New York Rangers Daily: Possible milestone matinee, Devils seeking trade for depth scoring
A weekend of matinee games aired on national TV begins for the New York Rangers, when they visit the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday. That game airs on ABC at Noon ET, and will be followed Sunday by an Original Six clash when the Rangers visit the Chicago Blackhawks at 3 p.m. ET, also on ABC.
But what will the national audience see from the Rangers (17-19-1)? The team that lost 15 of 19 games to close out 2024 and dropped into last place in the Metropolitan Division? Or the one that competed throughout a spirited 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins in the first game of the New Year on Thursday?
There were some signs of life in the Rangers in their final two games in December, albeit losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. They built on those efforts, though, with their best game in a while against the Bruins. Though far from perfect Thursday, is the needle finally beginning to point upward for the Rangers?
They’ll face a bigger test against the high-scoring Capitals (25-10-3) on Saturday. The Bruins had plenty of Grade A scoring chances, but Jonathan Quick was sensational holding them at bay. The Capitals are not the low-scoring Bruins, though. So, the Rangers must defend much better or Quick could be buried under a barrage from Alex Ovechkin and Co., who are second in the NHL averaging 3.63 goals per game.
Speaking of Quick, he’s seeking to become the 15th goalie in NHL history to win 400 games after career win No. 399 on Thursday.
New York Rangers news
Here are our three things to watch for when the Rangers visit the Capitals, including finding ways to shut down Ovechkin, who’s 24 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record of 894.
There were plenty of news-n-notes from Rangers practice Friday, including Matt Rempe and K’Andre Miller “dropping the gloves” in a mock fight.
Brett Berard certainly made a splash with his game-winning goal and subsequent wild celly for the Rangers in their win against the Bruins. Teammate Braden Schneider noted how the rookie plays “100 miles an hour.”
Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist is one of seven hockey greats in the IIHF Hall of Fame class of 2025.
Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue will be on the ice Saturday in Ottawa, trying to help the United States reach the Gold Medal game at the 2025 World Junior Championship when they play Czechia in the semifinals. Perreault had three assists in the quarterfinals, a 7-2 U.S. win against Switzerland.
NHL news
New Jersey Hockey Now is reporting that the Devils are eager to make a trade to add depth scoring to their lineup. General manager Tom Fitzgerald arrived in San Jose ahead of the team a couple days ago, perhaps to chat with good buddy and Sharks GM Mike Grier about Mikael Granlund?
Semyon Varlamov was back on the ice skating Friday for the Islanders, though the 36-year-old goalie didn’t face shots nor take part in practice. Varlamov has missed 13 games with a lower-body injury.
One day after the Bruins lost to the Rangers, they signed forward Mark Kastelic to a three-year contract extension with a $1.567 million salary cap hit.
Colorado Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood is going to miss some time after sustaining a lower-body injury during a collision against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
The Blackhawks ended a five-game losing streak, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 behind Arvid Soderblom’s 38 saves.
Without the injured Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, Thatcher Demko and Filip Hronek in the lineup, the Vancouver Canucks were shut out 3-0 by the woeful Nashville Predators. Former Rangers forward J.T. Miller is without a goal in his past 12 games for Vancouver.
Leon Draisaitl scored with 1:35 left in regulation to lift the Edmonton Oilers past the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 and extend his point streak to 13 games.
WATCH Brandon Saad score a natural hat trick in the St. Louis Blues’ 4-0 win against the Ottawa Senators.
More About:New York Rangers News
Read This Next
