Rangers Daily: ‘Missed opportunity’ on Long Island; Scary injury at WJC
One step forward, one step back. The New York Rangers remain stuck in the murky middle of the NHL standings because, like many teams in the League, they simply are mediocre.
One night, the Rangers (19-17-4) are capable of rallying in the third period for an uplifting win, something they’ve done five times this season, including in their final game ahead of the three-day NHL Christmas break Tuesday against the Washington Capitals.
Another night, they can’t find a way to capitalize on their opportunities and lose a winnable game. More often than not, as was the case in a 2-0 loss to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday, the Rangers are shut out.
Make it a League-high eight shutout defeats for the Rangers now, two shy of the franchise record, and halfway to the NHL record of 16.
They can still make the Stanley Cup Playoffs because there’s a plethora of so-so teams in the League, similar to the Rangers. But it doesn’t make them any less frustrating to watch.
“I just didn’t think we were as clean or as sharp or as crisp as I know that we’re capable of,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said postgame. “From that standpoint, that was a missed opportunity.”
That phrase, “missed opportunity,” rings true more often than the Rangers like this season. And though Sullivan spoke about the game overall in those terms, Carson Soucy’s failed penalty shot with the Rangers trailing 1-0 at 9:18 of the third period was the biggest specific example of a “missed opportunity” against the Islanders.
The Rangers are 5-5-0 against Metropolitan Division rivals. They’re 6-5-2 overall so far in December, after 8-7-0 the month prior and 5-5-2 in October.
The eye test is screams mediocrity, and so do the numbers and their record. But in today’s NHL, mediocre can be good enough to land a playoff spot
New York Rangers news and analysis
Here are John Kreiser’s key takeaways from the Rangers’ 2-0 loss to the Islanders on Saturday.
EJ Emery, the Rangers’ 2024 first-round draft pick, made his debut at the 2026 World Junior Championship, helping the United States defeat Switzerland 2-1. Emery dressed as the seventh defenseman and logged over 11 minutes TOI after Team USA scratched him for its tournament opener, a 6-3 win over Germany.
NHL news and rumors
Toronto Sun: William Nylander left the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 7-5 win over the Ottawa Senators with a lower-body injury after opening the contest with a goal 40 seconds in. The star forward traveled with the Maple Leafs to Detroit for their game against the Red Wings on Sunday, but his playing status is unknown.
USA Today: Washington Capitals prospect Cole Hutson is day to day after leaving Team USA’s 2-1 win over Switzerland at the 2026 World Junior Championship. The defenseman was stretchered off the ice after being hit in the back of the head by a puck.
Sportsnet: Well, that did a lot of good. Elliotte Friedman reported that the NHL sent a directive to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers to “not go over the line” with their heated rivalry when they played Saturday. The teams then combined for 136 penalty minutes in the Lightning’s 4-2 road victory.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Before the Devils went out and lost 4-3 to the Washington Capitals in overtime, James Nichols broke down three important questions they face coming out of the NHL holiday break.
ESPN: The two-day ECHL strike appears to be over after the players union and league tentatively agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement. It still needs to be ratified by the players and ECHL board of governors.
TSN: The Tampa Bay lightning signed defenseman J.J. Moser to an eight-year, $54 million contract extension.
