Rangers coach sees ‘boost of confidence’ after Conor Sheary finally scores
There was disappointment in the New York Rangers locker room Saturday afternoon after their solid effort produced just one standings point, when they lost to League-leading Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime.
NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon’s goal at 2:46 of OT gave Colorado the extra point after New York’s Artemi Panarin tied the game with 40.9 seconds remaining in regulation
But among the positives for the Rangers was who scored their first goal, 4:23 into the third period. Veteran forward Conor Sheary who made the team in training camp after signing a PTO in late July, scored his first goal with the Rangers to tie the game 1-1.
“I’m hoping this goal he gets tonight will give him a boost of confidence,” coach Mike Sullivan said after Sheary ended an NHL goal drought dating to April 11, 2024, with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Prior to scoring against the Avalanche, Sheary was goal-less in 26 games this season, notching just six assists. He spent three games as a healthy scratch last week before injuries up front gave him a chance to play again. Sullivan opted to use him rather than Brennan Othmann because of his speed and two-way ability.
Sheary spent most of his time before the three straight scratches in a bottom-six role. But Sullivan moved him into a top-six spot, playing him on a line with Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, — they both assisted on his goal Saturday. The 33-year-old took a pass from Trocheck near the red line, outraced two of Colorado’s best skaters — Cale Makar and Martin Necas, then fought off a stick check by Makar before beating Mackenzie Blackwood on the glove side to make it 1-1.
He let out a roar that was quickly lost in the eruption from the Garden crowd.
“I just realized there was a forward (Necas) back on ‘D,’ so it was late in a shift and I thought I could take advantage of maybe him being tired and catch him by surprise,” Sheary explained afterward. “I was able to do that and get a mini-breakaway and have a nice shot and have it go in. I was waiting a long time for it, so it felt nice for it to go in.”
Sheary’s goal drought at the NHL level was at 34 games and counting before he scored Saturday. He’s hopeful this will be the first of more goals to come.
“I feel like I’ve been getting a lot of good chances throughout this year,” Sheary said. “It’s a relief to get one. Hopefully, I can build off that, but to contribute to the team and help the team gain a point, I think, is really important.”
Conor Sheary aims to build off first goal with Rangers
It’s been a tough couple of years for Sheary, who played for Sullivan in Pittsburgh and was a member of consecutive Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. He signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 3, 2023 — but after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign (four goals and 15 points in 57 games), the Bolts demoted him to the AHL last season after just five games. He had 20 goals and 61 points in 59 games for AHL Syracuse, then walked away from a guaranteed $1.5 million deal this season by asking to have his contract terminated, allowing him a chance to return to the NHL.
Sullivan, who was hired by the Rangers on May 2 after Peter Laviolette was fired, was glad to give him another opportunity.
“He has shown an ability to score in this league in a number of different places,” Sullivan said. “If he can chip in with a goal here and there for us, it certainly helps us with all the other things that he brings to the table.”
The hard-working Sheary has 125 goals in 620 NHL games, and scored 15 or more goals four times in the League, including 23 in 2016-17.
Though it’s been just a couple of games, Sheary appears to be a good fit with Trocheck and Miller. Sullivan said he’s been happy with what he’s seen so far.
“I think the element that (Sheary) brings to those guys can help them,” Sullivan said. “I think one of his best attributes is just his ability to get it on the forecheck. He’s got a great stick. He’s quick. He knocks a lot of pucks down. He creates a lot of opportunity, turnovers, stalled pucks, things of that nature. He thinks it pretty good, sees it pretty good. That, for me, is one of his biggest attributes.
“I think Conor’s done a lot of really good things for us this year. The only thing that’s been missing is just the finish.”
