Last night, the New York Rangers faced off against the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden in what felt like a must-win game. With the season winding down, the Rangers entered the contest four points out of a playoff spot, facing a struggling Predators team just two days after a mental collapse led to a tight 3-2 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers responded with a dominant 4-0 victory, just one day after trading Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche for Juuso Pärssinen, Calvin de Haan, and two draft picks. The win moves the Rangers within two points of the Detroit Red Wings for a wild card spot and, after another New Jersey Devils loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, quietly brings them within eight points of the Devils with two games in hand.
Game Recap
The Rangers started the game hot, and quickly earned a power play when Braden Schneider was hooked by Cole Smith. However, they couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage despite generating good looks at the net. Soon after, Matt Rempe was sent to the penalty box for elbowing, but the penalty was negated when Andreas Englund received an instigator penalty for fighting Rempe.
Eight minutes into the period, de Haan connected with Alexis Lafrenière on a short breakout pass, and Lafrenière found Artemi Panarin streaking into the offensive zone for a breakaway. Panarin ripped a slap shot past Justus Annunen, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Right after the goal, Mika Zibanejad drew a tripping penalty on Steven Stamkos, giving the Rangers their second power play opportunity of the period. Once again, they failed to convert, and the first period ended with the Rangers leading 1-0.
Just 26 seconds into the second period, Zibanejad drew another tripping penalty, this time on Jonathan Marchessault, earning the Rangers their third power play chance. This time, they struck. Zibanejad won a puck battle along the boards and pushed the puck to J.T. Miller, who gave it back to him. Zibanejad then found Panarin in the high slot, who delivered a perfect feed to J.T. Miller at the backdoor for the Rangers’ second goal of the night. Two minutes later, Zibanejad and Miller connected again. Zibanejad hit Miller with a breakout pass, and Miller carried the puck through the neutral zone before finding K’Andre Miller, who buried a nifty backhand past Annunen to put the Rangers up 3-0.
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Six minutes into the period, de Haan flipped the puck over the glass, sending the Rangers to the penalty kill, but they successfully killed it off. Shortly after, the Rangers got a power play of their own when Justin Barron took a delay-of-game penalty. However, they couldn’t convert, and the second period ended with the Rangers holding a 3-0 lead. The third period belonged to Rangers’ netminder Jonathan Quick. After making several key saves in the first two periods, Quick stood on his head in the third, stopping all 19 Nashville shots. He denied high-danger chances from Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg, preserving his 63rd career NHL shutout.
Early in the period, the Rangers’ penalty kill came up big again after Sam Carrick was called for goalie interference. Nashville’s power play was cut short just over a minute later when Nick Blankenburg hooked Zibanejad, nullifying the man advantage. The Rangers failed to convert on the ensuing power play, finishing 1-for-5 on the night. Finally, with just over three minutes left in the game, Carrick found Brett Berard wide open in the slot, and Berard ripped a wrist shot over Annunen’s glove, sealing a dominant 4-0 victory for the Rangers.
Rangers Takeaways
- With the trade deadline just four days away, the Rangers’ upcoming games—tomorrow against the New York Islanders and Wednesday against the Washington Capitals—have the potential to change how they approach their strategy. If they lose both, they could find themselves slipping further out of the playoff race, but if they win both, they could head into the deadline in a playoff spot. The likeliest outcome is that the Rangers trade Reilly Smith, who was held out of last night’s game for roster management purposes—strongly implying that a move is imminent—while also looking to add a piece or two to strengthen their lineup for a playoff push.
- The truth about the Rangers’ season thus far is that it has been a tale of two teams. There’s the team that showed up for the first 17 games, the one that reappeared last night and has shown itself in spurts since their hot start. Then, there’s the team that showed up in December and still rears its ugly head from time to time. It’s frustrating because when the Rangers are on, they can compete with any team in the league, but when they are off, they look like one of the worst. This inconsistency puts general manager Chris Drury in a dangerous position. If he buys at the deadline and the team continues to struggle, it could blow up in his face. But if he chooses not to make any additions and they miss the playoffs, it could very well mark the end of his tenure in New York. It’s not an enviable position, but it’s one he brought on himself—and one he’ll have to find a way out of.
- Berard had seven points in 18 games during his first stint with the Blueshirts earlier this season. After the aforementioned trade of Vesey and Lindgren, Smith being a healthy scratch, and Chris Kreider being placed on injured reserve, Berard was recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack and suited up for the game. He should never have been sent down in the first place. He consistently backchecks, always gives 100%, and has a knack for creating chances. He scored a goal last night, showcasing his shot, but what won’t show up on the scoresheet were the other opportunities he generated. Using his speed, he created space for a wraparound attempt before finding Rempe in front of the net—though Rempe couldn’t convert. Later, he turned a one-on-one into a two-on-one for Rempe, but the pass was just out of reach. Berard could have easily finished with more than one point. Beyond his work ethic, he brings something intangible—energy. The excitement in his goal celebration was contagious, and it was evident on the faces of his teammates. He should get a long look down the stretch, and that should come with more ice time and better linemates. It’s time to put him on the third line and the second power-play unit. He may never be a superstar, but he has the makings of a middle-six spark plug—the kind of depth player who can change games if given the opportunity.
- Another Rangers youngster, Brennan Othmann, seems to be getting a longer look as well. Othmann, drafted 16th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft nearly four years ago, played in his sixth career NHL game last night. He has yet to record a point in the NHL but had a strong season with the Wolf Pack after returning from injury. Othmann has looked solid in his three NHL games this season, flashing offensive potential while embracing the gritty side of his game with big hits. However, for him to stick in the lineup, he needs to start producing. His game is built around offense, and his defensive reliability remains a concern. Regardless, the Rangers need to find out what they have in him, and he shouldn’t be sent back to Hartford. If they don’t intend to keep him in the NHL, it may be time to consider a change of scenery—one that benefits both the team and the player.
