brunicke lead a balanced back end that also includes Kashawn Aitcheson, Cameron Reid, and Keaton Verhoeff, who will be competing with McKenna for the 2026 top pick. Carter George returns to the starter’s net. This is a scary roster that should win the gold medal.

USA and Sweden are expected to compete for the medal round. NHL Network will air games beginning on Boxing Day.