Right from the opening face-off, the Rangers were in control, as an early 1-0 lead became a well-deserved 3-0 advantage through two periods. The visitors took it to their hosts in the final period, though, firing 20 shots on Jonathan Quick, who had to turn in his best work over the final 20 minutes to secure his third shutout of the season.

A SHUTOUT IN HIS 800TH GAME! 🙅

Jonathan Quick made 35 saves en route to his 63rd career @pepsi shutout! pic.twitter.com/3f2XPxYwfH

— NHL (@NHL) March 3, 2025

All in all, the Rangers did what they had to against one of the worst teams in the NHL. With the win, they moved two points closer to a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, now two points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card with 22 games to play.

This game shows, in a way, how far the Rangers have come since their brutal 4-15-0 stretch in November and December. Back on Dec. 17 at Bridgestone Arena, the Rangers lost 2-0 to the Predators, who were last overall in the NHL standings at the time. That loss was New York’s third straight and 11th in 14 games at the time. A game the Rangers had to win, they couldn’t and didn’t.

Similar circumstances but a vastly different result Sunday. Nashville has the third-worst record in the League now and it was a game New York had to win, no questions asked. This time, the Rangers flipped the scripts and did just that. It was their third win in four games and sixth in the past nine.

Just a good reminder of where the Rangers are now compared to where they were more than two months ago.

Related: Rangers trade grades after acquired Calvin de Haan, Juuso Parssinen from Avalanche

Three takeaways from Rangers 4-0 win against Predators

Here are three takeaways from an important Rangers win on Sunday.

1. Mika’s march

“Mika March” has been a rallying cry for the Rangers Faithful for years, due to Mika Zibanejad’s typically strong play in the month. And he continued that trend with two assists and an all-around strong game against the Predators in the Rangers first March game this season.

But his play since the start of February should be called “Mika’s march.” Forget about the month, his march to redemption is in full force right now. No player in the NHL has more points than Zibanejad (15) since Feb. 1. He’s riding a six-game point streak and has points in nine of 10 since the start of February, when he’s tied for the NHL lead with 11 assists and also has four goals. He’s had a three-point game and four two-points games, including against Nashville.

His re-emergence as a difference maker for the Rangers coincides directly with J.T. Miller being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31. Zibanejad has turned around his ugly season and negative narrative since primarily shifting to wing on a line with Miller, who plays like a bull every shift. Zibanejad looks like a completely different player, confident and even more physical, never a hallmark of his game.

As for Miller, he had a goal and assist Sunday, extending his point streak to five games. He’s scored six goals and totaled 12 points in 10 games since the trade, and helped Zibanejad — and perhaps the Rangers too — salvage his season.

2. New guys are big “hit”

Calvin de Haan and Juuso Parsinnen made their collective presence felt one day after being acquired by the Rangers from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade that saw Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey head west. Parssinen, the third-line center, and de Haan, the veteran defenseman who paired with Zac Jones, led the Rangers hit parade against the Predators, combining for 12 of New York’s 33 hits.

Each had a team-high six hits, and de Haan added a first-period assist on Artemi Panarin’s game-opening goal for good measure. Parssinen logged 14:03 TOI, centering Brennan Othmann (two hits, one blocked shot) and Jonny Brodzinski (three shots on goal, three hits). De Haan played 16:26, all at even strength, and had two shots on goal and took a minor penalty for delay of game in the third period.

Brett Berard is not exactly a new guy but he stepped in and played a big game in his first one back after the forward was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League. The 22-year-old adds such an important element of speed to the Rangers, and was a whirling dervish on the fourth line Sunday. Berard had five shots on goal, three hits and two blocks in 10+ minutes and capped his strong return with a snipe of a goal from between the circles in the third period.

New York goal!

Scored by Brett Berard with 03:03 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Sam Carrick.

New York: 4
Nashville: 0#NSHvsNYR #NYR #Smashville pic.twitter.com/bvlWLEWuEe

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 3, 2025

3. Zac Jones steps up with Adam Fox out

Zac Jones had a season-high 22:15 TOI to lead the Rangers in that category against the Predators. He didn’t land on the score sheet, but was effective moving the puck and played a hard game, even shaking off a deflected puck to the jaw to add another bruise to his face after a similar incident Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He’s not Adam Fox, but Jones is trying to show he’s worthy of being an NHL regular after, again, spending much of this season as the extra defenseman. With Fox sidelined for a while due to an upper-body injury, Jones is getting his chance and so far, so good.

Let’s get a longer look at him quarterbacking the power play to really evaluate his full worth. Jones was on PP2 against the Maple Leafs but manned the point for the top unit, in Fox’s place, Sunday. The Rangers were an inconsistent 1-for-5 on the power play and twice were held without a shot on goal. So, there’s work to be done. But remember, the Rangers’ power play is 20th in the NHL (20.7 percent), so this isn’t to blame the 24-year-old defenseman. Let’s see how things go in the coming games before we can better judge Jones, on the power play and overall.

Playing his 800th NHL game, Jonathan Quick earned his 63rd career shutout and third this season. The 39-year-old goalie finished with 35 saves, including a whopping 20 in the third period.

Artemi Panarin and J.T. Miller each had a goal and assist for the Rangers (30-26-4), who’ve won three of their past four games and six of nine. Mika Zibanejad extended his point streak to six games with two assists and defenseman Calvin de Haan picked up an assist in his Rangers debut after he and Juuso Parssinen were acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

J.T. Miller doubles the Rangers' lead! pic.twitter.com/yFwmyJ4BcM

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2025

K’Andre Miller and Brett Berard scored New York’s other goals.

With the win, the Rangers are now tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second eild card, with a game in hand.

The Predators (21-32-7) have lost four of five and are 3-10-0 in their past 13 games.

Justus Annunen didn’t get much help from his teammates but was solid in goal, finishing with 30 saves.

Related: Rangers trade grades after acquiring Calvin de Haan, Juuso Parssinen from Avalanche

New York Rangers 4 – Nashville Predators 0

At one point this season, the Rangers and Predators were in a neck-and-neck race to be the most disappointing team in the NHL. But the Rangers righted themselves after the New Year and are in thick of the playoff chase in the Eastern Conference. However, the Predators continue to be stunningly bad, incredibly with the third-worst record in the NHL.

The difference between the teams now was clear Sunday night. The Rangers were better in every facet of the game, right from the opening puck drop. If not for Annunen, this one could’ve been an early blowout for the Rangers.

What stood out in a big way was how the Rangers’ stars so completely outplayed the Predators best players, especially the first two periods. It began in the first period, when Panarin scored the game-opening goal and had numerous other prime chances included with his four shots on goal. It continued in the second when Miller and Zibanejad each had two points and Panarin added two more shots on goal and a primary assist.

Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O’Reilly were ghosts, except for one two-shot sequence by Marchesseault late in the second when he charged the Rangers net and was denied twice by Quick.

Panarin’s goal in the first period was a beauty, aided and abetted by a brutal defensive sequence by the Predators, who had four players on one side of the ice and another stuck in the offensive zone, when Panarin raced up right wing and uncontested hammered a booming slap shot over Annunen’s glove at 8:32. It was his 24th goal of the season and first in seven games. He also reached 60 points for the fourth consecutive season.

Artemi Panarin's not going to miss many of those when he's left wide open 🍞

📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/16kAByN9z9

— NHL (@NHL) March 3, 2025

Alexis Lafreniere made a gorgeous cross-ice pass that sprung Panarin. And de Haan picked up an assist in his Rangers debut, starting the play with a takeaway in his own end followed by a quick outlet to Lafreniere.

The Rangers outshot the Predators 15-6 in a first period likely best remembered for a rousing fight between Matt Rempe and Andreas Englund at 4:07. Rempe got in on the forecheck and flattened Nick Blankenburg with a high elbow. Englund jumped in for his shaken teammate and the 6-foot-4 defenseman went toe to toe with the 6-foot-9 Rempe in a spirited fight. Each landed some heavy blows and Rempe ended up with a bloody mouth and nose. Englund was cut on his nose.

Matt Rempe catches Nick Blankenburg up high and Andreas Englund takes exception 😳👊 pic.twitter.com/upn5OQNz7W

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 3, 2025

Rempe received two minutes for elbowing and five for fighting. Englund accumulated 17 minutes in penalties for being the instigator.

J.T. Miller made it 2-0 with a power-play goal 1:02 into the second period. Panarin stared down Annunen, faked a shot and made a pretty pass to Miller for an easy tap-in.

The other Miller, K’Andre, finished a rush with J.T. at 3:25 to make it 3-0. It was a smooth sequence, starting with a Zibanejad pass out of his own end to spring J.T. Miller. It continued with a soft touch feed to K’Andre Miller. And ended with a brilliant finish when Miller roofed an in-tight backhand shot at full speed for his fifth goal of the season.

K'Andre Miller takes J.T. Miller's pass and roofs the backhander to put the Rangers up by 3!#NYR pic.twitter.com/YesiCNEek7

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 3, 2025

Late in the second period, the Rangers nearly made it 4-0, but Jonny Brodzinski was robbed by Annunen on a 2-on-1 break.

Quick had to make a pair of sensational acrobatic saves to preserve the shutout early in the third, first against Blankenburg in the opening minutes and later with a scorpion save against Marchessault.

With 4:09 to play, Quick robbed Marchessault again, flashing his right pad to deny a point-blank putback.

Berard, recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Saturday, made it 4-0 at 16:56 with his fourth goal in 20 games with the Rangers this season. Sam Carrick won a puck battle in the left-wing corner, then sent a pass to Berard between the circles, and the rookie wired his shot past Annunen.

Quick brought it home from there, moving within one shutout of tying Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist (64) for 17th place in NHL history.

Igor Shesterkin will be back in goal, though, when the Rangers have a quick turnaround and host the Islanders at MSG on Monday.

The Rangers seem to be intent on dealing away players on expiring contracts. A home game against the Nashville Predators on Sunday will be their first since trading Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday for veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan, center Juuso Parssinen and second- and fourth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.

First look at new #NYR Calvin de Haan pic.twitter.com/TNCMyVDB3s

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) March 2, 2025

The Rangers traded Lindgren and Vesey a day after a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs that dropped them to a pedestrian 5-6-0 in their past 11 games following a 10-game point streak from Jan. 5-23. The point streak put the Rangers (29-26-4, 62 points) within one point of the second wild-card spot and ahead of every other team below the cutoff. But now they are four points out and tied for 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Rangers have 23 games left to make up the deficit and will do so while trying to cope with the loss of Adam Fox, who will miss his second game Sunday in what likely will be a lengthy absence after he fell on his left shoulder in the third period of a 5-1 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

The Rangers are coming off a game where they had little to show for 35 shots on goal. Though Mika Zibanejad and Will Cuylle scored tying goals, little mistakes doomed the Rangers, notably a misplay behind the net by Igor Shesterkin leading to the Maple Leafs getting the game winner in the third period.

The Rangers are a major disappointment and face a strong possibility of missing the postseason for the first time in four seasons; but the Predators (21-31-7, 49 points) are well out of the playoff race in the Western Conference after handing out three massive free-agent contracts this past offseason. They are easily the League’s biggest disappointment in 2024-25.

Nashville has the third-fewest points in NHL and is 16 points out of the final playoff spot in the West despite adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and former Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei on the first day of free agency. They were 10 points out following a five-game winning streak last month but are 3-9-0 in their past 12 games and after a string of poor defensive performances.

The Predators allowed three goals in the first period when they were outshot 19-3 during a 7-4 loss to the Islanders on Saturday. Nashville ended its latest loss by allowing an empty-net goal to Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who beat Shesterkin in a quest to join ‘goalie goal’ list, albeit when Stamkos sent the puck into his own net.

One of Nashville’s better defensive showings was a 2-0 home win over the Rangers on Dec. 17 when Juuse Saros notched a 25-save shutout. Saros allowed six goals on 36 shots Saturday, and the Predators will likely start backup Justus Annunen, who has allowed 18 goals in his past four appearances.

Related: Rangers trade grades after acquiring Calvin de Haan, Juuso Parssinen from Avalanche

3 things to watch for when Rangers host Predators

1. No more five-forward power-play unit

With Fox out, the Rangers experimented with a five-forward group on PP1 against the Maple Leafs on Friday. The Rangers were 0-for-3 with four shots on goal, using Alexis Lafreniere, J.T. Miller, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Zibanejad in the top group.

That will change Sunday. At the morning skate, defenseman Zac Jones slotted onto the top unit to play with Zibanejad, Miller, Panarin and Trocheck. It makes sense to let Jones man the point and quarterback the power play. He’s a skilled offensive player with good vision and instincts. Why not let him play to his strength?

On Sunday the Rangers face a team which has allowed a power-play goal in 14 of its past 19 games. Could this be a chance for the Rangers — two power-play goals in their past seven games and 20th overall in the NHL (20.7 percent) this season — to get untracked when a man up.

2. What’s happened to Steven Stamkos?

Stamkos is experiencing a down season in the first of a four-year, $32 million contract, entering Sunday with 17 goals and 33 points in 59 games. Barring a massive hot streak, Stamkos is likely to finish with less than 30 goals in any 82-game season not disrupted by injury since finishing with 27 goals in 2017-18.

Stamkos has not scored a goal nor recorded a point in 12 straight games since Jan. 23 and was pointless in the month of February. It is the longest scoreless drought ever for the League’s third-leading goal scorer among active players.

On Saturday against the Islanders, Stamkos was on the ice for three even-strength goals in 17:31 — and hid misfired back pass in the final seconds wound up as a goalie goal for Isles goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Stamkos has been on the ice for 15 even-strength goals in his scoreless drought.

Stamkos is two shy of 600 career assists and has 19 goals and 43 points in 43 regular-season games against the Rangers.

3. The new guys

Parssinen and de Haan will each be in the lineup Sunday to make their Rangers debuts after taking part in the morning skate. Parssinen practiced on the third line with Brennan Othmann and Jonny Brodzinski on the wings. De Haan paired with Jones on defense, skating on his off (right) side.

Reportedly coveted by the Rangers for a while, Parssinen scored two goals and had four assists this season with the Avalanche, who acquired the 24-year-old in December from the Predators. He impressed in Colorado’s two games against the Rangers and scored on a quick shot from the slot in the second period at MSG on Jan. 26.

Another fun note about the newest Rangers forward is that he scored in his NHL debut for the Predators against the Blueshirts on Nov. 12, 2022.

Here’s a closer look at Pärssinen. Cuylle gets the edge in these battles. #NYR pic.twitter.com/xjq5t9xYc3

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) March 2, 2025

Like Lindgren, de Haan can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He also is a familiar face to the Rangers since he played his first six seasons with the Islanders, including 2016-17 when he posted career highs with five goals and 20 assists.

The 33-year-old is a placeholder until the Rangers make bigger moves to bolster their defense corps during the offseason.

Veteran forward Reilly Smith won’t dress for the Rangers on Sunday due to roster management issues — likely meaning he will be traded soon. Chris Kreider landed on IR Saturday with an upper-body issue.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere

Cuylle – J.T. Miller- Zibanejad

Othmann – Parssinen – Brodzinski

Berard – Carrick – Rempe

K. Miller – Borgen

Vaakanainen – Schneider

Jones – de Haan

Quick

Shesterkin

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Nashville Predators

When: Sunday, March 2 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG2

Igor Shesterkin didn’t make it through the first period in Buffalo, allowing five goals on 16 shots before being pulled 18:21 into the game. He rebounded Sunday with a spectacular 36-save effort that stole a road win.

Their task now is to build on that victory, which moved them within two points of the second wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

The schedule offers the opportunity to gain ground. Three of their next four games are against teams that enter the week outside of the playoffs, including two in seven days against the New York Islanders, who’ve lost four of their past five games, as well as a visit from the woeful Nashville Predators.

Who’s hot

J.T. Miller had two assists in the blowout loss at Buffalo on Saturday, then scored twice against the Penguins. He has four goals and eight points in seven games since the Rangers acquired him in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31. He also had five hits against the Penguins.

Jimmy Vesey helped rescue the Rangers on Sunday with his 100th NHL goal, which tied the game 4-4 after the Penguins had scored twice early in the third period. Vesey also had an assist for his first two-point game of the season.

Who’s not

Urho Vaakanainen was a combined minus-7 in his previous two games – he was minus-3 for Finland in a 5-3 loss to Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday, then was minus-4 in the debacle at Buffalo. He failed to tie up Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh’s first goal Sunday, but ended the afternoon with an Even rating. The Rangers need better from him on the third defense pair.

Rangers lookahead this week includes …

Plenty of time at home, with a trip to Elmont to play the Islanders before the first three of four straight games at Madison Square Garden.

Rangers at New York Islanders (Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET; MSG/MSGSN)

The Rangers make their first visit of the season to UBS Arena. They’ve split their four games at UBS since the building opened in the fall of 2021, winning their first two visits in 2021-22 and losing their lone trips to Belmont Park in each of the past two seasons.

The Metropolitan-area rivals haven’t seen each other since Nov. 3, when the Rangers won 5-2 in a Sunday matinee at the Garden. That came during the Rangers’ season-opening 12-4-1 stretch, during which they looked like the team that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season, rather than the one that’s currently playing catchup in the playoff race.

The Islanders have been battered by injuries all season and are still without their best defenseman, Noah Dobson, and their most dynamic forward, Mathew Barzal. They appeared to be out of the playoff race before running off a seven-game winning streak in late January. Then, injuries caught up with them again – the Isles lost three of their past four games before the 4 Nations break, then lost 4-3 at home to the Dallas Stars on Sunday in their first game back.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Rangers (Feb. 28, 7 p.m.; MSG/NHL Network)

The Maple Leafs and Rangers haven’t seen each other for more than four months, since the Rangers’ 4-1 win at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 19. That victory seems like 100 years ago – the win was part of the Rangers fast start, and the Maple Leafs were still trying to figure things out.

Things have changed a lot since then. The Rangers are trying to battle their way back into a playoff spot, and Toronto moved into first place in the Atlantic Division with a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

Shesterkin’s had a lot of success against the Maple Leafs; he’s 6-2-2 with a 2.48 goals-against average and a.924 save percentage. Also, keep an eye on Toronto captain Auston Matthews. He has 10 goals and 22 points in 22 games against New York.

Nashville Predators at Rangers (March 2, 7 p.m. MSG2)

The Predators are responsible for one of the low points of the Rangers season. Nashville shut out the Rangers 2-0 at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 17 in one of the few highlights of a dreadful season.

The Predators haven’t visited the Garden since Oct. 19, 2023, when they won 4-1. That was a game Shesterkin would like to forget – he allowed four goals on 18 shots before being lifted after two periods.

But this season has been a total disaster for the Predators, who threw big money at free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei this past offseason but have gone from a playoff team to one that’s all but certain to miss the postseason. Stamkos, who played 17 seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning before coming to Nashville, is a point-a-game player against the Rangers in his career (43 points; 19 goals, 24 assists in 43 games) but is minus-21 in those games.

New York Islanders at Rangers (March 3, 7 p.m. ET; MSG/MSGSN)

The Rangers and Islanders meet for the second time in less than a week — this time at the Garden, where the Rangers have won the past four meetings between the teams. The Isles haven’t won at MSG since Nov. 8, 2022, when they defeated the Rangers 4-3 for their fifth consecutive win on Garden ice.

Artemi Panarin has enjoyed great success against the Islanders during his career, piling up 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 35 games.

That’s last overall. As in, 32nd out of 32 NHL teams.

Last week, it was an inexplicable 2-1 loss at Madison Square Garden to the Chicago Blackhawks. Tuesday, it was a 2-0 shutout defeat at the hands of the Nashville Predators.

You would have made a lot of money if you bet at the start of the season on that 1-2 parlay. And how about scoring one goal combined in those pair of defeats?

It’s really unbelievable how far the Rangers (15-15-1) have fallen. And there may not be an end in sight with the a game Friday at the Dallas Stars, followed by a pair of division contests against the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils before, thankfully, the NHL holiday break.

To be fair, the Rangers were better in many areas against the Predators. But playing without leading scorer Artemi Panarin again, the Rangers managed only 17 shots 5v5, were nearly doubled up in high-dangers scoring chances overall (18-10) and couldn’t solve a very sharp Juuse Saros.

Better was not good enough against a team that’s won only nine games all season.

Related: Mike Rupp blasts Rangers brass for ‘bull—- surrounding the team’

3 takeaways from Rangers 2-0 loss to Predators

Here are three takeaways from the Rangers latest loss Tuesday in Nashville.

1. More chasing

For the ninth time in this 14-game funk, the Rangers allowed the first goal of the game Tuesday. They’ve lost each of those nine games and are now 3-13-1 when the opponent scores first. Yikes. Whatever happened to “No Quit in NY?”

OK, they didn’t quit. But you get the point. The Rangers are an easy mark these days after they fall behind, which they do far more often than not (outscored 15-7 in the first period the past 14 games). At this point, their collective confidence is as low as possible, and it’s equally painful to watch them play during games and try to explain what’s going on afterward.

And this isn’t just because Panarin was absent from the lineup for a second consecutive game. These same issues were around with him playing a top role, too. Right now, there is not a single difference maker offensively for the Rangers.

2. Kaapo Kakko’s response

Kaapo Kakko got some things off his chest pregame, telling reporters how upset he is about being scratched Sunday against the St. Louis Blues. It’s clear Kakko feels singled out and that other players deserved to be scratched ahead of him.

All of that is fair. But back in the lineup Tuesday, Kakko certainly didn’t look like a long-term answer for the Rangers. It’s not that he was bad. In fact, that’s almost never the case. It’s more that the 23-year-old is fine, doesn’t kill you, doesn’t provide a huge lift either. He is what he is, a third-liner with some skill and size, who can be largely trusted at both ends of the rink, even if coach Peter Laviolette only gave him slightly more than 10 minutes TOI against Nashville.

Kakko just doesn’t score goals, though. He’s got four on the season in 30 games. He had three shots on goal Tuesday and six attempts, some good looks, including once when Adam Fox found him at the bottom of the right circle and Saros pulled far out of the cage. With a lot of net to shoot at in a 1-0 game late in the first period, Kakko missed. Partly because of defenseman Adam Wilsby, who tried to fill the goalie role. And partly because that sequence kind of sums up Kakko.

There are teams interested in Kakko around the League. It might be best for the player and team if Kakko is traded to get a fresh start and the Rangers perhaps can get a useable piece in return.

3. By the numbers

Urho Vaakanainen made his Rangers debut after being acquired nearly two weeks ago from the Anaheim Ducks in the Jacob Trouba trade. Paired with Chad Ruhwedel, Vaakanainen was, by and large, not so bad. He and Ruhwedel were on for Nashville’s game-opening goal, following a Ruhwedel turnover at the offensive blue line. But they were OK as a third defensive pair.

Vaakanainen logged 15:06 TOI, including nearly two minutes on the penalty kill and 50 seconds on the power play. The 25-year-old had a 0.59 xGF at 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick.

Vincent Trocheck had New York’s best scoring chance, a short-handed breakaway late in the second period. But Saros made an excellent glove save to keep the score 1-0. Trocheck led the Rangers with seven hits and won 14 of 20 face-offs (70 percent).

Another quiet night for Mika Zibanejad, who had six shot attempts, though only two on goal. He played a bit more than 17 minutes TOI but was on for both Predators goals and is now a team-worst minus-17 this season.

Fox logged a team-high 27:11 TOI and led all players with five blocked shots. Speaking of blocked shots, the Predators blocked 28 in front of Saros.

It was the second time in the past eight days that the Rangers (15-15-1) lost to the last-overall team in the NHL standings. Eight days earlier, they were defeated 2-1 by the Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden. On Tuesday, it was the Predators (9-17-6), who had dropped into a last-place tie with the Blackhawks.

“It’s just frustrating right now for everybody,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “We’re in the business of winning. And when you’re not winning, it’s frustrating.”

Predators goalie Juuse Saros made 25 saves to earn his third shutout of the season, tying him for the League lead. It was his 26th career shutout, and the first time the Rangers were blanked this season.

Saros was buoyed by his teammates, who blocked 28 shots in the game. He was also supported by Jonathan Marchessault and Adam Wilsby, who scored for Nashville, and Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg, who each had two assists.

“We had tons of chances and didn’t bury our chances,” Rangers center Vincent Trocheck said postgame.

Igor Shesterkin was solid in goal for the Rangers, finishing with 30 saves.

Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen made his Rangers debut and logged 15:06 TOI. Forward Kaapo Kakko was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. Kakko had three shots on goal in 10:14 TOI.

The Rangers played their second straight game without leading scorer Artemi Panarin, who’s day to day with an upper-body injury.

Related: Mike Rupp blasts Rangers brass for ‘bull—- surrounding the team’

Nashville Predators 2 – New York Rangers 0

Despite a spirited start, one that had the Predators on their heels — they took five icings before the game was even five minutes old — the Rangers once again surrendered the first goal. Chad Ruhwedel got caught inside the offensive blue line and the Predators took off on a 3-on-2 that ended with Marchessault burying a feed from Stamkos at 13:37 of the first period to make it 1-0.

It was the ninth time in the past 14 games that the Rangers gave up the game’s first goal. They’ve lost each of those nine games.

Jonathan Marchessault finishes off the Preds' pretty passing play 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/NLXEuAKLyZ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 18, 2024

This was particularly frustrating because the Rangers had a strong start, were on their toes and clearly engaged right from the first drop of the puck. They had the early shots advantage and the best scoring chance, when Will Cuylle was stoned by Saros at 7:25 after ripping a shot from between the circles off an Alexis Lafreniere pass.

However, the tide certainly turned in Nashville’s favor after Marchessault’s goal. They ended the first period with six high-danger scoring chances, most coming in the second half of of the period.

The Rangers did have an excellent chance to tie the game late in the first. Saros was caught out of position after Adam Fox weaved around him and passed out in front. Kakko snapped a shot toward the open net, but Wilsby played the role of goalie and blocked the shot, hugging the near post at 18:40.

That was one of 10 blocked shots in the first period for the Predators, and a big reason why they took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.

The Predators upped the ante in the scoreless second period, when they blocked 12 shots. Nashville’s top-ranked penalty kill also short-circuited two Rangers power plays in the middle period, including one midway through the second when New York kept the puck in the offensive zone for the entire two minutes.

Nashville had a 14-8 shots advantage in the second period, including at least four during one sequence when Shesterkin made one pad save after another in tight. Shesterkin also stood tall to deny Colton Sissons on a 3-on-2 opportunity in the second period.

The best scoring chance of the period, though, belonged to the Rangers. Trocheck had a clear short-handed breakaway at 18:25, but Saros made a sensational glove save to protect Nashville’s 1-0 lead.

The third period opened with near goals for each side. Forsberg rang a power-play shot off the post about a minute into the period at one end of the ice. Roughly two minutes later, Lafreniere patiently worked his way around Predators defenseman Brady Skjei, who fell down and allowed a clear lane to the net. However, Saros made a terrific save to rob Lafreniere’s bid to tie the score.

A few minutes later, it was Saros again, this time making a quick save with the toe of his right skate to deny Fox’s low shot ticketed for the far side of the net.

The Predators rewarded Saros for his excellent play, when Wilsby scored his first NHL goal at 12:00 to make it 2-0. The 24-year-old defenseman deked one way, then dashed the other around Reilly Smith to create space inside the blue line. Wilsby then skated in and wired a shot through a Forsberg screen top shelf, stick side to beat Shesterkin.

New York only had seven shots on goal in the third period and was unable to muster much after Nashville secured the two-goal lead. Now it’s on to Dallas to close out their three-game road trip on Friday; the Stars are a major step up in competition after losing to a Predators team that’s now won just twice in its past 10 games (2-5-3).

The Rangers skate against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday, hoping to find their footing against another massively disappointing team. In fact, the Predators (8-17-6) are in far worse shape than the Rangers (15-14-1), even if New York has lost 10 of its past 13 games.

The Predators are tied for last in the NHL with 22 points and a .355 points percentage. They’re tied with the Chicago Blackhawks at the bottom of the League standings. Of course, the Rangers lost 2-1 to the Blackhawks last week, so they can take nothing for granted against the woeful Predators on Tuesday.

One things for sure, there’s going to be one really angry team after this game. Because each must believe that this is a winnable game, given the state of poor state of the Rangers and Predators.

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New York Rangers news

Here’s three intriguing things to watch for Tuesday when the Rangers face off against the Predators.

After their latest loss Sunday, defenseman Adam Fox was searching for answers as to why the Rangers cannot consistently sustain any offensive-zone pressure.

Coach Peter Laviolette shook up the forward line combinations against the St. Louis Blues in their most recent game, and even benched Kaapo Kakko. But those moves provided little spark for the Rangers in another forgettable 3-2 defeat, and Kakko made it clear after the morning skate that he wasn’t happy at being scratched.

NHL news

Our Tom Castro took a deep dive into the dip in Alexandar Georgiev’s play this season, and the former Rangers goalie’s hope that things will get better after he Colorado Avalanche traded him recently to the San Jose Sharks.

It appears that the Buffalo Sabres, losers of 10 straight games, are reluctant to make a trade to shake things up, even after a team heart-to-heart visit with owner Terry Pegula on Monday. The TSN panel breaks it down.

WATCH rugged Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood record his first NHL hat trick in their 3-1 win against the Avalanche.

The Florida Panthers won their Stanley Cup Final rematch with the Edmonton Oilers, a wild 6-5 victory at Rogers Place.

In that game, Oilers forward Zach Hyman took a deflected shot by teammate Evan Bouchard to the face in the second period and exited the ice quickly. Since he’s a hockey player, Hyman returned in the third period wearing a fishbowl face covering.

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

That’s right. Incredibly, even after signing Skjei, Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault to big free-agent contracts this offseason, the Predators are 0-5-0 to begin the season. Only the lowly San Jose Sharks are also winless, though they have two standings points by virtue of losing twice in overtime.

A popular preseason pick to win the Stanley Cup, the Predators not only are winless, but they’re 0-4-0 on home ice after a seemingly favorable schedule to begin the season. Seven of their 10 games this month are on home ice. They’ll look to get off the schneid with another home game Tuesday against the visiting Boston Bruins.

As for Skjei, who landed a seven-year, $49 million contract this summer after producing an NHL career-high 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) with the Carolina Hurricanes, he’s got one goal in five games and sits with an unsightly minus-six plus/minus rating through five games with Nashville.

“We’ve got to move past this and get on the other side of this as fast as possible,” Skjei explained last week. “You don’t want to keep this feeling going.”

It’s been a tough start for Skjei, who’s xGF percentage of 34.81 percent is worst on the team, per Natural Stat Trick. The Predators are outchanced 43-29 with Skjei on the ice, 19-11 in high-danger opportunities.

“It just hasn’t been good enough” Skjei said. “Just got to be a lot better in a lot of areas.”

Related: Rangers star impressed with role players’ ‘dedication to just being ready’

Several former Rangers off to slow starts with other teams this season

Skjei is one of several former Rangers players off to a difficult start this season. Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings has two assists in five games, and teammate Erik Gustafsson already was scratched twice after a solid showing with the Rangers last season.

Colorado Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev carries a heavy 4.99 goals-against average and poor .811 save percentage into this week. He did, though, pick up his first win Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. But it’s been a rough go for Georgiev and the Avalanche.

As for Skjei, he is far from the only problem in Nashville. Stamkos scored his first goal over the weekend and is minus-six. Marchessault has one goal. Roman Josi is minus-five. Michael McCarron and Colton Sissons are somehow minus-eight already. And Juuse Saros has a 3.64 goals-against average and .875 save percentage.

Not an ideal start to say the least.

Skjei played four seasons with the Rangers before he was traded to the Hurricanes ahead of the 2020 deadline. His game reached new heights with the Hurricanes, at both ends of the rink. His best all-around season was 2023-24, and one of his highlights was the game-winning power-play goal against the Rangers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Second Round.

That goal started a Carolina comeback in the series, though the Rangers stemmed the tide with an incredible rally in Game 6 to move on to the Eastern Conference Final.

But that’s in the past. Now Skjei must navigate a difficult start amid massive expectations with a talented new team, all the while carrying a heavy $7 million salary cap hit.

Fortunately for him — and the Predators — five games does not a season make. So, there’s plenty of time to write a better story for his first season in Nashville.

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.