Rangers Daily: Love those centennial threads; concern for Filip Chytil
I’m not somebody who really cares all that much about third jerseys or specialty sweaters that NHL teams wear (and sell plenty of!). But these centennial jerseys the New York Rangers broke out on opening night? Pure fire.
Seriously, these unis are legit. That shade of blue? The clean, classic look? Love everything about the centennial threads, especially how they look on the players during games.
And Monday night at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers will wear the new sweaters again when they host the Minnesota Wild. It’s a centennial theme night at MSG, celebrating the “Birth of a Franchise Era,” from 1926-42.
Hard to believe that the Rangers won three Stanley Cup championships during that span. Actually, it’s more difficult to fathom that there’s only been one Cup title for the Rangers since 1940. That’s not an easy thing to do — to win only one championship in 85 years.
But let’s not muddy the waters here. Enjoy the centennial celebration Monday. Enjoy those awesome sweaters. And, maybe, even enjoy a goal or two (finally) by the Rangers on home ice after a historic dry spell with three straight shutout losses at Madison Square Garden to begin the home schedule this season.
New York Rangers news and analysis
No excuses for the Rangers not to score plenty of goals nor rack up standings points with their soft schedule this week. Our John Kreiser breaks it all down.
How about Matthew Robertson? The rookie defenseman scored his first NHL goal Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, and is making a case to be a long-term answer for the Rangers on the blue line.
ICYMI: Here are our key Rangers takeaways from that come-from-behind 4-3 win in Montreal.
NHL news and rumors
Forever Blueshirts: Former Rangers center Filip Chytil didn’t return to the Vancouver Canucks’ 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals after receiving a massive open-ice hit from Tom Wilson in the first period. With Chytil’s concussion history, there are plenty of concerns for his health once again.
NHL.com: Terrific exclusive by Amalie Benjamin, who got Brad Marchand on the phone to look ahead to his return to Boston for the first time as a member of the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
TSN: In case you’re wondering, Marchand is still Marchand, no matter what team he plays for. The veteran forwards was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for unsportsmanlike conduct after he took the helmet of Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin to the penalty box with him and ripped the straps off.
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman reports that the Ottawa Senators offered red-hot forward Shane Pinto an eight-year contract extension, but a deal’s yet to be finalized.
Daily Faceoff: Some thoughts shared here on what Martin Necas’ short- and/or long-term future is with the Colorado Avalanche.
Detroit Hockey Now: You know who’s playing some real good hockey? The Detroit Red Wings. They won their fifth game in a row Sunday, 4-2 over the Edmonton Oilers. But Bob Duff details the big challenge ahead that awaits the Red Wings.
Sportsnet: In case you missed it, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz called out his teammates following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night, saying “we kind of let them walk al over us.”
New Jersey Hockey Now: Connor Brown is already proving to be a solid offseason pick up by the New Jersey Devils, and James Nichols gets the lowdown from the forward on how he was “strategic” in his approach to choosing a new team in free agency.
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