If you remember that game at all, perhaps it’s because the Rangers flushed a 3-1 lead in the second period and lost for the seventh time in nine games, amid a spiral that largely torpedoed their playoff hopes last season.

What we didn’t know at the time was that assist was Kakko’s final point with the Rangers, who traded him to the Kraken for Borgen and a pair of draft picks just 10 days later.

On Monday, Kakko returned to MSG with the Kraken for the first time since the trade, unsure of what his emotions will be like when the puck drops later that evening.

“This is the first time something like that happens for me, so there’s no experience before, so we’ll see how it goes,” Kakko said after the morning skate. “It’s a lot of memories and it’s fun to play against these guys.”

It’s not his first game against the Rangers, though. After missing the first month of the 2025-26 season due to injury, Kakko debuted against them on Nov. 1 and had a quiet night, when the Rangers defeated the Kraken 3-2 in overtime out west at Climate Pledge Arena.

“It’s good to be back. First game back it’s going to be fun,” Kakko said. “A lot of good memories. It was a long time, six years, it’s good to be back. I played against these guys once already, but it’s a little different here.”

Kakko admitted that it was an up-and-down ride with the Rangers, who selected him No. 2 overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. He helped them reach the Eastern Conference Final twice, in 2022 and 2024, and win the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24. But Kakko also never had more than the 18 goals and 40 points he recorded in 2022-23. Nor did he grow out of the third-line role the Rangers kept him in.

But the 25-year-old forward sounded upbeat about his Rangers tenure Monday, despite the messy ending.

“I think there were some good times, and times that I wasn’t that good and the team was not playing that well. I mean six years is a long time, a lot of things can happen and that’s how it went,” he explained. “I liked my time here, good memories and a good situation looking back right now.”

Kaapo Kakko, Ryan Lindgren return first time to face Rangers at The Garden

In Seattle, Kakko plays on a top-six line with Matty Beniers and gets valuable time on the power play. He had 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games after the trade last season; and Kakko landed a three-year, $13.58 million contract with the Kraken this past offseason. He has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 27 games this season, twice sidelined by injury.

On the flip side of that trade 13 months ago, the Rangers landed steady second-pair defenseman with Borgen, and quickly signed him to a five-year, $20.5 million contract.

Overall, the Kraken (20-15-8) have more to feel good about this season. They own the first wild card in the Western Conference, and are 8-1-2 in their past 11 games. The Rangers (20-20-6) are tied for the worst points percentage (.500) in the Eastern Conference and come off an embarrassing 10-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

“We have to expect them to be a little pissed off,” Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren noted pregame.

Yes, that’s the very same Ryan Lindgren, who also makes his first visit to the Garden since the Rangers traded him to the Colorado Avalanche on March 1 last season. Lindgren played his first 387 NHL games with the Rangers, mostly on the top defense pair with good friend Adam Fox. The 27-year-old reunited with Kakko in Seattle when he signed a four-year, $18 million free-agent deal with the Kraken over the summer.

“This is where I played my first NHL game and became the player I am today. I can’t say enough great things about that organization over there. I absolutely loved my time there,” Lindgren said Monday. “We were fortunate to have a lot of success throughout the years. Obviously, never got to our end goal, winning the Cup, but a lot of good runs.”

Expect a pair of video tributes and plenty of emotion on both sides Monday night when Kakko and Lindgren return to MSG.

“Looking back, this is just one of the best places to play hockey,” Kakko concluded.

After their memorable 5-1 Winter Classic win over the Florida Panthers on Jan. 2, the Rangers (20-18-5) own the sixth-lowest team goals-against average in the NHL (2.72). That’s significant for many reasons, not the least of which is that the Rangers are also 31st in the League in scoring, averaging 2.60 goals per game.

There’s a new defensive system in place under coach Mike Sullivan. The team-wide buy-in to this structure is admirable — and key to their success on that side of the puck.

The forwards are certainly part of the improved defensive play. But here, we focus on the Rangers goalies and defensemen, and grade each midway through the season.

As a group, Rangers goalies receive an A- collective grade, best of all position groups on the team at this juncture of the season. The defensemen collectively receive a B-.

Keep in mind that the defensemen are graded on all aspects of their game — so, not just defense, but offense, as well.

Now, let’s hand out individual report cards for the Rangers goalie and defensemen.

Igor Shesterkin: A-

No goalie’s started more games, faced more shots, nor made more saves so far in the NHL this season than Igor Shesterkin. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in more than half of his starts (17 of 33), and rebounded quickly after a brief dip in performance in late October. His goals-against average and save percentage are considerably better this season than last, due in part to better defensive play in front of him. But he’s also more consistent game to game than a year ago. Shesterkin’s 14.8 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck, is third-best in the League — and just one metric to show how invaluable he is to the Rangers.

Jonathan Quick: A-

Don’t be fooled by his 3-6-1 won-loss record; Jonathan Quick is having a helluva season. In his seven losses, the Rangers scored nine goals total and were shut out twice. Quick remains one of the best backup goalies in the NHL, even as he approaches his 40th birthday later in January. Among goalies who started at least 10 games this season, Quick is second in the NHL with a 2.11 GAA and .924 save percentage. He didn’t allow more than three goals until his 10th — and most recent — start, a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on New Year’s Eve.

Adam Fox: B+

Though Adam Fox failed to land a spot on the United States roster for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, he remains the most important defenseman on the Rangers. There’s so much understated nuance to his game on both sides of the puck, such subtle elite play, that Fox often is underappreciated for how terrific a player he is. No one drives play for the Rangers like Fox, whose expected goal share is above 60 percent, per Natural Stat Trick. He’s averaging nearly 24 minutes TOI per game, and is pretty much at a point-per-game pace (28 points in 29 games). The Rangers missed him badly during his 14-game injury absence, especially his ability to effectively quarterback the power play.

Vladislav Gavrikov – B+

Vladislav Gavrikov is everything the Rangers hoped he’d be when they signed him to a seven-year, $49 million contract July 1 — and then some. The 30-year-old is the backbone of a vastly improved defense corps, with his smart, reliable, physical play. He and Fox complement each other well, and they comprise one of the best defense pairings in the League. The pleasant surprise here is Gavrikov’s offensive production. He already has a career-high seven goals, including the memorable overtime winner against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 2.

Matthew Robertson: B

Talk about pleasant surprises. Not many had Matthew Robertson being a lineup regular heading into this season; but the 24-year-old rookie is just that, averaging better than 16 minutes TOI per game. A late bloomer who played four seasons in the minors, Robertson largely is a bottom-pair staple these days, though he didn’t look out of place when given opportunity on the second pair. Robertson is physical — his 5.63 hits per 60 minutes are second among Rangers defensemen — and looks confident in the offensive game, with two goals, seven points and a heavy shot from the point.

Braden Schneider: B-

Braden Schneider is a difficult player to grade. On one hand, Schneider stepped up and filled in admirably on the top defense pair during Fox’s month-long injury absence. On the other, many of his metrics are worst among Rangers defensemen. The 24-year-old does lead the defense corps with 91 hits and 72 blocked shots, and he’s a solid penalty killer. Schneider doesn’t generate much offense, and he certainly didn’t take to the role as power-play quarterback. Gavrikov replaced him on the point of PP2. Overall, Schenider’s been good, just less than hoped for.

Will Borgen: B-

Will Borgen’s role with the Rangers isn’t sexy, but it’s crucial. Borgen is a physical, shutdown defender, tasked with consistently facing the opposition’s better forwards. He’s done an admirable job in that role — and at an affordable $4.1 million salary cap hit. The 29-year-old’s been a seamless fit on the second defense pair since the Rangers acquired him from the Seattle Kraken last season, though he’s likely a third-pair defenseman on a true Stanley Cup contender. That said, there’s plenty to like about what Borgen gives the Rangers game-in and game-out.

Carson Soucy: C+

Carson Soucy is Borgen’s regular partner on the second pair, and largely played above expectations after a decided downturn in his disappointing performance last season with the Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. The 31-year-old leads Rangers defenseman at plus-7 and has been on ice for 20 goals-for and 15 against at 5v5. Like Borgen, he’s a pretty steady veteran with a physical edge to his game. But unlike his partner, Soucy plays hot potato with the puck and loses his man a bit too often, which partially explains his 45.75 percent xGF percentage and why he’s been on for 116 high-danger chances against 5v5.

Scott Morrow: C–

Though coach Mike Sullivan praised Scott Morrow often with his words, how he deployed the rookie when Fox was out spoke volumes. Simply put, Sullivan doesn’t trust Morrow, an offensively-gifted defenseman whose defensive game still needs work. No sin there. The kid is 23 and still developing his overall game. But his season feels disappointing. Not just in the NHL, where he has three assists in 16 games with the Rangers, but with Hartford of the American Hockey League. The 2025 AHL All-Star, whom the Rangers acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade during the offseason, has five points (one goal, four assists) in 14 AHL games.

Urho Vaakanainen: D+

Listen, Urho Vaakanainen hasn’t been atrocious. But he is a disappointment. The Rangers thought the former first-round pick by the Boston Bruins was an improving NHL player with growing upside, and a nice fit on the third defense pair, which is where he started the regular season. It didn’t take long for the 27-year-old to lose Sullivan’s trust — and his regular spot to Matthew Robertson. No Rangers defenseman has less average ice time than Vaakanainen (a career-low 13:40), who spots in occasionally these days and played just 19 of New York’s first 43 games.

But in the end, what mattered most was Tomas Hertl’s game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation and Jack Eichel’s phenomenal game-winner in the dying seconds of overtime that handed the Rangers their second OT defeat this weekend. The Rangers lost 3-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday after Artemi Panarin tied the game in the final minute of the third period.

What angered the Rangers (15-12-4) most on Sunday was a curious call by referee Chris Lee at 18:02 of the third period. Lee sent New York’s Will Borgen and Vegas center Brett Howden off for coincidental roughing minors for what appeared to be an innocuous battle behind the play.

“There was nothing going on,” a frustrated Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said postgame.

That opened up the ice for the Golden Knights — when they pulled goalie Carter Hart for the extra attacker, they had a 5-on-4 advantage, as opposed to a 6-on-5.

“I think the coincidental minors had a huge implication, right? There’s a big difference between a 6-on-5 and a 5-on-4 and trying to defend it. It had a huge implication,” Sullivan explained.

Sullivan was livid behind the bench when the calls were made, and even more so when Hertl cashed in, burying a rebound with 51.3 seconds to play to tie the score.

the goal that evened the game 🤩 pic.twitter.com/kEbucturGP

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 8, 2025

The game-winning goal came off a set play, after Vegas won a defensive zone face-off, and defenseman Shea Theodore banked a long pass off the boards to a streaking Eichel, who flew past Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson. Eichel caught up to the puck, broke in on goalie Jonathan Quick and,beat him with a gorgeous finish, eight seconds before the buzzer would’ve sounded.

JACK EICHEL 😱

How about this set play at the end of @Energizer overtime!? pic.twitter.com/JWG2RwhvTM

— NHL (@NHL) December 8, 2025

Making his first start since Nov. 22 after sustaining a lower-body injury, Quick finished with 26 saves. Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere each scored a goal and had an assist for the Rangers, who have points in their past four games (2-0-2), and seven of eight (5-1-2).

Hart made 21 saves for the Golden Knights, who won their fourth straight game. Eichel and Howden each had a goal and an assist.

It didn’t take long for the Rangers to fall behind in this one — 36 seconds to be exact. A failed clearing attempt by Vladislav Gavrikov quickly turned into an odd-man chance down low for Vegas. And Howden, the former Rangers center, buried a slick feed from Mitchell Marner for his fifth goal of the season, and second in the past 14 games, to make it 1-0 Vegas.

From that shift on, the Golden Knights were the superior team in almost every way the in the first period. But the one thing they couldn’t do was add to their lead. Brandon Saad missed the net on a 3-on-2 rush; Quick snuffed a Hertl deflection after the Vegas forward got behind New York’s defense; and Howden and defenseman Kaedan Korczak each rang shots off the post.

After spending most of the first period defending, and managing only three shots on goal and 10 attempted shots, the Rangers came alive and tilted the ice in their favor in period No. 2. New York outshot Vegas 16-6, had an expected goals share of 78.57 percent in all situations, per Natural Stat Trick, and scored the only two goals in the middle stanza to carry a 2-1 lead into the final period.

Planted near the blue paint, Zibanejad swatted a rebound past Hart to tie the game at 9:08. His team-leading 11th goal of the season came seconds after Zibanejad just missed on a nearly-identical opportunity, when Hart managed to get a sliver of his pad on the shot attempt.

Mika Zibanejad ties the game at 1! pic.twitter.com/7G87XTX9yO

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 8, 2025

Lafreniere assisted on that Zibanejad goal, then had the favor returned at 13:01, when the Rangers took a 2-1 lead. Zibanejad feathered a pretty cross-ice pass to Lafreniere, who wired a shot under the crossbar from the right-wing circle for his seventh goal this season.

Alexis Lafreniere with an absolute SNIPE 😨

Puck might've came off the bar harder than it went in the net 🚨 pic.twitter.com/emv8odCtuj

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 8, 2025

Hart made a sensational diving save to rob J.T. Miller’s rebound try at 13:42, and later denied Will Cuylle’s spinning short-handed chance off a rush in the final seconds of the period to keep the score 2-1. A bit earlier, the Rangers caught a break at 15:15, when Korczak kissed iron for the second time in the game.

Conor Sheary had an opportunity to push New York’s lead to 3-1 at 7:38 of the third period, but Hart denied his breakaway with a sharp pad save. Quick answered back at 12:25, making his own big pad stop to deny Ivan Barbashev on a clean breakaway.

Vegas took it to New York in the third period, with a 14-3 shots advantage. So, perhaps the Golden Knights would’ve found a way to tie and win this game anyway. But you can’t convince the Rangers that the referee’s call late in the third period didn’t change how this final result played out.

“Give Vegas credit, they played hard in the third and I thought our guys did as well,” Sullivan said. “I thought we were defending the lead hard. For the most part, we were doing our best to defend the scoring area and the good area of the ice. We felt on the bench that we were in control the way we needed to be. It’s disappointing.”

Key takeaways after Rangers lose 3-2 in overtime to Golden Knights

Over and out

This was a pretty unique overtime period. The teams played 4-on-4 for over four minutes after Borgen and Howden finished serving their respective penalties and rejoined play two seconds into OT. Rules stipulate that in this type of circumstance, teams don’t go back to 3-on-3 play until the first whistle. And there wasn’t a single whistle in the cautiously played overtime period until Hart froze the puck after he made a really good save, hugging the post to squeeze a short-side snipe by Zibanejad, with 16.9 seconds remaining in the five-minute period.

So that opened up the ice again for the Golden Knights, who won the ensuing face-off (Howden), and Eichel beat everyone up ice for his 12th goal of the season.

There was a chance for a whistle earlier in OT, but neither referee used it when Robertson was tripped at center ice. Needless to say, that non-call made the Rangers even more furious.

“Like, really? Zero power plays (for the Rangers in the game) and you don’t call that? I don’t know,” Zibanejad said with disgust postgame. “Again, we can’t control it. It stings now. We could probably look at other things that we could’ve done better not to get to that point, but thought that one was pretty obvious.”

Quick return

Though he allowed a goal on the second shot faced, Quick looked sharp and battled hard Sunday. He missed seven games with that lower-body injury, but fell right back into form, and was especially sharp in the third period when the Golden Knights made a serious push.

The first goal he allowed was an odd-man chance down low. The tying goal late came off a scramble after he made the initial save. And the one in OT was a breakaway by one of the top offensive players in the NHL. Hard to fault Quick on any of them.

Quick’s started seven games this season and hasn’t allowed more than three goals yet. And as good as Igor Shesterkin was starting all seven games in his absence, it’s really good that Quick is back, giving the Rangers that terrific 1-2 punch between the pipes.

Tough numbers

The Rangers were so close to flipping the script on some ugly trends, but the numbers only got worse after this one. They remain winless in the second of back-to-back games this season (0-4-1), and their record when allowing the first goal dipped to 2-10-4. They’re also 2-6-3 when trailing after the first period.

And this was the first loss this season for the Rangers, after taking a lead into the third period (9-0-1). New York also dropped to 4-4 in overtime.

Mika’s got Hart’s number

Zibanejad continued his dominating ways against Hart. He now has 13 goals in 15 career games against Hart, all but one of those contests when the goalie played for the Philadelphia Flyers. Hart did get the last laugh in this one, however. He only had to make one save in overtime, but it was a difficult one on a quick release off the stick off Zibanejad on the shift before Eichel scored the game-winner.

New York’s 32-year-old forward did extend his point-scoring streak to seven games overall (four goals, five assists) with two more points Sunday. His 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 31 games is third on the Rangers this season.

The Rangers (15-12-2) now lead the NHL with 12 road wins and 25 road points this season. But they’re beginning to fire on all cylinders, no matter the locale. This win was their fifth in their past six games overall, and second in as many tries without the injured Adam Fox in the lineup, following a 3-2 overtime victory at home against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Shesterkin made 25 saves in his season-high sixth straight start. He surrendered only a pair of power-play goals, one of which deflected off a skate, and held the Senators at bay until Panarin finished them off with an empty-net goal for his milestone point.

Artemi Panarin with the empty net goal and gets his 900th career point! pic.twitter.com/R2gNTAKVUi

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 5, 2025

“Happy to get that, but glad we win tonight. Especially in a winning game, I have that number. So nice. But, to be honest, I [didn’t] know,” Panarin shared postgame.

Panarin also assisted on Mika Zibanejad’s game-opening goal. Defensemen Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Borgen scored New York’s other goals, and J.T. Miller had a season-high three assists.

Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson scored for the Senators, who’ve lost four of their past six games. Leevi Merilainen finished with 23 saves.

The Rangers scored on two of their first three shots to grab a quick 2-0 lead in the first period. Zibanejad got the visitors started on the right foot when he finished a pretty 2-on-1 feed from Miller just 3:19 into the game. It was his team-leading 10th goal of the season, and also his 10th in 20 games all-time against the team that selected him in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft.

Mika Zibanejad opens the scoring in Ottawa! pic.twitter.com/ElsugLnTq4

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 5, 2025

The Rangers doubled their lead at 9:45, when Gavrikov zipped a left-wing shot through a Brett Berard screen and over Merilainen’s glove for his third goal in the past four games. Noah Laba didn’t land on the score sheet, but he made this goal happen.

The rookie center first knocked Senators defenseman Dennis Gilbert off the puck at center ice, then gained entry into the offensive zone, before fending off Brady Tkachuk along the boards. From there quick passes from Miller and Braden Schneider set up Gavrikov’s sixth goal of the season, tying the 30-year-old defenseman’s single-season career high.

Vladislav Gavrikov snipe alert! 🎯

And how about the work here from Noah Laba! pic.twitter.com/uOLbJZ5SI0

— NHL (@NHL) December 5, 2025

In between those goals, the Senators had two prime chances to, at least, tie the score. But Shesterkin stoned Tkachuk on a breakaway, and then caught a break a few minutes later when Batherson wired a shot off the post.

There was more good luck for the Rangers goalie on the shift after Gavrikov made it 2-0. This time Ottawa forward David Perron was left frustrated when his shot clanked off iron at 10:10.

The Senators did find the back of the net before the first period ended, though. Cozens beat Shesterkin glove side for a power-play goal at 18:30, with Will Cuylle sitting in the penalty box.

The Rangers responded by dominating the second period, and increasing their lead to 3-1. They out-shot the Senators 12-7 and held a decisive 63.61 percent expected goal share, per Natural Stat Trick.

They also got a rare goal from Borgen, just his second of the season, at 7:24. It came after the Senators were pinned in their own end for nearly two minutes and couldn’t get a full change of players. The Rangers did get fresh players on the ice, and capitalized when Borgen sent a shot through Taylor Raddysh’s screen in front to make it 3-1, following a pretty swing pass from his defense partner Carson Soucy.

Aided by a pair of power plays, Ottawa picked up the pace in the third period, and did pull within one at 13:08. Tkachuk flung the puck toward the net, where it hit Batherson’s skate and deflected over the goal line to make it 3-2.

Shesterkin, though, shut the door and Panarin iced New York’s latest impressive road effort and victory. That sets the Rangers up for fascinating weekend back-to-back at home against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday and Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.

Key takeaways after Rangers skate to 4-2 road win over Senators

Milestone night for the Breadman

Panarin reached 900 NHL points in 781 games, the sixth fastest to do so among undrafted players since 1963-64. The five players ahead of him, led by Wayne Gretzky, are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. That’s pretty legit company for the Breadman to keep.

Artemi Panarin factored on two of four @NYRangers goals and reached 900 career points!#NHLStats: https://t.co/X6JJO0GQlA pic.twitter.com/UTtYIT8o1y

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) December 5, 2025

The 34-year-old winger has 311 goals and 589 assists in that span. More importantly for the here and now, Panarin is rolling after a slow start this season. He leads the Rangers with 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 29 games, with 10 of those points (three goals, seven assists) notched in his past five contests. He has eight multi-point games this season, including three four-point outings.

Remember, he had just two assists in the first six games this season. That seems like forever ago.

Also remember that Panarin is scheduled to be the biggest name on the UFA market next summer. Despite his age, he’s going to get paid. By the Rangers or someone else.

Igor is dialed in

With Jonathan Quick sidelined by a lower-body injury the past two weeks, the Rangers are riding Shesterkin between the pipes. And that decision by coach Mike Sullivan is paying off handsomely. Shesterkin is 5-1-0 and allowed 13 goals starting all six games since Quick got hurt. No matter the situation, Shesterkin is the unquestioned No. 1 goalie for the Rangers. But he’s really living up to that billing now with the heavier workload.

Shesterkin was dialed in again Thursday, making a slew of clutch saves, including that breakaway stop against Tkachuk early in the game and another against Tim Stutzle in the third period, when Tkachuk sprung his teammate in alone with a perfect pass.

With the Rangers’ lead cut to 3-2, Shesterkin calmly made big-time saves against Perron and Stutzle down the stretch before Panarin restored the two-goal lead.

Perhaps his best save, though, was late in the second period, when Cuylle’s blind backhand pass into the slot landed on Tkachuk’s stick. The Ottawa captain wasted little time firing a hard shot on net; but Shesterkin was in perfect position to stone Tkachuk, yet again.

The new Kid Line

You know which line really was good and effective Thursday, even if none of its members recorded a point? The Kid Line. No, not that one. Two-thirds of that Kid Line, except for Alexis Lafreniere, are long gone.

No, this is the new Kid Line, centered by Laba, with Cuylle and Berard on the wings. They played a super-energized, simple, north-south style again Thursday, and were major contributors to this victory. Laba made that Gavrikov goal happen. It didn’t hurt that Berard set the screen, either.

Laba was a force all over the ice against the Senators, making the most of his 13:48 TOI. He applied consistent puck pressure and won numerous puck battles. He was credited with four hits and won seven of nine face-offs. Sullivan took notice.

“I thought ‘Labs’ was physical all night,” the coach said. “He brings a speed element with his size and his strength. When he brings some physicality to his game, I think he’s a lot more effective … I thought this was one of his more physical games that he’s had in a while.”

Speaking of physical play, Cuylle led the Rangers with seven hits and three blocked shots. And Berard brought his typical firebrand of energy to the proceedings. This version of the Kid Line is quickly turning into a trusted and impactful third option for the Rangers.

The Blueshirts, of course, are seeking sustainability in that area, not just a shorter run of games in which they defend well. Sullivan’s system — and his mandate that his team suppress shots and scoring chances — seem to be making that a reality, but two specific factors are giving the Rangers the chance to maintain this transformation: Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Borgen.

Each is a positionally sound, unflashy defenseman who’s played a major role in stabilizing the Blueshirts’ play in their own zone in front of Igor Shesterkin. Gavrikov, the club’s big free-agent addition in the offseason, is solid as advertised; Borgen, despite recent injury problems, raised the level of his play in his first full season with the Rangers.

The results are unmistakable.

Vladislav Gavrikov everything Rangers hoped for – and more

Gavrikov has so far been the rare big-ticket free-agent signing who provided exactly what his team needs from him. The Rangers were desperate for a top-pair partner to play with Adam Fox, someone who allows the 2021 Norris Trophy winner to focus on regaining his elite play-driving ability. Without a solid partner, Fox suffered through something of a down season in 2024-25.

The Rangers targeted Gavrikov, whose affection for them was mutual. On July 1, he inked a seven-year, $49 million contract — likely less than he could have gotten from other teams — and the 6-foot-3, 210-pound veteran of seven NHL seasons continues to be the offense-disrupting, scoring chance-suppressing force he was with the Los Angeles Kings.

Gavrikov has a 56.4 percent expected goal share. playing all 27 games this season, with the Rangers out-chancing opponents 246-190 with him on the ice at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick.

He didn’t finish with an expected goal share below 54 percent in his three seasons with the Kings — and is proving that those results weren’t a product of the L.A.’s stingy defensive system, instead showing that he was an important reason for their prowess in shutting down opponents.

Los Angeles remains an outstanding defensive team this season; it it fourth in the NHL with 2.60 goals allowed per game. That number is up slightly from last season’s average of 2.48 goals allowed per game, which was second in the League. But the Rangers are allowing just 2.63 goals per contest, sixth in the NHL, after giving up 3.11 goals per game (19th) in 2024-25.

Most important is that Gavrikov is the exact complement to Fox the Rangers sought. The duo carries a 59.9 percent expected goal share, and Fox boasts a gaudy 67.3 percent mark when paired with Gavrikov at 5 on 5.

Gavrikov also contributes offensively. He had a goal and an assist in the Rangers’ 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Nov. 22, then added two primary assists in the third period of the Blueshirts’ 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues two days later. Gavrikov also scored to help the Rangers defeat the Boston Bruins 6-2 on Friday, and has four goals and seven assists on the season. The offense probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering he totaled 53 points over the previous two seasons.

GAVI TIPS AND SCORES 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NQfyPwCyyG

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 28, 2025

Gavrikov’s importance to the Rangers is about to become even greater. The Rangers placed Fox on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury – believed to be a left shoulder issue – sustained in a 4-1 home loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The LTIR designation forces Fox, who’s recorded 26 points in 27 games, to miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days — and it’s a major blow to a team already struggling to put the puck in the net.

The Blueshirts need Gavrikov to be the steadying influence for whomever he partners with while Fox, who is expected to be re-evaluated around Christmas, is on the shelf. That will probably be Braden Schneider, who has yet to make a big leap in his fifth NHL season.

Will Borgen raising his game in 1st full season with Rangers

Borgen’s arrival predated Gavrikov’s, as he came to the Rangers last December from the Seattle Kraken in the Kaapo Kakko trade. Borgen immediately helped settle down now-former Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller, and brought a badly-needed physical presence and high battle level to the defense corps.

The Rangers signed him to a five-year, $20.5 million extension in late January, and Borgen is making that deal look like a shrewd investment. He’s posted a career-best 51.5 expected goal share in 20 games this season, with the Rangers out-chancing opponents 143-129 and 68-46 in the high-danger category.

Borgen missed seven of eight games with an upper-body issue before returning against the Lightning. That didn’t go well, with the Rangers getting out-chanced 17-8 with him on at 5-on-5, but the Blueshirts were dominated by Tampa Bay throughout.

The Rangers need the healthy version of Borgen back, especially considering that he’s been mostly paired with Carson Soucy. The veteran tends to be an adventure with the puck, and it’s Borgen who stabilized the partnership. Borgen’s expected goal share without Soucy is 57.3 percent, and Soucy’s without Borgen is 44.7 percent.

The impacts of Gavrikov and Borgen become more pronounced when considering the state of the rest of the defense. Along with Soucy’s play, the other two spots on the blue line haven’t evoked confidence. Schneider has a 44.0 percent expected goal share, largely in line with his career numbers as he’s so far failed to live up to his billing as a 2020 first-round draft pick.

Urho Vaakanainen has a 46.7 percent expected goal share and been in and out of the lineup. Matthew Robertson has shown flashes but often looks like the rookie that he is. Robertson, whose struggles are magnified of late, posted a 44.3 percent expected goal share in 18 games.

Despite those trouble spots, a system better-suited to their personnel and a team-wide commitment to defense under a new coach certainly have plenty to do with the reduction on goals allowed.

But a much sturdier blue line must be considered as big a factor as any in the defensive improvement. The Rangers can thank their two top-four pillars of the defense corps, Gavrikov on the left and Borgen on the right, for doing so much of the heavy lifting.

Don’t let the final score fool you. Igor Shesterkin gave the undeserving Rangers every chance to stay in this one, even though they were outshot 35-13 in a game that was almost exclusively played in their end of the ice.

With the score 3-1 and still within reach, the Rangers didn’t record their first shot on goal in the third period until more than 13 minutes elapsed. Even with a power-play opportunity, and later when they pulled Shesterkin for an extra attacker, the Rangers managed only four shots on goal in the final period.

It simply was a terrible effort and loss for the Rangers (13-12-2), whose three-game winning streak ended one day after they hammered the Boston Bruins 6-2 on the road. But back at MSG, the Rangers dropped to a League-worst 2-8-1 on home ice.

Nikita Kucherov extended his point streak to nine games with three assists for the Lightning (16-7-2), who won their seventh straight game. Brandon Hagel scored twice and has a team-high 15 goals, including eight in a five-game goal scoring streak.

Nick Paul and Jake Guentzel also scored for Tampa Bay. Goalie Jonas Johansson could’ve taken an afternoon siesta at The Garden, called upon to stop 12 of 13 shots, and never facing more than seven in any one period.

Shesterkin started on back-to-back days for the first time this season and was New York’s best player by far, finishing with 31 saves.

Though they were nearly run out of their own building in the first period, the Rangers trailed just 1-0 after 20 minutes, due to equal parts good fortune and Shesterkin’s brilliant play. The Lightning owned the puck and lived in the Rangers’ end of the ice in the opening period, yet managed only Hagel’s goal at 10:53, when his shot hit Carson Soucy’s skate and caromed into the net.

Brandon Hagel gets things started for the @TBLightning on #NHLNShowcase Saturday! pic.twitter.com/SsuOwvmo1w

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) November 29, 2025

The Lightning outshot the Rangers 11-2 and had an 89.71 percent expected goals share after one period, per Natural Stat Trick. They just missed on a pair of prime scoring opportunities that didn’t require Shesterkin to make a save either time; Guentzel missed the net on a breakaway and Zemgus Girgensons hit the post later on.

In the second period, the Rangers leveled the playing field some, though they were still outshot 16-7. Hagel made it 2-0 at 8:57 when he patiently collected his own rebound after Shesterkin stoned him on a breakaway, took a step back and flipped it over the prone goaltender for his second goal of the game.

Shesterkin, though, remained the biggest difference maker on the ice, and kept the Rangers in this one. He made a sharp pad save on Hagel’s backhand chance from out front at 16:20, not only denying the Lightning forward a hat trick, but keeping New York’s deficit at a manageable two goals.

The Rangers almost immediately rewarded their goalie when Adam Fox zipped a pass from right wing into the blue paint, where the puck struck the skate of J.T. Miller and went over the goal line at 17:31 to make it 2-1.

J.T. Miller gives the Rangers some life 🗽 pic.twitter.com/J1ZJxRqmmB

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) November 29, 2025

Less than a minute later, Shesterkin made a flashy glove save on J.J. Moser’s rising blast off the rush from the left-wing circle. Shesterkin did take an interference penalty against Hagel at 19:41, but made up for his miscue with several more sharp saves bridging the end of the second period and beginning of the third to keep it a one-goal game.

That good fortune didn’t last long, though. A slick Kucherov feed into the low slot was redirected home by Paul shortly after the power play ended to restore Tampa Bay’s two-goal lead, making it 3-1 at 2:02.

The Rangers showed very little pushback until they received a power play at 11:56. But even then they struggled getting pucks through to Johansson, despite better zone time. Guentzel put the game away, scoring his 14th goal into an empty net with 17.4 seconds left to play.

Key takeaways after Rangers’ embarrassing 4-1 loss to Lightning

Adam Fox injury casts dark shadow over Rangers

Fox sustained an upper-body injury in the third period on a clean shoulder-to-shoulder check by Hagel, and didn’t finish the game. Afterward, coach Mike Sullivan only stated that Fox is being evaluated by medical personnel.

Looked like Adam Fox’s left arm gets crunched by Hagel.

He’s still in the #NYR locker room. pic.twitter.com/jvaQLfA69S

— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 29, 2025

Outside of Shesterkin, it’s difficult to think of a more indispensable player on the Rangers than Fox. The 2021 Norris Trophy winner drives their offense — just watch his patience and precision setting up Miller’s goal Saturday. He leads all NHL defensemen with 23 assists and is second with 26 points. He and Vladislav Gavrikov make up one the top defense pairs in the entire NHL, relied on for heavy minutes and consistently excellent xGF numbers.

Fox is also New York’s unquestioned power-play quarterback — so much so that when the Rangers had that third-period power play, Sullivan deployed five forwards — Miller, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, and Will Cuylle — since Fox was back in the dressing room. Should Fox miss some time moving forward, expect rookie defenseman Scott Morrow, a solid puck mover, and healthy scratch Saturday, to draw back into the lineup and join PP1 in his place.

Will Borgen’s back

It would be ironic if Fox misses some games after the Rangers’ defense corps finally was complete Saturday. Will Borgen returned to the lineup after he missed the previous five games, and seven of eight, with an upper-body injury.

Borgen was back in his role on the second pair alongside Soucy, logged 19:50 TOI, and led the Rangers with six hits. He also was on ice for Tampa Bay’s first two goals, including the second one by Hagel when Borgen was a step behind on the breakaway.

Brandon Hagel doubles down on the breakaway ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/1SxmHDJ1Yl

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 29, 2025

Soucy missed a shift or two after he blocked a shot midway through the third period. The veteran defenseman remained on all fours before pushing himself up and blocking two more shots with the Lightning pressing their advantage in the offensive zone. Soucy returned to play a 56-second shift late in the game before the Rangers pulled Shesterkin for an extra attacker.

No excuses for Rangers

Losing to the red-hot Lightning is nothing to be embarrassed about. But what must gall Sullivan — not to mention the fans who paid good money to watch this tilt — is the utter lack of compete level displayed by the home team. This loss looked eerily similar to many that dotted the Rangers ledger a year ago, when their effort was often called into question.

Effort hasn’t been an issue this season. But it sure was Saturday.

“We did it to ourselves,” Miller said postgame. “There was no urgency today. We dipped our toe into the game and got outplayed most of the time. It’s unacceptable.”

Keep in mind that the Lightning were without four key regulars because of injury — defensemen Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak, and forward Brayden Point. In addition, Tampa Bay started its backup goalie, Johansson, who allowed fewer than three goals once in six previous starts this season. Consider this a major missed opportunity for the Rangers.

Home-ice disadvantage

Saturday began a stretch for the Rangers in which they play seven of nine games at home. In any other season, it’d be normal for this to be good news for the Rangers, especially considering how great they’ve fared on the road (11-4-1). Instead, the spate of games at MSG could drag the Rangers down, instead of raise them up.

Their eight regulation losses at home are most in the League. The Rangers scored three goals in those eight games; they were shut out five times and held to a single goal three times. They also mixed in that wild 6-5 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 23 — a game that proved they’re capable of scoring plenty and losing anyway at MSG.

Next up are the Dallas Stars on Tuesday at The Garden. Not only are they a perennial Stanley Cup contender, one that’s playing excellent hockey again this season, but the Stars are 9-1-3 on the road. After that on the Rangers’ home schedule is the 1-2 punch of the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights next weekend.

So, yes, things could get worse before they get better at home for the Rangers.

Even with the heavy criticism sent his way during New York’s dumpster fire of a 2024-25 season, as well as the fact that clearly general manager Chris Drury didn’t have the appetite to invest in him long term, Miller appears quite happy with how things turned out.

The Rangers moved Miller to their division rival, who then signed him to a lucrative eight-year, $60 million contract. New York received defenseman Scott Morrow and two draft picks — a conditional first-round selection in 2026 and a second-rounder next year.

“Obviously, I knew what the summer might entail. I hadn’t gone through that before, and obviously, it was not unexpected. It was a little shocking to go through that experience,” Miller explained to the media after the morning skate. “But I’m thriving now. I’m loving life. It’s been amazing coming down here to Carolina and [I] came to start a new career here, so it’s been fun.”

K’Andre Miller on the ice this morning ahead of his first game against #NYR pic.twitter.com/4fqMfZ796h

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) November 26, 2025

Miller’s averaging a career-high 22:52 TOI over 16 games with the Hurricanes, who host the Rangers for a Thanksgiving Eve clash at Lenovo Center. He was expected to fill a second-pair role but spent much of his 5v5 time on the top defense pair because Jaccob Slavin is on IR and only played two games so far.

The 2018 first-round pick (No. 22 overall) by the Rangers scored two goals in his Hurricanes debut Oct. 9 against the New Jersey Devils. He’s added eight assists since for a total of 10 points.

Miller missed six games with an injury from Oct. 23 – Nov. 4. The final game he missed in that stretch was against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, which would’ve been a homecoming for him.

Nonetheless, coach Rod Brind’Amour is pleased with all that Miller’s done to help the Hurricanes (14-6-2) sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 30 points.

“He’s been great. It’s been everything we had hoped for,” Brind’Amour told reporters pregame. “You kind of know the player from coaching against him, but you don’t know what his impact can be. When he’s on, it’s an elite player there. He’s been a little nicked up this year, unfortunately, so we’ve missed him a little bit. But when he’s been going, feeling good, he’s been really effective.”

Rangers recall Connor Mackey from AHL Hartford

Connor Mackey — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

In a sign that Will Borgen may not be ready to be activated off IR, the Rangers recalled defenseman Connor Mackey from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Wednesday afternoon.

Borgen missed five of the past six games with an upper-body injury. He participated in New York’s morning skate in Raleigh, wearing a regular jersey, after he wore a no-contact sweater at practice the day before.

With Borgen on injured reserve, the Rangers had six defensemen on the active roster. The Rangers played without an extra defenseman on the roster Monday, when they defeated the St. Louis Blues at home 3-2. But being on the road, it appears the Rangers wanted a seventh defenseman as a precaution in case Borgen isn’t healthy enough to go.

After the game in Raleigh, the Rangers head to Boston for a matinee against the Bruins on Black Friday.

Mackey has 42 games of NHL experience, including three games with the Rangers the previous two seasons. The 29-year-old has three assists and nine penalty minutes in 15 games with Hartford this season.

To make room on the active roster, the Rangers assigned rookie defenseman Scott Morrow to Hartford and placed defenseman Will Borgen on injured reserve. That leaves the Rangers with 14 forwards, six defensemen, and three goalies on the current 23-man roster.

UPDATE: #NYR has recalled G Dylan Garand and F Brett Berard from AHL Hartford. #NYR has assigned D Scott Morrow to AHL Hartford. pic.twitter.com/BQIC48Lvrd

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) November 23, 2025

The additions of Berard and Garand are injury related since J.T. Miller is day to day with an upper-body injury, and Jonathan Quick was banged up late in New York’s 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Saturday and is being evaluated for a lower-body injury.

Miller and Quick are out Monday when the Rangers host the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden. Garand will back up Igor Shesterkin.

Quick made 31 saves and was terrific again Saturday, but appeared to favor his right leg after Utah forward Michael Carcone crashed into him, following a hit by backchecking Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson. The 39-year-old finished the game, but now there’s concern about his status moving forward.

Oof that was a rough collision for Quick. Ouch. pic.twitter.com/TwdvtMQZPS

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) November 23, 2025

Miller was hurt in New York’s 6-3 loss Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche after an accidental collision during a penalty kill. The Rangers captain was shaken up, but remained in the game and scored his second power-play goal of the night later in the third period. He’ll miss his second straight game Monday.

Borgen’s missed the past two games, and four of the past five, with an upper-body injury.

In addition, center Vincent Trocheck is banged up and a game-time decision for the contest against the Blues.

Rangers plans following recalls of Brett Berard, Dylan Garand from Hartford amid injury concerns

Where Garand is in New York amid concern over Quick’s health status, Berard may have been called up to spark the Rangers lineup. Even if Miller had been able to play Monday, Berard could add juice in the bottom six, as he often did playing 35 games with the Rangers last season, when he scored six goals and totaled 10 points. His boundless energy, speed, and fearless play style are attributes the Rangers, losers of four straight, can use right now.

With Miller out again, the Rangers could simply run it back with Jonny Brodzinski in the top six and Juuso Parssinen in the bottom six. But considering how the Rangers looked slow and not as hungry against the Mammoth, it makes all the sense to play Berard now that he’s called up.

BRETT BERARD NETS HIS FIRST OF THE SEASON TO TIE IT UP🚨 pic.twitter.com/UPIXS2FzDc

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) November 18, 2025

The 23-year-old forward started slowly in the AHL this season, perhaps disappointed he failed to crack New York’s opening-night roster. Berard, who led Hartford with 25 goals in 2023-24, went 14 games without scoring one to start this season, and was pointless in his first five games. But he scored two goals in his past three games, and is tied for the Hartford lead with seven assists this season, and ranks fourth with nine points in 14 games.

“My first few games, I don’t think I was at my best, getting sent down late (final cuts of training camp) … the last few weeks, I feel like I’ve started to find my game and my stride,” Berard said this past week.

In addition, Berard likely feels he’s got something to prove since fellow forward prospects Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault each was recalled from Hartford before he was this season.

Garand, an AHL All-Star last season when he won 20 games, allowed three goals in the third period Saturday, when Hartford let a 2-0 lead slip away in a 3-2 loss to Lehigh Valley. The 23-year-old is 3-6-2 in 11 starts, with a 2.96 goals-against average and .897 save percentage. He’s backed up Shesterkin before but hasn’t appeared in an NHL game yet.

Should Garand be required to be in New York for a stretch of games, Hartford has two options to replace him between the pipes. Callum Tung looked sharp winning two starts this past week after the 22-year-old moved up from Bloomington of the ECHL. And the Rangers signed veteran Spencer Martin recently, after he played earlier this season with the KHL in Russia.

Morrow was scoreless and averaged 13:11 TOI, playing three games with the Rangers after Borgen first sustained his injury. The 23-year-old has two points (one goal, one assist) in 11 games with Hartford.

At 9-1-1, the Rangers have the best road record in the League, and their 19 points are one behind the Los Angeles Kings (9-2-2) for most in the NHL. Yet, it’s some tough sledding ahead, facing perennial powerhouse Vegas, then two nights later skating against the Colorado Avalanche, who have the best overall record in the League and only one regulation loss so far (13-1-5). The trip concludes with a tilt against the up and coming Utah Mammoth on Saturday, and they’re no pushover either.

The Rangers (10-8-2) will take this challenge, though, considering how much better they play away from Madison Square Garden. New York is 1-7-1 on home ice after a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, when the Rangers were outplayed and badly outshot 42-19.

Their current six-game road wining streak is fourth-best in franchise history and longest since 2019-20, when the Rangers won nine straight on the road. With that comes plenty of confidence and swagger, which won’t hurt playing in a tough building Tuesday night.

Perhaps the Rangers arrive in Las Vegas at a good time. The Golden Knights (8-4-6) are banged up and struggling to win games after racing to a 5-0-2 start this season. Since Oct. 25, however, the Golden Knights have lost 8 of 11 games (3-4-4) and won once in their past six (1-2-3).

They’ve also lost four straight (0-2-2) at home, including 3-2 to in overtime to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, when Kirill Kaprizov bagged the game-winner.

Vegas is without injured forwards Mark Stone and William Karlsson, and No. 1 goalie Adin Hill. But they remain dangerous with Jack Eichel (24 points in 18 games) and Mitch Marner (20 points in 18 games) pacing their offense. Pavel Dorofeyev leads them with 11 goals, three shy of the League lead, after scoring on the power play against the Wild.

3 storylines when Rangers visit Golden Knights

1. Sully’s back

Though he didn’t travel with the team Monday, coach Mike Sullivan flew out on his own and rejoined the Rangers at the morning skate. He missed the game Sunday, dealing with a “family circumstance,” in his words.

“I’d rather not get into the details of it, but I appreciate everybody’s support,” Sullivan told reporters after the skate. “I’m grateful to Mr. Dolan and [Chris Drury] for their understanding. Obviously, family means everything to all of us. I appreciate everybody’s support through a little bit of a trying circumstance.”

2. Will Borgen game-time decision

Sullivan said that Will Borgen is a game-time decision against the Golden Knights. The 28-year-old defenseman missed the past two games with an upper-body injury, but skated on a pair with Urho Vaakanainen on Tuesday morning.

Rookie Scott Morrow made his Rangers debut against the Red Wings, and partnered with Matthew Robertson on the third defense pair. They skated together again Tuesday, and Morrow quarterbacked the second power-play unit. Not to read tea leaves or anything, but it feels like Morrow will play Tuesday.

“I’m feeling confident,” Morrow told the media after the morning skate. “Obviously, I haven’t gotten any bounces in terms of points, but I think I’ve been playing a really solid game [in the minors and NHL]. I think the bounces will come over the course of the season, wherever I am, so just staying with it. I feel a lot more ready for the NHL than I have, you know, at any point last year.”

3. Watch Mika

The Rangers scored two goals in their past two games, not counting J.T. Miller’s shootout winner in Columbus on Saturday. Mika Zibanejad scored each of those goals and leads the Rangers with seven this season, including a team-high four on the power play.

Of course, he’s also a team-worst minus-9 this season. So, there’s that.

But he’s got a four-game point streak coming into this one, three goals in four games, and always delivers against the Golden Knights. He’s got 10 goals and 19 points in 14 games against them.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Will Cuylle — Mika Zibanejad — J.T. Miller

Artemi Panarin — Vincent Trocheck — Alexis Lafreniere

Conor Sheary — Noah Laba — Jonny Brodzinski

Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Taylor Raddysh

Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox

Carson Soucy — Braden Schneider

Matthew Robertson — Scott Morrow

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Vegas Golden Knights

When: Tuesday Nov. 18 at 10 p.m. ET

Where: T-Mobile Arena

How to watch: MSG

Neither team has fared very well against division rivals this season. The Rangers have lost four of five (1-4-0) against Metro teams, with the only win a 6-1 thrashing of the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Oct. 11. An opening-night loss to the Penguins, and subsequent defeats at the hands of the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders followed that lone division win.

The Rangers were 12-13-1 against division opponents last season, but they took three of four from the Blue Jackets. It’s important they get back on track against Metro foes this season if they wish to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing in 2024-25. By the looks of things, the division — and the entire Eastern Conference — is going to be a dogfight, making head-to-head games against Metropolitan Division opponents crucial.

The Blue Jackets are 1-3-0 within the division this season. They lost to the New Jersey Devils and Capitals before a road win against the Penguins on Oct. 25. Columbus lost on Long Island the following week.

The Rangers and Blue Jackets fare well against Atlantic Division opponents. As such, the Rangers are 5-4-1 in the Eastern Conference and the Blue Jackets are 4-3-0.

In a broad view, the Rangers (9-7-2) feel good about things. They scored 13 goals in consecutive victories this week and come off a 7-3 road win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. New York is a point out of a wild card and owns the best road record (8-1-1) in the NHL.

Part of that road success stems from the Rangers leading the League with a plus-16 goal differential away from Madison Square Garden, allowing an NHL-low 2.00 goals per game on the road.

The Blue Jackets (9-7-1) are streaky so far this season. They’ve won two straight after a four-game slide (0-3-1) that followed a four-game winning streak. Though no longer the surprise they were a year ago, the Blue Jackets still have the feel of being an upstart team in the East.

Whoever loses Saturday must sit on that defeat for nearly four months, since the Rangers and Blue Jackets don’t play again until March 2 at MSG.

3 storylines when Rangers visit Blue Jackets

1. Will Borgen status

Will Borgen took part in the morning skate, and Coach Mike Sullivan anticipates that the 28-year-old defenseman will play against the Blue Jackets. Borgen missed practice and was listed as day to day with an upper-body injury Friday. He’s played 285 consecutive games, including 84 for the Rangers and Seattle Kraken last season.

It’s not known what’s bothering Borgen or when he might’ve been hurt. He logged 19:47 TOI against the Lightning and scored his first goal since last March in the win.

Will Borgen with the Rangers’ fourth goal of the first period pic.twitter.com/EWRuPvyLO1

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 13, 2025

If Borgen doesn’t play Saturday, expect Braden Schneider to move up into the second pair alongside Carson Soucy, and Matthew Robertson to draw in on the third pair with Urho Vaakanainen.

Sullivan did confirm that Igor Shesterkin starts in goal against the Blue Jackets. That means Jonathan Quick likely gets the call for the second time this season against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, after a 4-1 road win last week.

2. Like he’s never been gone

Talk about seamless transitions. Vincent Trocheck has two multiple-point games (two goals, two assists) since returning to New York’s lineup after the veteran center missed 14 straight with an upper-body injury. He had two assists and sparked linemates Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin during a 6-3 home-ice win over the Nashville Predators on Monday. Trocheck followed that with his first two goals of the season Wednesday in Tampa Bay.

The 32-year-old is also getting underneath opponents’ skin — giving and taking bumps, chirping, winning big face-offs and playing a key role on the PK. Not surprisingly, the Rangers won each of his first two games back — and perhaps it’s a coincidence they’ve broken out offensively with 13 goals in the past two games. Or maybe it’s not such a coincidence.

Keep an eye on Trocheck against the Blue Jackets. He’s got 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists ) in 36 games against them.

3. Kirill the Thrill, Part 2

Earlier this season, the Rangers did a good job shutting down Kirill Kaprizov. Despite losing 3-1 to the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 20, the Rangers held the superstar forward in check throughout before Kaprizov scored an empty-net goal.

Saturday, they face a similar challenge against Kirill the Thrill, Part 2.

Kirill Marchenko not only leads the Blue Jackets in goals (8), assists (11), and points (19), the 25-year-old forward brings a career-high 10-game point streak (three goals, nine assists) into the game. He scored 31 goals last season and has 21 or more each of the past three seasons. In 10 games against the Rangers, Marchenko has two goals and five points. Shutting him down is key for the Rangers on Saturday.

New York Rangers projected lineup

J.T. Miller — Mika Zibanejad — Gabe Perreault

Artemi Panarin — Vincent Trocheck — Alexis Lafreniere

Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Conor Sheary

Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Taylor Raddysh

Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Urho Vaakanainen — Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

When: Saturday Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Nationwide Arena

How to watch: MSG