New York Rangers Daily: Back to work for Blueshirts, Eric Staal celebration in Carolina

It’s back to work for the rejuvenated New York Rangers on Monday. They’ll practice in Colorado ahead of a game against Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche on Tuesday with a good feeling, knowing they’re 4-1-1 in the past six games and winners of two straight.

Yes, as in a two-game winning streak! Their first consecutive wins since Nov. 14-19, when they won three in a row.

Their latest victory, 2-1 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday likely made for a good day off on Sunday. Probably plenty of watching NFL playoff games and perhaps a peek at some of the five NHL games on tap.

If the Rangers did pay attention to any of the NHL games, well, there was a mixed bag for them. Two of teams the Rangers are battling with for a wild- card spot in the Eastern Conference — the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings — each won. A third, the pretty lousy Pittsburgh Penguins, lost. Though Sidney Crosby and Co. are two points up on the Rangers, the Penguins feel like a non-factor. They’ve played three more games than the Rangers and just aren’t very good.

Not much scoreboard watching Monday for the Rangers after practice, though. The Philadelphia Flyers, one point behind the Blueshirts, host the Florida Panthers. But like the Penguins, the Flyers feel like a non-factor.

Then again, can the Rangers (20-20-2) look down on any other team? They are, after all, sixth in the Metropolitan Division and 13th in the East, even if the arrow is pointing up finally.

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New York Rangers news

NHL: New York Rangers at Vegas Golden Knights
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John Kreiser wrote about how there’s a different look and feel with the Rangers these days, really since the start of the New Year. The Rangers feel believe they “found something” and hope to hold on to it.

Tom Castro delved into how Sam Carrick’s evolved into an unlikely key ingredient in the Rangers’ recent success.

In case you missed them, here are our three takeaways from the Rangers’ most recent win in Vegas on Saturday.

NHL news

NHL: Anaheim Ducks at Carolina Hurricanes
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Eric Staal — a Ranger for a flash in 2016 after the trade deadline — had his No. 12 retired by the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. The 2006 Stanley Cup champion (when Rangers coach Peter Laviolette was behind Carolina’s bench) is the Hurricanes all-time leader in nearly every offensive category, including points (775).

In another celebration of sorts, Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was saluted by the Vegas Golden Knights and their fans in what could’ve been his final appearance at T-Mobile Arena, with all signs pointing to his impending retirement. Fleury played four seasons with the Golden Knights and was on their inaugural team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2018.

The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Erik Brannstrom on waivers.

Cutter Gauthier was booed mercilessly by Flyers fans when he played his first game in Philadelphia with the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. The rookie forward is reviled for seeking a trade from the Flyers after being a first-round pick (No. 5 overall) by them in 2022. For his part, Flyers coach John Tortorella called the whole spectacle “bullshit.”

Gauthier and the Ducks were shut out by the Flyers 6-0 but bounced back Sunday with a 3-2 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 20-year-old scored two goals, including the game-winner in OT and now has seven goals this season.

It was a bad day for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not only did they lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2, but star center Evgeni Malkin was placed on IR — though that was more of a procedural move and he could return soon — and forward Michael Bunting didn’t play after being involved in a pregame car accident (coach Mike Sullivan said he was “OK”).

The white-hot Red Wings rolled to their seventh straight win, 6-2 against the Seattle Kraken. Patrick Kane had a goal and assist for Detroit; Kaapo Kakko had an assist for Seattle. For what it’s worth.

The Dallas Stars saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end in a 3-2 loss to the Senators.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of ... More about Jim Cerny
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