Former Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is among those who will be on hand.

“The hat I’m wearing right now [is] for one of my good buddies, Jimmy Hayes (a seven-year NHL veteran who died in 2021 with died with fentanyl and cocaine in his system). This is something that hits home for me,” Shattenkirk told NHL Network. “Seeing the message that’s behind it and knowing you can make a difference with such a small act, it goes a long way.”

Some of the NHL's best will be on display at the 2025 Shoulder Check Showcase, taking place on July 24th at 4pm ET! https://t.co/7CNa5ohiD9 pic.twitter.com/aLeAf1OA7b

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) July 20, 2025

From its beginnings just two summers ago, the Showcase has become a marquee summer event, featuring talent like Shattenkirk, former Rangers forward Chris Kreider and current backup goalie Jonathan Quick. Current Rangers Brett Berard and Matt Rempe will be playing, as will former Rangers Kreider, Frank Vatrano and Kevin Hayes (Jimmy’s brother).

CLICK HERE for more information about the Shoulder Check Showcase and movement.

New York Rangers news

Forever Blueshirts: Don Maloney discussed his “magical” rookie season and a lot more with our own Jim Cerny on their recent Rink Rap podcast. The kid brother of newly selected Rangers TV analyst Dave Maloney also reminisces about being GM of the New York Islanders when they were demolished by the Blueshirts in the opening round of the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs and the thrill of stepping onto the ice as a Ranger at Madison Square Garden.

NHL Rumors, News, & the Sportsnaut Family

Philly Hockey Now: The departure of top-level players from major juniors to college hockey continues. Porter Martone, who was picked sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL Draft last month, is heading to Michigan State, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Monday. Martone was the captain of the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads last season. He racked up 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) in 57 regular-season games. He’ll be playing Big Ten games against Gavin McKenna, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, who left Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League for Penn State earlier this month.

The Athletic: The Detroit Red Wings again came out on top in the online sports daily’s annual fan poll of NHL TV teams, finishing first locally and nationally. The Seattle Kraken were second for the second straight year. The outgoing Rangers tandem of Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti finished ninth. And who was last, you ask? The Boston Bruins, even with Judd Sirott replacing longtime (and polarizing) play-by-play man Jack Edwards.

TSN: If you want to win in the NHL these days, an effective power play is a must. Here’s a look behind the numbers. Long story short: Unless you’re extremely good (think Carolina Hurricanes) or absolutely awful (Chicago Blackhawks, anyone) at even strength, your power-play success will have a major impact on whether you make the playoffs.

NHL.com: Goalie Mikhail Yegorov isn’t a candidate for the New Jersey Devils’ starting job – yet. But after leading Boston University to the NCAA title game last season, there’s every indication he’ll end up as their starter after playing another year or two at BU – especially on a team whose two goalies are already in their mid-30s.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Kyle Dubas is racing to rebuild the Pittsburgh Penguins in time to give Sidney Crosby one more trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins are loaded with young players, but they may not be ready in time. Getting Sid one more shot at the postseason likely would mean refraining from trading veterans like defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. There have been plenty of trade rumors surrounding the Pens in recent weeks, but it doesn’t look like anything’s cooking right now.

Florida Hockey Now: What’s the best jersey in Florida Panthers history? According to a poll by The Athletic, it’s the current one. It’s hard to argue with the Panthers’ results in the decade they’ve worn it, especially with back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. A lot of fans still like the original jersey, and there are hints it may return for the Winter Classic game against the Rangers on Jan. 2 at LoanDepot Park.

San Jose Hockey Now: Shane Bowers is 25 – and eight years removed from being a first-round pick (No. 28) by the Ottawa Senators in the 2017 draft. He’s played just 13 NHL games since being drafted but hopes that being traded from the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche to the San Jose Sharks, who finished last in the NHL in 2024-25, will provide the opportunity he’s been waiting for.

The Devils are third in the Metropolitan Division and have a six-point lead on the next closest team, which just so happens to be the Rangers. At 80 points (37-28-6) with 11 games to go, the Devils are closer to clinching a playoff berth than losing their hold on third place in the division.

But heading into a clash against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday at Prudential Center, the Devils have dropped three of their past four games, including two straight on home ice.

Following a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, struggling Devils defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic emphasized the need for New Jersey to adopt a playoff mindset now, three weeks out from the start of the postseason.

“We have a pretty home-heavy schedule the rest of the rest of the way here. We got to make this place a hard place to play and a hard place to beat us,” Kovacevic explained. “I think that’s something that we want to take pride in. We’re in a fight, and hopefully that gets us in that playoff mentality 10-11, games out, and we carry that into the playoffs. Obviously the results are tough, but we’re in a fight here, and we’re not going to back down.”

Kovacevic’s postgame comments were not out of the ordinary. With less than a month until the playoffs begin, wins and losses are not the only focus for the Devils; equally as important is tuning up for the postseason.

“I guarantee to you he’s thinking he’s doing absolutely nothing wrong,” Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast.

Jonathan Kovacevic said the Devils need a playoff mentality. Sheldon Keefe responded by saying Kovacevic “just needs to play better” 😳 pic.twitter.com/sQoDPjk0xl

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 23, 2025

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe disagreed.

“Kovacevic just needs to play better. That would help,” Keefe said, cutting off the reporter’s question postgame Saturday.

Clearly tensions are running high and there’s a there seems to be a disconnect in the Devils locker room as they continue to falter down the stretch, while also dealing with some serious injury issues.

“I think that shows the stress of this time of year,” Friedman observed.

Related: Rangers comeback against Canucks fueled by ‘little bit of yelling in locker room’

Rangers might be more feared opponent than Devils, if they reach playoffs

Barring an unthinkable collapse, the Devils will be one of the eight Eastern Conference playoff teams. However, they are not playing like one of the eight best teams in the east, which could spell an early exit from the postseason.

Their struggles can be attributed in part to the injury bug; Jacob Markstrom went down first and has not been playing his best since returning; Dougie Hamilton is set to miss the rest of the regular season; and Jack Hughes underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on March 5.

That’s their No. 1 goalie, top defenseman and star center.

The Devils have looked mediocre without Hughes, who left their March 2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights with the injury. Including that 2-0 loss in Sin City, the Devils have are 4-6-0 since Hughes went down.

But the Devils weren’t so great with Hughes in the lineup either. They are 13-17-3 since Dec. 28. Once the first-place team in the Metro, they’re now third, 10 points behind the second-place Carolina Hurricanes. As the Hurricanes surge, the Devils sink. And those teams are set to meet in the Eastern Conference First Round.

So, the Devils are in a much better spot right now than the Rangers. But incredibly, if they make the playoffs, the Rangers might be in position to be a tougher out than their Hudson River rivals.

That’s a stunning reversal from where things stood earlier this season, even if the Rangers (34-31-6) currently stand ninth in the Eastern Conference, on the outside looking in at the playoffs.

Well, that was interesting, to say the least.

The Hurricanes made a huge splash by acquiring Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche just six weeks ago. In the deal, they traded away Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and a 2025 second-round pick. Carolina was labeled as a true Stanley Cup contender after that deal, but things quickly went south after it became clear Rantanen was hesitant to sign a long-term contract and forego unrestricted free agency at season’s end.

So, the Hurricanes were faced with the question of keeping Rantanen with the risk of letting him walk for nothing in the summer, or trading him ahead of the deadline and salvaging some sort of return. They opted for the latter in this deal, but salvaging is just about the best they could do.

All in all, the Hurricanes trade Necas, Drury, and a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick for Stankoven, Taylor Hall, two first round-picks, and two third-round picks, with 13 games of Rantanen in the middle. To call it a disaster in Carolina is an understatement. Necas had become one of their better players and leading goal scorers, and Drury was becoming a young mainstay in the lineup.

Related: Rangers archrival finally gets it, throws in towel with Brock Nelson trade

Rangers chasing wild card spot, Devils and Hurricanes trending downward

While the primary focus for the Rangers is on securing a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference for the time being, keep an eye on both the Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils.

Where the Hurricanes were once a huge threat to the Rangers, should they meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs once again, now many are counting them out as contenders after a severe mishandling of assets. As for the Devils, they’ve looked vulnerable since the New Year and now lost stud center Jack Hughes for the season following shoulder surgery. Then on Friday, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald announced that top defenseman Dougie Hamilton is out for an extended period with an unspecified injury and Jonas Siegenthaler is done for the season.

That the Devils failed to make a big move ahead of the deadline doesn’t quell concerns that they’re in trouble with a quarter of the season remaining.

The Devils are third in the Metro with 72 points; the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Rangers are chomping at the bit with 68 and 67 points, respectively. Depending on how these last 20 games go, the Rangers sights may not be on just a wild-card spot, but a spot in the top-three of the division, just as former Rangers goalie Marty Biron told Forever Blueshirts earlier this week.

The Hurricanes currently hold second place in Metropolitan Division with 78 points, 11 points ahead of the Rangers, who have points in five of their past six games (4-1-1). Carolina seems more sturdy than New Jersey and should remain in the division’s top three.

The operative word is should. How shaken — if at all — are Carolina’s players that Rantanen wanted no part of being a part of its present nor future. Stankoven is a nice player in his first full NHL season, but not a difference maker right now like Rantanen nor not even in the same league as Necas, who has 21 goals and 70 points this season.

Maybe the Rangers can’t catch the Hurricanes, but they’d sure love to face them — instead of the any of the Atlantic Division powerhouses — in the first round of the playoffs. So, gunning for the Devils is that more important for the Rangers.

But their road to the playoffs hit a major pothole this week when New Jersey’s top goal-scorer, center Jack Hughes, underwent shoulder surgery on Wednesday and was ruled out for the rest of the season. The Devils placed him on long-term injured reserve, meaning that they will have to try to fend off the Rangers, among other challengers, without their best offensive player.

Hughes leads the Devils in goals (27), game-winning goals (seven), shots on goal (229) and is tops among their forwards in average ice time (20:54). His 70 points are tied with Jesper Bratt for the team lead, and he’s second in assists (43) behind Bratt’s 53.

#NEWS: Jack Hughes underwent shoulder surgery earlier today and will be placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).

Jack is expected to make a full recovery and be available for training camp.

📰: https://t.co/m06KjtAdPj pic.twitter.com/E2qNzfROk6

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 5, 2025

The Devils said the surgery, performed by Dr. Peter Millett at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, was a success and that Hughes will be ready for training camp in September.

New Jersey was without Hughes for its 4-3 road loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday – a game that saw the Devils overcome a late 3-1 deficit before losing on Thomas Harley’s goal with five seconds remaining. The loss dropped them to 33-24-6; they are four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the first wild card, and five in front of the Ottawa Senators and the Rangers. New Jersey has lost three of its past four games and been spiraling for the past two months.

The vulnerable Devils have played one more game than the Rangers and two more than the Blue Jackets and Senators. The Rangers lost 3-2 in overtime to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, a game that ended shortly after the Senators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in OT. The Rangers visit Ottawa on Saturday.

“It’s obviously a big loss for our team, but we had some talks already about it,” Devils captain Nico HIschier said before the loss in Dallas. “I think right now, we just got to dig in. I think we all know that Jack would’ve loved to be here with us playing in Dallas.”

Hughes sustained the shoulder injury in the final minutes of a 2-0 road loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.

Jack Hughes was injured on this play against the Golden Knights. He underwent shoulder surgery on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season. https://t.co/zMvB0pvPPv pic.twitter.com/XbKTKq0Fgc

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 5, 2025

LISTEN to the RINK RAP podcast with special guest Marty Biron.

Jack Hughes season-ending injury massive blow to Rangers rival

The first player taken in the 2019 NHL Draft was on an odd-man-rush with Hischier before his feet got tangled up with Vegas center Jack Eichel, who played with him on Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off. It caused Hughes to go sliding into the boards at high speed with almost no time to protect himself before the collision.

The 23-year-old was holding his right arm and was in visible pain as he skated off the ice and went right to the locker room. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe was ejected for yelling at officials because no penalty was called on the play — and on Wednesday the NHL fined him $25,000 for what the League called unprofessional conduct directed at the officials.

Hughes had surgery on his shoulder in April 2024 and missed the final four games of the regular season. He was healthy by training camp and had not missed a game this season until Tuesday.

“Jack’s a very important player, so the whole group was feeling for him the other night, myself and the coaching staff included,” Keefe said Tuesday, before the extent of the injury was known. “Injuries are part of the game, but just the nature of it and all of that makes it tougher and also knowing what he’s been through in the past.”

By placing Hughes on LTIR, the Devils have more salary cap space to be buyers before the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. The Devils could look to add forward depth for a team that’s won back-to-back games just once in 2025 and is 9-13-1 in the new year.

Hughes has 351 points (141 goals, 210 assists) in 368 regular-season games for the Devils and 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games, all in 2023 when they defeated the Rangers in the opening round before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second.

He has feasted on the Rangers during his career, with 16 goals and 28 points in 23 games — the most goals and points he’s had against any NHL team.

The Devils could also be without first-pair defenseman Dougie Hamilton when they host the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. Hamilton left the game Tuesday with an injury, and the Devils had no update on his condition Wednesday. The Devils acquired veteran defenseman Brian Dumoulin from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday for a second-round pick in the 2025 draft and Herman Traff, a 19-year-old forward playing in Sweden.

The Rangers (31-26-4) have won four of their past five games and seven of 10. They trail the slumping Devils (33-24-6) by six points for third place in the Metropolitan Division, and have two games in hand on their Hudson River rivals heading into a home game Wednesday against the first-place Washington Capitals.

So, think big, right?

“They’re only six points behind the Devils. That is significant. I don’t think Chris Drury is saying we’re going to get in as a wild card,” Biron told Forever Blueshirts on the RINK RAP podcast. “The injury to Jack Hughes, Jacob Markstrom missed some time. It’s almost like they’re looking at the Devils saying, ‘We could get in as the No. 3 in the Metro and really earn our stripes going into the playoffs.’ That to me is why these next few weeks are going to be interesting for the Rangers. Not just a wild card with Detroit and Columbus. It’s chase the New Jersey Devils if you can.”

The Devils (33-24-6) are vulnerable. After a strong start this season, they’re 9-13-3 since Dec. 28. They’ve won consecutive games once since then (Jan. 22-25) and are coming off a brutal 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, when Thomas Harley scored the game-winner with five seconds remaining in regulation.

In addition, the Devils announced Wednesday that Jack Hughes is out for the rest of the season following shoulder surgery. A simply massive blow.

Plus New Jersey’s top defenseman Dougie Hamilton left the game Tuesday with an injury and it’s unknown how long he’ll be out. It feels like it’s all falling apart in Newark.

The Rangers are in position to pounce, despite their own 4-15-0 nosedive in November and December which nearly submarined their playoff hopes. However, just when the Devils’ fortunes went south, things brightened for the Rangers, who are 15-7-3 since Jan. 2.

A 12-4-1 start to the season by the Rangers can’t be overlooked either.

“That’s what a good start to the season will do, right? They put some points in the bank and then when they struggled, they at least had that to back them up,” Biron explained.

Related: ‘These challenges galvanize you’: Mike Richter remains bullish on these Rangers

Martin Biron believes Rangers made ‘genius move’ trading for J.T. Miller

It’s never one thing that helps a team turn things around. And that’s true of the Rangers this season.

Biron points to two important factors that were key to put the Rangers in their current position and positive mindset after so much negativity earlier in the season. One, is that general manager Chris Drury — Biron’s teammate with the Buffalo Sabres and later the Rangers — stood by his veteran Stanley Cup-winning coach Peter Laviolette and instead made significant changes to the roster.

“What Chris Drury has done is say, ‘This coach is the coach I want, my coaching staff is the coaching staff I want. You guys, meaning the players, are on the ones on the hot seat and if you don’t perform, we’re going to move you,” Biron said.

Second was the impactful acquisition of J,T. Miller in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31. That was the fourth and most meaningful trade Drury made in-season.

“Then he brought in J.T. Miller. I thought that was a genius move,” “What you did was basically bring in a guy that this is our leader now. You’ve got [Adam] Fox, [Artemi] Panarin, [Mika] Zibanejad, but people in New York are saying Miller is the one you’ve got to build around. That’s is pretty significant.”

Circling back to chasing down the Devils, it’s not exactly an easy task for many reasons. To begin with, there’s the surprising Columbus Blue Jackets, another Metropolitan Division team, to contend with. They’re two points ahead of the Rangers in the first wild card and just four point in arrears of the Devils, with two games in hand. Columbus plays both New York and New Jersey twice more this season. That could go a long way in deciding who finishes where in the standings.

The Rangers and Devils have one more meeting, April 5 at Prudential Center.

There are other factors like the Rangers inability to win more than two games in a row (no three-game winning streak since Nov. 14-19) and the chance to earn loser’s points along the way make things difficult to predict and not as easy as saying, win a certain amount of games and you’ll earn a certain spot in the standings.

But Biron is right. Set the sights high. Aim for bigger goal. Then see where you end up.

Subscribe to the RINK RAP podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page

The Devils announced Friday that Markstrom has an MCL sprain and is out 4-6 weeks in a damaging blow to the third-place team in the Metropolitan Division.

Markstrom, who’s been the backbone behind New Jersey’s rise in the Metropolitan Division this season, was injured in a goal-mouth collision with Boston Bruins forward Justin Brazeau at 3:09 of the second period in the Devils’ 5-1 win at Prudential Center. Markstrom was removed from the game after remaining down on the ice in obvious pain.

“We’ll take some time before we know the full extent on [Markstrom],” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said postgame. “I talked to him; he is in good spirits. He’s feeling a lot better than before, so that’s positive. He’s going to miss some time.”

Jacob Markstrom will miss some time after being crashed into by Justin Brazeau😫

pic.twitter.com/MvtAhAxbY4

— Everything Hockey (@EHClothing) January 23, 2025

On a team that features stars like Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Dougie Hamilton and Nico Hischier, there’s likely no player more indispensable than Markstrom on the Devils roster. The 34-year-old arrived in an offseason trade with the Calgary Flames and has stabilized the goaltending position in New Jersey.

Markstrom is 21-9-5 with a 2.20 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and three shutouts this season. He’s fourth in the League in wins, tied for fourth in shutouts and has the fifth-best GAA. Last season, Devils goalies combined to allow the fifth-most goals in the NHL (281; 3.43 per game).

After stunningly failing to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, due in large part to atrocious defensive play and poor goaltending, the Devils (27-17-6) are third in the Metro with 60 points. They are three points behind the second-place Carolina Hurricanes and 11 in arrears of the red-hot, first-place Washington Capitals.

The Devils have a seven-point lead over the fourth-place Columbus Blue Jackets, who own the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference at the moment.

Fueled by a 10-game point streak (7-0-3), the Rangers are just one point out of the second wild card. But they could have the Devils in their sites now as well. The Rangers trail the Devils by eight points, but have two games in hand. And now Markstrom’s injury really change the landscape for New Jersey.

Related: Why surging Rangers should move on from J.T. Miller trade interest, but still upgrade roster

Rangers could set sights on struggling Devils with Jacob Markstrom sidelined

Jake Allen is a capable veteran backup goalie for the Devils. However, before being credited with the win against the Bruins, stopping all 16 shots he faced, the 34-year-old had lost six consecutive decisions, allowing 20 goals.

Allen, who was the No. 2 behind Jordan Binnington when the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019, does have a solid 2.66 GAA and decent .904 save percentage in 15 appearances this season. He’s a quality No. 2 but could be exposed if Markstrom is out for a long period of time.

Nico Daws, who has 46 games of NHL experience but has struggled with Utica in the American Hockey League this season, likely will be recalled to pair with Allen.

There’s no way around it for the Devils. This is a massive blow and comes at a terrible time. The Devils ended a four-game skid (0-2-2) against the Bruins but are 2-6-3 since Dec. 28, struggling at a time when the Rangers turned their season around.

The Rangers dropped to the bottom of the East standings during a 4-15-0 freefall to close out 2024. But since the calendar flipped to 2025, the Rangers are 8-1-3. That included an exciting 3-2 overtime win against the Devils on Jan. 9, after losing their first two meetings by a combined 10-1 score.

The Devils close out January with a road game in Montreal against the Canadiens and a home-and-home set against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Rangers defeated the Flyers 6-1 on Thursday and follow with home games against the Colorado Avalanche and Hurricanes finish their January schedule.

The goaltending, with Igor Shesterkin back in net, was solid. The special teams were actually special. The compete level was the best it’s been in weeks. The result was a 3-2 overtime victory in arguably New York’s best performance against a top team this season.

Fourth-liner Sam Carrick was an unlikely choice to score the overtime goal – he came into the game having scored just once since opening night. But he was Johnny, er, Sammy on the spot when Rangers-killer Jack Hughes whiffed on a pass, setting up a 2-on-1 break. Reilly Smith passed, Carrick shot and the sellout crowd roared when the red light went on, giving the Rangers their first victory in three overtime games this season.

SAM CALLED GAME. pic.twitter.com/Hhp0McxHUx

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 10, 2025

“Three-on-three is a different game,” Carrick said after scoring his first career OT goal. “Once we did get the puck then I just tried to chug up the ice and give Smitty an option. He made a great pass.”

One player who said he wasn’t surprised to see Carrick score was Shesterkin, who noted with a smile that, “He always scores a lot on me in practice.”

The Rangers won’t have much time to enjoy the victory. They’ll be on a plane Friday, heading west to begin a three-game trip against the league-leading Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. But they’ll be leaving with seven points in their last five games – and the realization that despite their dreadful slump they are just four points out of a playoff spot.

“Wins always give you confidence,” said forward Artemi Panarin, whose second-period power-play goal tied the game 2-2. “It doesn’t matter (how you) win. Even if you play bad, which we weren’t doing tonight. We were playing great, I think.”

Related: Why Arthur Kaliyev experiment makes perfect sense for Rangers right now

3 takeaways from Rangers 3-2 overtime win against Devils

Here are three takeaways from the game Thursday.

1. On the upswing

It would have been easy for the Rangers to be down entering the game against New Jersey. Not only were they playing a team that had embarrassed them twice last month, but they were coming into the Garden after kicking away an early 3-0 lead and a late 4-3 advantage in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Instead, it was obvious from the opening face-off that the Rangers were up for the game, something that definitely wasn’t the case when the Devils won 5-0 in Newark on Dec. 23, a game  New York managed all of 12 shots.

The domination grew as the game went along. The Rangers had eight of the 13 high-danger chances at even strength after the first period, according to Natural Stat Trick. They outshot New Jersey 25-12 after the opening 20 minutes, and only the play of goaltender Jacob Markstrom in the third period got the Devils a point.

The result was an overtime win that gives the Rangers a 3-1-1 record in their past five games and a 19-20-2 mark at the halfway point of their season – as well as positive feelings as they begin a three-game Western trip against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

“I think we went through a stretch where we were playing some bad hockey and we didn’t deserve to win games,” Smith said. “I think over the last little bit since Christmas we’re doing enough to give ourselves a chance to win every night. Tonight was a great example of that. It was probably one of our better games since the start of the year.”

Also Read: Newest Rangers forward is ‘one-dimensional’ player with limitations: NHL insider

2. Igor is back

Not to disparage Jonathan Quick or Louis Domingue, but neither one is in Shesterkin’s league at this stage of his career. Having No. 31 back in the net had to give the Rangers a spark.

Shesterkin wasn’t bombarded with shots, finishing with 21 saves. But he made the big saves when they were needed – most notably on a shorthanded breakaway by Dawson Mercer midway through the third period with the score tied 2-2.

But while Shesterkin played well, he had plenty of help. The 23 shots allowed were the fewest by any opponent since the Seattle Kraken had 22 (but scored on seven of them) on Dec. 8.

“That was good, ‘Shesty’ coming back in,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “But the guys in front of him played well, too.”

3. Special teams live up to their name

The Rangers haven’t gotten much from their special teams recently. The power play entered the night 1-for-32 in the previous 12 games; the penalty kill had allowed nine goals in 21 tries in the past seven games.

That’s not a formula for success when your team has lived off special teams and goaltending for the past few seasons. But on Thursday, the special teams really were special.

Off the draw + Foxy unleashes a ROCKET. pic.twitter.com/82HNh3G9qD

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 10, 2025

The power play scored on its first two opportunities and finished 2-for-3 – it’s first multiple-goal game since Nov. 30. The penalty kill was perfect in four opportunities after allowing three goals on four chances to the Devils in their last meeting on Dec. 23 — and had a couple of Grade A shorthanded chances.

Defenseman Adam Fox, who had just one goal (an empty-netter) in New York’s first 40 games, scored the first power-play goal on a straightaway blast and assisted on the second, looked much more like one of the NHL’s best defensemen than he had in weeks. When Fox is at his best, knowing when to shoot and when to pass, the Rangers have one of the NHL’s most dangerous power plays.

“We talked about it before the game, how special teams can 100 percent make a difference inside a hockey game,” Laviolette said. “The power play does its job, and the penalty kill goes out and does its job. If you’re successful on both, your chances of winning the game go up drastically.”

Demons. Devils. You get it, right?

OK, yeah, understood, this isn’t a laughing matter for the Rangers right now. Coming off a hellish 5-4 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday after racing to a 3-0 lead, the Rangers are 6-16-1 in their past 23 games. They reach the midpoint of the 2024-25 season after the game against their bitter rival on Thursday, desperately trying to remain relevant in the Stanley Cup Playoff race.

The Rangers, who swept the Devils in four regular-season games last season, have lost the first two against them this season by a combined 10-1 score. The Devils (25-15-3) are second in the Metropolitan Division and long ago passed the Rangers (18-20-1), who are seventh in the division and 14th in the Eastern Conference.

Perhaps the Rangers catch the Devils at a good time Thursday. Though coming off a 3-2 win in Seattle against the Kraken, the Devils have lost four of their past five games, including being swept three games in California. Also, Igor Shesterkin is back for the Rangers after he missed four games with an upper-body injury.

The Rangers largely have played better hockey since the turn of the New Year. They are 2-1-1 in their past four games and scored 14 goals in their past three. But they need to stack wins, and soon, if they hope to fulfill their promise as true contenders.

Related: Rangers to face Panthers at 2026 Winter Classic in Miami

3 things to watch for when Rangers host Devils

1. Arthur Kaliyev set for Rangers debut

With Filip Chytil sidelined by an upper-body injury, Arthur Kaliyev makes his Rangers debut Thursday. The 23-year-old will play on the third line, with Jonny Brodzinski replacing Chytil at center and Brett Berard on the other wing. He’s also slotted to receive second-unit power-play minutes, which makes sense since 17 of his 35 career goals were scored on the man advantage.

The former Los Angeles Kings forward, claimed off waivers on Monday, hasn’t played an NHL game yet this season after he broke his clavicle during training camp. He did have a five-game conditioning stint in the AHL, when he had one goal and one assist.

That means we could see a rusty player trying to find his footing in a new system with new teammates Thursday. But Kaliyev, who grew up in Staten Island, said he’s reenergized by the new opportunity in New York, could be itching to show his quick release and goal-scoring form in his debut, too.

2. ‘Marked man’ returns

Matt Rempe just completed an eight-game suspension for boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen. He’ll return against the Devils, against whom he has a checkered history already — one that includes a suspension last season for elbowing defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the head. In fact, Rempe hasn’t finished a single one of his three games played against the Devils; he was ejected in each.

But the towering Rangers forward acknowledged Wednesday that he’s a “marked man” now, and must learn from his two suspensions and play a less reckless style. The 22-year-old walks a fine line between intimidating physical play and out-of-control actions. He’s played 22 regular-season games in his NHL career (five this season) and been suspended for 12. Not a great ratio.

Anyway, Rempe should provide some much-welcomed juice to the lineup against the Devils, skating on the fourth line at MSG on Thursday.

3. Figure out Jacob Markstrom

Jacob Markstrom has allowed one goal on 51 shots in two starts against the Rangers this season. Not too shabby.

The 34-year-old made 38 saves in a 5-1 Devils win at MSG on Dec. 2, then barely broke a sweat stopping 12 shots in a 5-0 shutout at the Prudential Center on Dec. 23 — perhaps New York’s least competitive game of the season.

Markstrom is 10-2-1 in his past 13 starts overall and is tied for second in the NHL with 20 victories. His 2.17 goals-against average is third-best in the League. His career history against the Rangers isn’t too shabby either — 11-4-2, 2.20 GAA, .922 save percentage and two shutouts with the Devils, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere

Cuylle– Zibanejad – Smith

Kaliyev – Brodzinski – Berard

Edstrom – Carrick – Rempe

Lindgren – Fox

Miller – Borgen

Vaakanainen – Schneider

Shesterkin

Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils

When: Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG

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

A 2-1 home win against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on Thursday and a 6-2 road win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday have spirits at MSG looking up as the Rangers prepare for three tough opponents in a five-day stretch this week. The wins sandwiched a sloppy 7-4 road loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday that saw the Rangers struggle badly in their own zone.

The two wins came in dramatically different ways.

Jonathan Quick’s heroics (32 saves) were enough to make two early goals stand up against the Bruins, ending a four-game losing streak. The offense, which showed signs of waking up in Washington, had its biggest game in more than two months against the lowly Blackhawks, who are last in the overall NHL standings but had beaten the Rangers 2-1 at MSG on Dec. 9. Twelve of the 18 skaters who dressed had at least one point, and the Rangers actually glided to victory after scoring five straight goals in the first and second periods.

Two out of three is also the makeup of this week’s schedule.

The Rangers have home games on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars and Thursday against the New Jersey Devils before beginning a three-game Western swing with a visit to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Despite the two wins last week, New York is still 14th in the Eastern Conference and four points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, who hold the second wild card in the East. With eight teams separated by four points in the race for the last playoff spot, the Rangers need at least two out of three this week.

Related: Predicting Rangers quarter century team from 2000-2025

Who’s hot

Filip Chytil scored three goals in the two weekend games, including a beautiful breakaway tally in Washington on Saturday. He followed that with two goals on Sunday in Chicago, giving him 10 for the season. He has points in four straight games (four goals, one assist).

CORNER = PICKED. pic.twitter.com/TIzdXq4QM4

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 5, 2025

Louis Domingue has now played two games as a Ranger and won them both. The 32-year-old, who’s spent his career bouncing between the NHL and the AHL, made 25 saves Sunday in Chicago in his first NHL game this season after being recalled from Hartford when Igor Shesterkin went on the injured list with an upper-body injury. He won his only start (Nov. 9, 2023 against the Minnesota Wild) last season.

Who’s not

Alexis Lafreniere’s fast start is a distant memory. Lafreniere, who signed a mammoth seven-year contract in October, ended a stretch of eight games without a point with a secondary assist Sunday. But he’s gone 13 games without a goal since scoring against the Seattle Kraken, and his plus-minus total (minus-13) is worse than everyone else on the team except Mika Zibanejad (minus-19).

Rangers lookahead this week includes …

Two home games against tough opponents before beginning a nasty three-game Western trip against the team with the best points percentage in the NHL.

Related: 3 Rangers takeaways after dominating 6-2 win against last-place Blackhawks

Dallas Stars at Rangers (Jan. 7, 7 p.m. ET; MSG)

The Stars will be out for revenge when they arrive at the Garden for the start of a five-game road trip. The Rangers won four of their past five games against the Stars, including a 3-1 victory in Dallas on Dec. 20, when Shesterkin put on a show. He finished with 41 saves and stopped all 21 shots he faced during the Stars’ 17 minutes of power-play time.

Quick is likely to get the start against the Stars, a team he saw quite often during his time with the Los Angeles Kings. He is 18-12-5 lifetime against Dallas but has a solid 2.38 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. In contrast, Jake Oettinger, Dallas’ No. 1 goalie, has never beaten the Rangers. He is 0-2-1 in his career, including the loss in Dallas last month, with a 3.55 GAA and .878 save percentage in four career games against New York.

Artemi Panarin has just two goals in 22 career games against Dallas, his fewest against any team he’s faced at least 20 times.

New Jersey Devils at Rangers (Jan. 9, 7 p.m. MSG)

Speaking of revenge … the Rangers will be looking for some when the Devils come to town to complete a six-game road trip that has seen them lose the first four – including all three on a swing through California last week.

But they’ve had the Rangers’ number this season, winning both games against their cross-Hudson foes last month by a combined score of 10-1. The Devils embarrassed the Rangers 5-0 at Prudential Center on Dec. 23, three weeks after ripping them up in a 5-1 win at the Garden.

Devils center Jack Hughes has better career numbers against the Rangers than against any other team. In 22 games, he has 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists). That includes a pair of two-goal, one-assist performances in the two games this season. Jacob Markstrom got the win in each of the two games this season, improving his career numbers against New York to 11-4-2 with a 2.20 GAA and .922 save percentage.

Panarin has had good success in his career against the Devils, putting up 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) in 35 games.

Rangers at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m.; MSG)

The Rangers may have won the Presidents’ Trophy last season, but the Golden Knights blew them out twice in an eight-day span in mid-January, winning 5-1 in Las Vegas on Jan. 18, 2024, and 5-2 in New York eight days later. Overall, Vegas has won eight of its 12 games against the Rangers, going 4-2-0 each at T-Mobile Arena and MSG. The Rangers do have the only shutout by either team, a 5-0 win at Vegas on Dec. 8, 2019.

Quick was a member of the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup championship team, but he’s had little success against Vegas, 5-9-1 with a 4.00 GAA and .881 save percentage. Adin Hill, who carried the goaltending load when the Golden Knights won the Cup, has lost four of six career decisions against the Rangers despite a 2.49 GAA and .922 save percentage.

Chris Kreider has found the net with regularity against Vegas, scoring six goals in 11 games.

After that, from management to coaches and through the entire roster, the Rangers can get away, hopefully re-set mentally and return later in the week in a better place than where they are collectively right now.

A win Monday would be nice, for sure. But it wouldn’t cure all that ails the Rangers, who are 4-12-0 in their past 16 games after a 3-1 loss at home to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. Not even a goal 17 seconds into the game by Jimmy Vesey and the outstanding play of Igor Shesterkin in goal could get the Rangers over the hump nor propel them to a more complete 60-minute effort.

So, the Rangers (16-16-1) enter play against their Metropolitan Division and cross-river rivals tied for sixth in the division, one point ahead of the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets. They trail the Ottawa Senators by five points for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

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New York Rangers news

If you wish to take a look back, here are our three Rangers takeaways from the loss Sunday, including the powerless power play coming up empty again.

And if you want to look ahead, here are three things to watch for Monday, when the Rangers visit the Devils as they try to enter the break on a positive note.

In case you missed it, Matt Rempe was suspended eight games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for elbowing and boarding Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

How about Jack Roslovic twisting the knife a little deeper into the Rangers on Sunday? The 27-year-old forward did little after being acquired by the Rangers last season, but Roslovic now has 14 goals already with the Hurricanes, including the game-winner Sunday. Of course.

NHL news

Linus Ullmark sustained an upper-body injury Sunday for the Ottawa Senators. He left the game against the Edmonton Oilers after the first period and did not return. There was no update postgame. He had won seven straight starts prior to Sunday.

As for that game Sunday, the Senators had their six-game win streak end in a 3-1 loss to the Oilers. So a bit of good news from out of town for the Rangers.

It’ll be a special night for top-overall pick Macklin Celebrini, when the 18-year-old forward plays in his hometown Rogers Arena for the first time Monday. The San Jose Sharks rookie said it will be “surreal” when he suits up against the Vancouver Canucks.

Pierre-Luc Dubois had two assists against his former team, helping the Washington Capitals defeat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. Washington (23-8-2) moved into first place in the Metropolitan Division with the victory, one point up on the Devils and 15 ahead of the Rangers.

Watch Joel Kiviranta record his first regular-season NHL hat trick, to help lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-2 win against the Seattle Kraken.