Chris Kreider scored two goals, including the game-winner on the power play with 1:27 remaining in regulation, to help the Anaheim Ducks win their home opener, 4-3 over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. That took place a few hours after the Rangers were shut out 2-0 by the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden to become the first team in League history held scoreless in each of its first three home games of a season.

Despite outshooting the Oilers 30-22 and holding a huge advantage in high-danger scoring opportunities (15-3), per Natural Stat Trick, the Rangers simply couldn’t hit the back of the net. It was a near-identical rerun of their 1-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday at MSG. They were the better team in nearly every facet of the game but lost because of an inability to cash in on numerous scoring chances.

A cynic might say that it would be a good time for the Rangers to have their third-leading goal scorer all-time in the lineup. But Kreider took his 326 goals (at the time) to SoCal when the Rangers traded him this past summer to create room under the NHL salary cap.

Ducks strike on the power play for the 3rd time in two games. Chris Kreider at the netfront. His 2nd power play marker in two games. Anaheim on the board.

2-1 Penguins, 10:18 P1.#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/zGgrc8BlMK

— Zach Cavanagh (@ZachCav) October 15, 2025

In his first three games with the Ducks, Kreider has four goals, which is tied for second in the NHL. Three of those goals were scored on the power play, and he also has an assist.

“He’s been effective in a short amount of time and his production is reflective of how important he’s been,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said following the win Tuesday.

It was classic Kreider against the Penguins, twice scoring from close to the net. After the Penguins scored the first two goals, Kreider made it 2-1 on an easy tap-in to the side of the cage off a pretty pass through the crease by Leo Carlsson at 9:41 of the first period.

He assisted on Drew Helleson’s go-ahead goal for Anaheim at 9:48 of the second period, but Pittsburgh pulled even less than eight minutes later. With no goals for either side for more than 18 minutes to start the third period, it appeared that the Ducks would play their second straight overtime game.

But not so fast. Kreider rifled a power-play one-timer from between the circles past Tristan Jarry at 18:33 to lift the Ducks to the win.

CHRIS KREIDER scores his 2nd PP goal of the game with less than 2 minutes to go to take the lead!! 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/gwehoCBImt

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 15, 2025

That clutch gene apparently travelled cross-country with Kreider. His former team could’ve used that goal-scoring touch again Tuesday.

Neither Rangers nor Chris Kreider looking back

Of course, this isn’t a simple narrative. The Rangers wanted to trade Kreider last season, when he battled injuries, illnesses, and a steep drop in production. Though he finished third on the Rangers with 22 goals and six power-play goals, Kreider had a disappointing 30 points in 68 games. His name leaked in a trade memo from Chris Drury to the other NHL general managers, making a bad situation even worse.

At 34 years old and with two seasons at $6.5 million remaining on his contract, Kreider was a goner this past offseason. The chance that he’d be rejuvenated in Anaheim was always there. But the Rangers decided it was important to move on, free up cap space, continue to shake up their core, and give opportunity to younger forwards.

Four goals in his first three games.

Chris Kreider is fitting in well as a member of the @AnaheimDucks 🦆 #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/zUfP68kQYv

— NHL (@NHL) October 15, 2025

And it’s not the like Rangers look terrible without Kreider. In fact, it’s rather stunning that they were held scoreless the past two games given how well they played. There’s a reason why coach Mike Sullivan and the players believe the Rangers are on the right path, despite the recent head-scratching results.

It’s just a tough look for these scoring struggles to happen when Kreider’s lighting the lamp with his new team, including back-to-back multiple-goal games. Maybe not as tough a look as Kreider in those new bright orange threads — but tough nonetheless.

It certainly does make it tough, right now, to turn the page on the Kreider era. However, that could change quickly once the goals start going in for his old team, no matter what success he has with his new one.

Larry Brooks reported that the Rangers and Anaheim Ducks had a trade agreement in place, centered on Kreider moving across the country in return for center prospect Carey Terrance and an exchange of draft picks. Kreider, the longest-tenured player on the Rangers roster. waived his no-trade clause, and the deal was done by midday.

The popular forward had given the OK for Rangers general manager Chris Drury to negotiate with the Ducks. Unlike the previous botched departures of respected veterans Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow, and that leaked trade memo with Kreider’s name on it in November, Drury made sure to do a better job communicating with Kreider’s camp every step of the way this offseason.

Of course, that’s really every step toward the exit door. It appears now that there really never was much of a chance that Kreider would return for a 14th season on Broadway. Not with Drury focused on retooling the roster, breaking up the long-standing core — and certainly not with Kreider making $6.5 million annually for two more years.

That’s valuable salary cap space the Rangers desperately need. The most important part of this trade is that Anaheim is taking on the entirety of Kreider’s contract.

Kreider reportedly could’ve signed off on the trade Wednesday. He didn’t. Knowing him for as well and as long I do, it’s not a surprise. He’s very deliberate, extremely cerebral, detail oriented. He’s not going to rush, uproot his young family, move on and turn the page on the only NHL home he’s known in a snap of the fingers.

As a personal side note, the main photo in this article has been in my phone since 2013. That spring, when I worked for the Rangers, me, Kreider, Marty Biron and our great producer Mike Bahrenburg went to Boston College on a day off during the second-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. We filmed a fun Biron’s Journal segment for the team website, Kreider taking us on a tour of his school, where he won a second NCAA National Championship just the year before. The video is included here.

Kreider was a 22-year-old young professional, a kid really, at the time. Now, more than a decade later, he’s 34, scored the third-most goals in franchise history (326), is the most productive postseason scorer all-time for the Rangers, and is exiting stage left.

New York Rangers news

Here’s all the runup to the Kreider trade to the Ducks.

Worth revisiting is a story from last month detailing why trading Kreider makes sense for the Rangers.

Our Benjamin Lefkowitz breaks down why a Brian Dumoulin – Mike Sullivan reunion could make sense for the Rangers this summer.

So, reportedly, Filip Chytil was nearly flipped ahead of the trade deadline by the Vancouver Canucks, a mere five weeks after they acquired the center from the Rangers.

There’s at least one veteran NHL expert who believes that Sullivan’s “know-how and high demands” will be enough to get the Rangers back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season.

Our Eric Charles breaks down what exactly the Rangers learned at the NHL Draft combine that could affect whom they select with the No. 12 overall pick.

NHL news and rumors

TSN: Down 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Final and coming off a 6-1 loss, the Edmonton Oilers could make some changes to their lineup for Game 4 on Thursday, including in goal, though coach Kris Knoblauch won’t give away any details.

Sportsnaut: The Oilers, of course, will need to keep their cool against the agitating Florida Panthers in Game 4, something they did not do when they came unglued in their ugly Game 3 loss.

Sportsnaut: ICYMI, Panthers coach Paul Maurice provided yet another classic quip when interviewed by TNT’s Jackie Redmond on the bench during Game 3.

Colorado Hockey Now: Cale Makar of the Avalanche won the Norris Trophy as the top NHL defenseman for the second time in his career.

The Athletic ($$): A great article by Pierre LeBrun, who breaks down why this could be the craziest NHL offseason in recent memory, and dives into several NHL topics and rumors.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan Kingerski shares his takeaways after former Rangers assistant Dan Muse was officially introduced as Penguins coach Wednesday.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: But that’s not all from the Penguins. Kingerski confirmed reports that a group led by Penguins legend and former owner Mario Lemieux are interested in buying the team back from current owners, Fenway Sports Group.

Sportsnet: Jonathan Toews is expected to announce before July 1 which team he’ll make his return with. Here’s a solid breakdown of his best options.

Las Vegas Review Journal: Despite rumors to the contrary, the Golden Knights are not looking to trade center William Karlsson.

TSN: The collective bargaining agreement is not set to expire until Sept. 15, 2026, but the NHL and NHLPA have been negotiating during the Stanley Cup Final and it’s reported a new CBA could be agreed to “sooner rather than later,” ensuring continued labor peace — probably through the end of the 2020s.

NHL.com: T.J. Oshie made it official, announcing his retirement after 16 NHL seasons.

With a chance to show the upstart Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets who’s the team to beat in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Rangers lost in a stunning fashion to each this weekend.

After blowing a pair of two-goal leads, including a 3-1 advantage midway through the third period, in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Senators on Saturday, the Rangers collapsed on home ice, losing to the Blue Jackets 7-3 on Sunday.

Instead of sitting in the first wild card in the East on Monday morning, the Rangers remain ninth in the conference, securing one of a possible four points in a crucial weekend back-to-back against the teams now directly ahead of them in the standings.

Remember, the Rangers are supposed to know how to win big games with playoff implications. After all, this core has helped the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final in two of the past three seasons. The Senators? No playoff appearances in the past seven seasons. The Blue Jackets? Been four years on the outside looking in.

Well, the Rangers didn’t look like the more veteran composed team against either opponent this weekend. Blowing those leads in Ottawa and somehow losing the next night even after tying the game with two short-handed goals 42 seconds apart on the same penalty kill early in the second period.

Sam Rosen’s calls of back-to-back @NYRangers shorthanded goals scored on the same penalty kill are absolutely electric ⚡️ 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/BxQnOwerof

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) March 9, 2025

How did the Rangers react to that stunning momentum swing in their favor? They didn’t score the rest of the game and allowed the Blue Jackets to pull away with four even-strength goals.

There are 18 games to play and it’s still there in front of the Rangers, the chance to secure a playoff berth for the fourth straight season. But they simply do not make it easy on themselves, do they?

Related: Winners, losers from stunning loss to Blue Jackets

Three takeaways from Rangers brutal home-ice loss to Blue Jackets

Here are three takeaways from the Rangers 7-3 loss to the Blue Jackets on Sunday.

1. Not-so-even strength

The Rangers were mauled at even strength Sunday, outscored by a whopping 7-1. It’s crazy to say, but the Rangers were more structured and disciplined and effective defending short-handed on the penalty kill than at even strength. It’s like the 3 Stooges spinning around, running into one another in their defensive zone 5v5.

Losing puck battles, losing men in prime scoring position, inability to clear the zone, beaten consistently one on one, slow to defend, reactive not proactive. You name it. The Rangers were a mess, especially in the second period, out-chanced 12-5 (6-2 high danger) 5v5 and with an xGF of 28.9 percent, per Natural Stat Trick.

Thought it was completely out of their system after that putrid 4-15-0 stretch in November and December? Think again.

2. More penalties please

It’s like the Rangers are a different team when on the penalty kill. Certainly that was the case Sunday. They scored one even-strength goal and were 0-for-4 on the power play. But short-handed? The Rangers dominated the Blue Jackets there. The Rangers scored twice short-handed and stole momentum in the game, tying the score 3-3 at the time of their two shorties.

The problem? The Rangers didn’t take any more penalties, so they weren’t short-handed any more. Their third-ranked penalty kill — a unit that leads the League in short-handed goals with 13 — appeared to be the Rangers only chance Sunday. The Blue Jackets looked overwhelmed by the Rangers PK, whereas the visitors played with confidence and swagger at even strength.

3. Your guy, my guy

It’s not a completely fair apples to apples comparison, but would you keep your guy or take their guy? Would you keep Alexis Lafreniere, the 23-year-old Rangers forward who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2020? Or take Adam Fantilli, the 20-year-old Blue Jackets center who was selected third overall in 2023?

It may seem like a set-up considering Fantilli notched a hat trick Sunday, including two goals 26 seconds apart early in the second period. Engaged, skilled and smart, Fantill found different ways to burn the Rangers, and now has 21 goals in his sophomore NHL season.

Lafreniere picked up an assist Sunday, when his first-period shot that was going wide of the net was redirected home by Artemi Panarin. Other than that? Pretty invisible. Again. He has four assists in the past five games as Panarin is on a scoring tear now. However, Lafreniere is generating little offensively, and in fact has five shots on goal in his past seven games. Five. He hasn’t scored a goal since Feb. 2 against Vegas, a span of 12 games. Five seasons into his NHL career, he’s still an enigma, even playing on a line with Panarin, Lafreniere sits with 14 goals and 36 points this season; and has had really one signature season (28 goals, 57 points last season).

Right now, Fantilli or Lafreniere? Without even factoring in the contract difference. You choose.

Go ahead. We’ll wait.

Yup. Didn’t think you’d come up with another option that’s in the same ballpark as these two stunningly poor teams who face off Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena.

There are many teams with a worse record than the Rangers (15-14-1). But they are in a freefall, 3-10-0 in their past 13 games, and could be on the verge of getting another coach fired. Their lack of compete is galling, defensive miscues are constant and failure to sustain offensive pressure is a game-to-game issue.

Remember, the Rangers were two wins from reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season, and established franchise records for wins (55) and points (114). They were expected to compete for the Stanley Cup this season. Yet 30 games in, the Rangers aren’t even in a playoff spot.

CLICK HERE to shop at the Forever Blueshirts store

The Predators (8-17-6) are much worse off, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for fewest points (22) and worst points percentage (.355) in the NHL. This after reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs in nine of the previous 10 seasons, and signing big-name free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei to make a run at the Cup this season.

It got so bad, so fast in Nashville that general manager Barry Trotz publicly threatened to trade some of the Predators’ top players before the season was two months old.

The Predators have won just once in their past nine games (1-5-3) and are 5-12-6 since a three-game winning streak in late October.

Somehow, some way, one of these teams will grab a much-needed two points Tuesday in the battle of two massive disappointments.

Related: ‘It’s been the same story’: Rangers struggles with sustaining offensive pressure

3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Predators

1, Turning to Igor

Igor Shesterkin was pulled in his most recent start, the 5-1 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. He allowed five goals on 21 shots in a bit more than 25 minutes of work, ballooning his goal-against average to 3.03 on the season. It’s the fifth time in 22 starts he’s allowed five or more goals, eighth time it was at least four goals. It was the second time he’s been pulled in favor of Jonathan Quick, who followed that up by making the start Sunday in St. Louis, a 3-2 loss to the Blues.

Historically, Shesterkin bounces back in a big way after a rough start. Odds favor that Tuesday, when he faces the lowest-scoring team in the League. Despite all of their firepower, the Predators average just 2.26 goals per game and are have a miserable minus-28 goal differential.

Keep an eye on Marchessault, though. He’s scored four goals in three career games against Shesterkin. And Ryan O’Reilly has five goals in five games against the Rangers No. 1 goalie.

2. Top 2 in this category

The Rangers and Predators have something else in common, other than struggling so mightily and being the biggest disappointments in the League. They rank 1-2 on the penalty kill in the NHL.

The Predators are No. 1 in the League killing off penalties at an 87.5 percent rate. They’ve allowed only 12 power-play goals in 96 times short-handed. At home, they’ve allowed five power-play goals in 40 times short-handed (also, 87.5 percent).

The Rangers are right behind them with an 86.8 percent success rate. Like the Predators, the Rangers have allowed only 12 power-play goals this season (in 91 tries). Coincidentally, they’ve allowed 5 power power-play goals in, you guessed it, 40 times short-handed on the road.

3. How low can they go?

It’s tough sledding for the Rangers’ BFFs, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. No word yet on line combos for Tuesday, but in the previous game, Zibanejad centered Brett Berard and Jimmy Vesey on the third line and had only 13:04 TOI. Kreider was relegated to fourth-line duty with Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom, where he was minus-2 playing 15:17.

It appeared Kreider was more energized than his longtime running mate. No. 20 was credited with a team-high five hits and played hard with his new linemates. On the flip side, not even the energetic Berard could lift Zibanejad out of his funk.

Zibanejad has two goals in his past 13 games, and just six this season. He’s a team-worst minus-15. Kreider is without a point in five straight games, and has two goals in 14 games.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Kreider – Trocheck – Berard

Cuylle – Chytil – Lafreniere

Kakko – Zibanejad – Smith

Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey

Jones – Fox

Lindgren – Schneider

Vaakanainen – Ruhwedel

Shesterkin

Quick

Rangers vs. Predators: When, where, what time, how to watch

Who: New York Rangers vs. Nashville Predators

When: Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Bridgestone Arena

How to watch: MSG

Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results

A daunting task, that was made more difficult when defenseman Jacob Trouba went down with a lower-body injury after a 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on March 4 and missed 11 games. That was followed by an injury to another blue-liner when Ryan Lindgren left the 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders with a lower-body injury on March 17, causing him to miss four games. The Blueshirts would lose another starting defenseman in a 4-3 shootout win over the Panthers on March 23, as Erik Gustafsson was elbowed in the head and is still out day-to-day.

So how did the Rangers respond to all of these challenges?

New York went 10-3-1, and are currently riding a five-game winning streak. They also beat the likes of the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, and Colorado Avalanche while watching young players like K’Andre Miller, Braden Schneider, and Zac Jones rise to the occasion reinforcing a promising future on defense.

Oh! And they picked up a few milestones along the way.

Related: Chris Kreider hits milestone goal 300

New York Rangers Amazing March Milestones

The Rangers concluded the month of March in a game full of milestones by beating the Arizona Coyotes 8-5 on Saturday.

Jonathan Quick owned the night by turning aside 27 shots to record win 392 of his amazing career. That gave him sole possession of 15th on the all-time win list for NHL goalies, and also made him all-time winningest American-born goaltender surpassing Ryan Miller.

“Grateful we got a couple of empty netters to close it out,” a smiling Quick said afterwards. “It’s a good feeling to get it done and focus on winning the division.”

The offensive star of the night was Alexis Lafrenière, who not only registered his first career NHL hat trick, but notched a career-high five points (three goals, two assists) in one game. Meanwhile, Chris Kreider registered his 300th career goal becoming the third-fastest Ranger to hit that benchmark (807 games), and Adam Fox picked up two assists to reach 300 points in just his 349th game. Only Brian Leetch (295 GP) did it faster with the Blueshirts.

“What an amazing career for Quick,” coach Peter Laviolette praised. “And what a game for Lafrenière. ‘Foxy’ with a milestone, and Kreider with a milestone. Big performance for a big win.”

Let’s look at some of the other great accomplishment in March:

• Artemi Panarin hits 100 points in a 6-5 OT win over the Philadelphia Flyers on March 26 becoming just the seventh Ranger in franchise history to break the century mark. He also reached the 500 assist milestone in his career on March 16.
• Peter Laviolette coached his 1500th game in a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins and then recorded his 800th victory on March 26 against the Flyers.
• Mika Zibanejad notched his 100th power play goal with the Rangers on March 26, becoming just the sixth player in franchise history to do so.
• Chris Kreider also played in his 800th career game (all with the Rangers) on March 16.
• Igor Shesterkin played in his 200th career game (all with the Rangers) on March 9.
• K’Andre Miller registered career point 100 (all with the Rangers) on March 16.
• Vincent Trocheck notched his 500th career point on March 2 and played his 700th game on March 9.
• Alex Wennberg played his 700th career game on March 19.

Vincent Trocheck had a three-point night while two Blueshirt defensemen registered goals, with both Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren hitting the twine. Adam Fox (3 assists) and Jonny Brodzinski (2 assists) had solid games as well. Igor Shesterkin kept the Rangers in this one, making 36 saves on 39 shots.

Special teams played a large role in tonight’s contest. New York went 1 for 2 on the power play and killed 3 out of 4 penalties.

“Definitely not a great start for us and Shesty kept us in it,” Lindgren said after scoring the game-winner. “It seems like we were able to reset and start playing our game.”

Related: Rangers impressive so far this season

New York Rangers 4 vs Nashville Predators 3

The first frame was dominated by Nashville. Despite surrendering two goals in the frame, Igor Shesterkin made several big stops. He was the Rangers’ lone bright spot in the period.

Early on in the frame, the Rangers were very sloppy in the defensive zone and Shesterkin could only bail them out for so long. After a lucky bounce off the official, Ryan O’Reilly found the back of the net to put Nashville up 1-0.

After another flurry of saves from Shesterkin, Barclay Goodrow took a tripping penalty which would give Nashville the first man advantage of the night. The Rangers held strong for the first half of the kill, including another huge stop from Shesterkin off of a redirection. Unfortunately, the Rangers penalty kill could not hold on for the full two minutes. Roman Josi walked in a fired one past Shesterkin to give the Predators a 2-0 lead.

The Rangers head into the locker room after being heavily outplayed. They were out shot 17-8 in the frame as it began to look eerily similar to the last time these two teams played one another.

Peter Laviolette looked to ignite a spark in his team by switching up the lines to start the second period. Right away, the line of Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, and Jonny Brodzinski was able to generate some offense. Trocheck found Jacob Trouba from behind the net as the Rangers captain netted his second goal of the season.

“Guys understood where we are at after that first period,” Trouba said of Laviolette’s message during the intermission. “We weren’t at our best and (Laviolette) left it on us if we wanted to play or not tonight and we responded well.”

The setup from Troch 👀. pic.twitter.com/bEvxB0aaY0

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 2, 2023

The momentum seemed to be turning in favor of the Rangers as they earned themselves a power play opportunity. New York, however, would allow a breakaway and, with that, allow Nashville to score a short handed goal by Colton Sissons, making the score 3-1.

Just as that power play expired, the Rangers were able to score a goal of their own. Chris Kreider was able to bat a puck out of mid air and cut Nashville’s lead to one.

CHRISTOPHER JAMES. pic.twitter.com/4IP90MuvcY

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 2, 2023

The Rangers were instantly put back on the power play as Nick Bonino drew a boarding minor. 19 seconds after the previous tally, Vincent Trocheck was able to deflect a shot from Mika Zibanejad, tying the game at 3-3. The different line combinations seemed to work as the Rangers looked much better in the middle frame.

We had the same reaction, Kreids. 😄 pic.twitter.com/cpne43q11d

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 2, 2023

After a successful penalty kill early in the final stanza, the Rangers found their first lead of the night. Ryan Lindgren fired a pass through the slot which redirected off of a Nashville skate and in, giving the Rangers a 4-3 lead. It is Lindgren’s first goal of the season.

LINDY’S FIRST OF THE SEASON. pic.twitter.com/S1ZgOuqHfs

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 2, 2023

The Rangers dominated play for the next ten minutes. Their forecheck was as good as it had been all night. They controlled play and were able to keep the puck in Nashville’s end for the majority of the third. Along with more solid play from Shesterkin, the Blueshirts were able to hold on to their lead.

New York stood strong coming down the stretch. In the final minute of the period, Igor Shesterkin and the Rangers denied several scoring chances in order to secure the win. It was a hard-working victory for New York, who remain atop the league standings.

“You’re down 2-0 in a game and it’s always hard to climb out of a hole on the road,” Laviolette remarked. “I thought our guys did a good job crawling out of that game and gutting one out.”

Rangers Notes

• Igor Shesterkin stopped 36 out of 39 shots
• Vincent Trocheck had himself a 3-point night (1G-2A)
• Adam Fox had 3 assists in the contest
• Jonny Brodzinski registered 2 assists, a single game career high
• Mika Zibanejad extended his point streak to 6 games
• Tyler Pitlick played in his 400th game

The Rangers are back in action tomorrow night as they take on the San Jose Sharks. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET at Madison Square Garden.

Of course, Igor Shesterkin was the story stopping 26 of 27 shots, including a penalty shot against Jason Zucker in the final period.

The much needed bounce back brings the Rangers to a 2-1-0 record on the season.

“It was a hard fought win,” Peter Laviolette said. “We had to kill a lot of penalties, that took away from the flow of the game. We came out in the third period and started to push after it didn’t go our way in the second. It was a pretty gutsy effort.”

Related: A look at the Rangers salary cap situation

New York Rangers 2 vs Arizona Coyotes 1

The game opened up with incredible pace as both teams exchanged scoring opportunities. Contributing to the furious play was Artemi Panarin, who has been skating noticeably well. The Rangers and Coyotes continued the back-and-forth action throughout the period.

The Blueshirts came close to finding the back of the net multiple times but could not break through Arizona goaltender Conor Ingram. This was until a 2-on-1 rush up the ice saw Mika Zibanejad freeze up Ingram and slide the puck over to Kreider for a wide open net, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead. This was Kreider’s fourth goal of the season and gives him a three game goal scoring streak.

You know how this story ends. pic.twitter.com/Hc6kQCbmsI

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 16, 2023

Following the first tally of the night, a Vincent Trocheck penalty would give Arizona the first man up opportunity. The Ranger’s penalty kill was solid, denying the middle of the ice for over a minute until an Arizona penalty negated the man-advantage.

The ensuing power play led to several scoring chances for the Blueshirts, but they could not capitalize. After the first, the Rangers head into the locker room with a 1-0 lead, out shooting the Coyotes 13-10.

The Rangers came out flying to start the second period. Passing well and controlling play for the first three minutes, yet registering no shots. Unfortunately, this momentum was put to a halt due to a Ranger penalty. This would be the man-advantage that Arizona needed to even the score, as Clayton Keller blasted one off Shesterkin’s glove and in. A goal that the Ranger’s netminder would certainly like back.

After yet another penalty, the Rangers struggled to find the rhythm and speed that made their first period successful. Special teams quickly became a story for this game, as the Rangers not only gave up a goal on the penalty kill but failed to capitalize on the power play.

The ice seemed to be tilted against New York throughout the period. So much so that Panarin had a near breakaway blocked by the skate of the referee in what would have been their best scoring chance in the middle frame. Immediately following this, the Rangers took two more penalties, giving the Coyotes a 5-on-3 with just 1:19 to play in the period.

Igor Shesterkin bailed out the Rangers big time, making several incredible stops to end the period tied 1-1. Momentum certainly swung in favor of Arizona in the second, as the Blueshirts only managed four shots on goal. The Coyotes would come out for the third period with 41 seconds remaining in the 5-on-3 advantage.

Largely due to a selfless block by Jacob Trouba, the Rangers were able to kill off the remainder of the 5-on-3. New York ramped up the shots shortly after as they looked to score the crucial tie-breaking goal.

The momentum of the game swung heavily following the incredible penalty killing of the Rangers. Special teams remained a factor as the Rangers’ power play was given another opportunity. After Zibanejad was robbed of a sure goal by Ingram, the Blueshirts finally broke the tie. Vincent Trocheck found the back of the net off of a deflection from a Panarin shot for his first goal of the season, giving his team a 2-1 lead.

🗣️ IT’S A POWER PLAY GOAL. pic.twitter.com/5op7cNc8qE

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 17, 2023

The Rangers began to lock it down defensively, relying on head coach Peter Laviolette’s new system and 1-3-1 trap. They denied the middle of the ice and kept scoring chances to the outside. The biggest chance of the game for Arizona came when Jason Zucker beat the Ranger’s defense, but was held and awarded a penalty shot with just under five minutes to play.

This set the stage to solidify Igor Shesterkin as the game’s first star, remaining calm the entire way he made a casual stop, keeping the score at 2-1. For his career, he’s a perfect 4 for 4 on penalty shots.

“I’d rather them have a penalty shot than a power play,” Trocheck admitted. “Two minutes can create a lot of momentum, but Shesterkin is going to save most of those.”

I
G
O
R pic.twitter.com/B8aZ60oZbm

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 17, 2023

The Rangers denied Arizona the ability to pull Ingram by keeping the puck in the offensive zone for the majority of the final minutes. Once the Coyotes did pull their goalie for the extra man, the Rangers were able to take care of business and lock things down defensively in order to win their home opener with a final score of 2-1.

“We played a great game and it wasn’t easy,” Shesterkin said afterwards. “On the penalty shot it’s more like mind games. I was ready for a shot on the blocker side. Right now I want to go relax with my family.”

Rangers Notes

• Igor Shesterkin bounced back from last game, stopping 26 of 27 shots.
• Chris Kreider scored for the third consecutive game and now has four goals on the season.
• Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad both recorded their fourth assists of the season while Artemi Panarin notched his third.
• The Rangers went 1 for 3 on the power play and killed 4 out of 5 penalties.

The Rangers are back in action on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET at Madison Square Garden.

New York will be back at practice on Tuesday at the MSG Training Center starting at 12:15 p.m. ET.

Since the NHL introduced the salary cap after the 2004-05 lockout season, the Rangers have made 18 selections in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. As expected, several names from this group have gone on to have solid careers, while others never made the most of their opportunities and kept playing professionally for as long as they could.

So, as fans prepare for the upcoming season and discuss the merits of everyone in a practice jersey, here’s an update on all Rangers first-round picks since 2005. 

New York Rangers first round picks post salary cap era

Gabriel Perreault (23rd Overall 2023)

Current status: Boston College Eagles (NCAA)

NHL games: 0

As the latest Rangers’ top pick, getting selected 23rd overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Gabriel Perreault is not attending the main camp this year, as he’s already committed to Boston College. Last year, while skating with the U.S. National Team Development Program U18 team, he potted 132 points in 63 games with 53 goals and 79 assists. Additionally, he had 18 points in seven games with the US U18 team.  

Brennan Othmann (16th Overall 2021)

Current status: Attending 2023-24 training camp

NHL games: 0

Brennan Othmann is participating in training camp this year and should begin the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL). At 20, he’s played in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the last two seasons with the Flint Firebirds and Peterborough Petes, collecting 164 points in 122 games. Furthermore, he’s won two World Junior Championships, tallying 12 points in 13 games at the 2022 and 2023 tournaments. Although he’s a long shot to earn a roster spot, if he continues to produce in the minors, there’s a chance he will earn a call-up in 2023-24.  

Alexis Lafreniere (1st Overall 2020)

Current status: Rangers winger

NHL games: 216

As only the second-ever first-overall pick in Rangers history, Alexis Lafreniere has yet to live up to the billing, but the blame isn’t entirely on him. After skating for David Quinn and Gerard Gallant, he’ll begin his fourth season with his third coach, Peter Laviolette. Hopefully, the third time is a charm, and Lafreniere gets an opportunity to showcase his skills and not find himself back in a bottom-six role. Thus far, he’s collected 91 points with 47 goals and 44 helpers in 216 NHL games, never skating in the minors. 

Braden Schneider (19th Overall 2020) 

Current status: Rangers defenseman

NHL games: 124

In 2022-23, Braden Schneider played his first entire season in the NHL, skating in 81 games and picking up 18 points. Before last year, he split time between the Rangers and Wolfpack in 2021-22 after spending several seasons in the Western Hockey League, serving as one of the leaders on the Brandon Wheat Kings. Surprisingly, the 22-year-old already has 27 games of NHL playoff experience, with a goal and three assists. 

Kaapo Kakko (2nd Overall 2019) 

Current status: Rangers winger

NHL games: 239

Unfortunately, Kaapo Kakko is another high-draft selection who has struggled to find his offensive groove under two previous head coaches. Recently, he nearly doubled his previous career high of 23 points with 40 last season, finishing the campaign with 18 goals and 22 assists. Considering that Kakko has skated in various positions throughout the lineup, hopefully, he will find a spot with regular linemates and contribute more offensively in 2023-24. 

Vitali Kravtsov (9th Overall 2018) 

Current status: Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)

NHL games: 64 / Rangers games: 48

Like Lafreniere and Kakko, Vitali Kravtsov was an underutilized forward that the Rangers had to part ways with after 48 games over two seasons. After being drafted in 2018, he opted to stay in Russia and skated in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) before coming to North America to play in the AHL with the Wolf Pack in 2019-20. Eventually, Kravtsov made his NHL debut but was soon Vancouver-bound in a February 2023 trade. He only played 16 games with the Canucks, and has since returned to the KHL to play with Traktor Chelyabinsk this year. 

K’Andre Miller (22nd Overall 2018)

Current status: Rangers defenseman

NHL games: 214

Although the Rangers employ a Norris Trophy winner in Adam Fox, having K’Andre Miller also in your top-four is something to smile about. As one of the Rangers’ top picks from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he’s the only skater from that first round still with the franchise. Additionally, Miller has missed just six games in his career, compiling 75 points in 214 games. Ultimately, last year was his best as a professional, with 43 points and 34 helpers, averaging 21:57 a night, all personal bests. 

Nils Lundkvist (28th Overall 2018)

Current status: Dallas Stars defenseman

NHL games: 85 / Rangers games: 25

As a first-round pick in 2018, Lundkvist made his NHL debut in October 2021 after coming over from the SHL. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out on Broadway, with just four points in 25 games, leading to a trade to the Stars for a conditional first-round pick in 2023 and a fifth-round pick in 2023. Overall, Lundkvist has 20 points in 60 games. 

Lias Andersson (7th Overall 2017)

Current status: Laval Rockets (AHL)

NHL games: 110 / Rangers games: 66

After six years of playing professional hockey in North America, Lias Andersson has yet to keep a regular spot in a lineup, suiting up for a career-high 42 games in 2018-19. Even though he’s spent most of his time in the AHL, he’s still collected 17 points in the NHL and has 121 points in 160 games in the minors. After a trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 2020 for a second-round pick, Andersson recently signed with the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent and should play for their minor league club, the Laval Rockets. 

Filip Chytil (21st Overall 2017)

Current status: Rangers center

NHL games: 327

Before his outbreak year in 2022-23 with 45 points, Filip Chytil scored at most 23 in the previous four seasons. Unfortunately, like many other first-round picks in the Rangers organization, he’s struggled to find his identity, bouncing from line to line and never staying with the same linemates for long stretches. Ultimately, this situation has yet to help Chytil grow, even though he’s locked into a nice contract worth $4.4 million for the next four seasons. Statistically, he has 138 points in 327 games, thanks to 64 goals and 74 assists.  

Brady Skjei (28th Overall 2012)

Current status: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman

NHL games: 529 / Rangers games: 307

Surprisingly, Brady Skjei is already an eight-year veteran in the NHL, who now skates with Metropolitan Divison rival, the Carolina Hurricanes. After a short stint (several games) as a 21-year-old in 2015-16, he’s gone on to skate in almost every game since, missing just a dozen games in his career. Unfortunately, like several names on this list, the Rangers traded Skjei in a February 2020 deal, ending his tenure in New York after 307 games and 112 points. Overall, he’s collected 200 points in 529 games. 

J.T. Miller (15th Overall 2011)

Current status: Vancouver Canucks forward

NHL games: 718 / Rangers games: 341

Since making his debut in 2013-14, J.T. Miller is already skating with his third team, having played with the Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and now the Vancouver Canucks. Realistically, he had solid campaigns in New York but found himself attached to the Ryan McDonagh trade in February 2018 before another deal sent him to British Columbia. Statistically, Miller’s best campaign came in 2021-22, when he scored 32 goals and finished the year with 99 points, shattering his best of 72 points back in 2019-20. Recently, the 30-year-old re-signed with the Canucks for seven years with a $56 million contract.  

Dylan McIlrath (10th Overall 2010)

Current status: Hershey Bears (AHL) defenseman

NHL games: 72 / Rangers games: 38

Dylan McIirath has had a unique NHL career, appearing in a career-high 34 games in 2015-16. After appearing in at least one game from 2013 to 2017, he didn’t skate during the 2017-18 season or make it into a contest between 2020 and 2022. Additionally, after seven years in the league, he’s now in the Washington Capitals organization, his fourth team besides the Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Florida Panthers. Despite only six points in 73 games in the NHL, he’s compiled 113 points in 560 games in the AHL with an eye-popping 1,104 penalty minutes.  

Chris Kreider (19th Overall 2009)

Current status: Rangers’ winger

NHL games: 733

Although Chris Kreider does not wear the “C” on his jersey, it is safe to say that he is the emotional leader of the Rangers, the only team he’s played for during his 11-year career. Historically, with every game, goal, assist, and point he collects, he watches his name climb the lists of one of the league’s Original Six franchises. As one of only four players to tally more than 50 goals in a single season while skating in New York, Kreider is a sure bet to play his entire career with the Blueshirts and retire as a fan favorite. 

Michael Del Zotto (20th Overall 2008) 

Current status: Retired

NHL games: 736 / Rangers games: 292

In September 2023, Michael Del Zotto announced his retirement after a 13-year career in which the former first-round pick played with eight franchises. Ultimately, besides being a top selection, his crowning achievement is being part of a Stanley Cup-winning team, celebrating a championship with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. Although Del Zotto hasn’t played in the NHL since 2021-22, he spent parts of his final seasons in the AHL, finishing his professional career with 353 points in 838 games. 

Alexei Cherepanov (17th Overall 2007)

Unfortunately, shortly after the Rangers selected Alexei Cherepanov as their top pick in the 2007 Entry Draft, he passed away after losing consciousness during a game in the KHL on Oct. 13, 2008 with former Ranger Jaromir Jagr helpless on the bench. Although he never played hockey in North America, the Russian forward won several medals at the World Junior Championships, including two Top 3 Player on Team awards and two All-Star Team selections. 

14 years ago, hockey world lost one of the most talented young players of that time – 19-year-old Alexei Cherepanov.

The annual KHL rookie of the year trophy is named after him – The Alexei Cherepanov Award. pic.twitter.com/Dl6kqjw6D0

— KHL (@khl_eng) October 13, 2022

Bobby Sanguinetti (21st Overall 2006)

Current status: Retired

NHL games: 45 / Rangers games: five

Bobby Sanguinetti had a brief NHL career, just skating in 45 games between 2009 and 2013. After a solid career in the OHL, leading to the Rangers drafting him in the first round, he didn’t produce at the same level in the NHL, resulting in playing the bulk of his professional career in the AHL, where he had 229 points in 406 games. However, after 2014-15, Sanguinetti bounced between the KHL, AHL, NLA (Switzerland), NL (Switzerland), and DEL (Germany) before retiring in 2020. 

Marc Staal (12th Overall 2005)

Current status: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman

NHL games: 1,101 / Rangers games: 892 games

Marc Staal was the Rangers’ first draft pick in the salary cap era, and after a lengthy 13-year career on Broadway, moved on to the Red Wings and Panthers, recently signing to play with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023-24. At 36, Staal just played in his second Stanley Cup Final with the Panthers, who lost in five games. Surprisingly, he has managed to score at least double digits in every season but two, 2011-12 and 2017-18. Additionally, he’s been reliable throughout his career, averaging 20:07 ice time a night, never skating in less than 17:25 per game in any given season. 

Historical Perspective

Surprisingly, the Rangers have had some success drafting in the first round during the salary cap era. Not every player went on to have lengthy careers in New York like Kreider or Staal, but most of the names on this list have played at least played a hundred plus games in the NHL. 

Of course, many teams have success stories with first-rounders, while some players are complete busts. Although this statement is true across all professional sports, there arguably isn’t a more significant sports market in the world than New York City, which can seem like a daunting place to play. 

Even though a handful of skaters have yet to write their stories, some of the names on this list already have a particular spot reserved in Rangers fans’ hearts, which is a challenging space to earn all on its own. 

Stats from Hockey-Reference and Elite Prospects

After a flurry of goals to open the game, followed by a lot physical play and solid defense, along with key contributions from new additions led the Rangers to a 4-2 victory over their crosstown counterparts. Coach Peter Laviolette’s new system shined through as the coaching staff earned themselves their first postgame handshakes.

“It was pretty exciting,” Laviolette said afterwards. “I thought the game was cleaner (than against Boston). We moved the puck a little bit quicker and skated better.”

Related: Artemi Panarin and Filip Chytil day-to-day

New York Rangers 4 vs New York Islanders 2

The Rangers came out flying in the first period, scoring three goals in the game’s opening three minutes. The first tally came just 15 seconds into the period, on an unassisted goal from Kaapo Kakko.

“You always want to win the game,” Kakko explained. “It was a good forecheck. Foxy played tight and got the puck. Fast goal.”

Our first goal of the preseason:

KAAPO KAKKO. 😤 pic.twitter.com/qXQC5WJcMD

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 26, 2023

A minute and two seconds later, Tyler Pitlick cashed in a goal off of a rebound, his first in a Rangers sweater, at 1:17. The assists came from new defenseman Erik Gustafsson and assistant captain Barclay Goodrow. It is important to note that Gustafsson, a former player of Laviolette’s, is battling for the sixth spot on the Rangers defense. A primary assist early on in this game certainly helps his cause.

PITLICK'S FIRST. pic.twitter.com/3tTpJbNYJx

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 26, 2023

Promising young forward Brennan Othmann set the tone with a huge body check behind the Islanders net, drawing the ire of the Isles’ Grant Hutton, who came in to retaliate. With both players in the penalty box for offsetting minors, Chris Kreider picked up right where he left off last season on the ensuing 4 on 4. Stealing the puck from the Islanders defense, Kreider walked in all alone on a breakaway and tucked in a backhand for the Rangers’ third goal of the period coming at 3:10.

Christopher James™️. pic.twitter.com/pGupHX9huC

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 26, 2023

Although he didn’t earn a point, Othmann had a great game, playing fast and with an edge.

“I felt better out there than I did in the rookie game,” Othmann admitted. “I was physical and I created good chances, but I have to shoot the puck a little bit more.”

At 11:18 on an Islanders’ powerplay, an errant shot hit the back boards and ricocheted perfectly to William Dufour giving him an open net which saw the Rangers lead cut to two with one second left on the man advantage. Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin was close, but could not stretch far enough to save the off-angle shot.

The period ended with the Rangers heading to the locker room up 3-1. It’s safe to say the Rangers-Islanders rivalry didn’t taken a day off despite it being just a preseason contest.

After a solid penalty kill from the Rangers to start the second period, the New York rivalry continued to heat up as Matt Rempe and Ross Johnston decided to drop the gloves after having some words at the end of the first. Rempe is a big-bodied forward that’s earning a reputation as a rugged fourth-liner willing to fight any taker.

Shortly following the heavyweight bout that had Rempe urging the Garden Faithful to get loud, Blake Wheeler netted his first goal in a Rangers sweater. It came off of a beautiful spin-o-rama pass from Jake Leschyshyn at 5:01 with Brennan Othmann playing a significant role by forechecking hard and leading to a turnover.

SPIN AND IN. pic.twitter.com/bG9v2gwbVi

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 27, 2023

“It was five guys being aggressive on the ice,” Wheeler said. “As a new guy, it’s nice to see one go in.”

The Islanders pushed back, but solid goaltending from Igor Shesterkin kept the game’s score at 4-1. At the 10:22 mark of the middle stanza, Shesterkin ended his night with 10 saves on 11 shots. Dylan Garand replaced him to finish out the contest, en route to an 11 save performance.

The game seemed to slow down in the second half of the period as neither team could generate much offense. The Rangers defensive play was solid throughout the night, and the defensemen were noticeably joining the rush to the delight of Laviolette, who stresses this in the implementation of his systems.

New York ended the second period with a solid 4-1 lead on a 24-12 shot advantage.

The slow style of play carried over into the third as there were little to no scoring chances being created for either team. Although things became interesing after a nice passing play cut the lead in half. Arnaud Durandeau lit the lamp at 12:30 mark as the backside was left wide open, leaving no chance for Garand to make the stop.

The Islanders made one last push, pulling their goalie with two minutes left in the period, but the Rangers were able to hold them off and earn their first win of the preseason with a final score of 4-2.

The Rangers next exhibition match comes Thursday night when they take on another rival and revisit last year’s playoff nightmare against the New Jersey Devils. Puck drop is set for 7:00PM EST at Madison Square Garden.

Rangers Notes

• Blake Wheeler finished with 1 goal on 3 shots
• Tyler Pitlick scored 1 goal on 2 shots and was a +1
• Kaapo Kakko scored on his only shot and was the game’s first star
• Brennan Othmann was a +2

The New York Rangers will have a day off on Wednesday.

Rangers forward Chris Kreider was selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association as the team’s candidate for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded to one NHL player, and each team has one nominee. The winner of the award is someone, “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”

There is no other player in New York that deserves the nomination more than Chris Kreider. He battled his way back, not only to play hockey but to live, as he survived a serious blood clot. After undergoing surgery for a rib resection, he returned to the ice even better.

“My first rib was fused to my second rib and pushing it up and kind of out of place, so I had like a wonky-looking collarbone my whole life,” Kreider said, according to the New York Daily News. “Didn’t ever think it was gonna be a problem, but obviously it was.”

Since his return on February 23, Kreider has four goals and ten assists in 15 games, with two of those goals coming on the powerplay. He has performed so well that he now wears a letter on his sweater as the third alternate captain.

Previous winners of this award were Craig Anderson last season, who helped lead the Ottawa Senators to the playoffs despite his wife being diagnosed with cancer during the season. In 2013-14, Dominic Moore of the New York Rangers won the award for his return to the NHL after caring for his late wife who was diagnosed with and eventually succumbed to a rare form of liver cancer.