The Rangers had such impressive starts in the season that they didn’t allow any first-period goals until their seventh game.
However, in their last seven games, the Blueshirts have given up nine first-period goals while only managing to score five themselves. The intense energy they showcased at the start of the season seems to have waned, culminating in a situation where they fell behind by two goals in the first period during a 6-3 loss to the Kings at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
“The main issue for me was the start we had,” head coach Mike Sullivan remarked after the game. “It just seemed like, from a mindset perspective, not enough players were ready when the puck dropped. We need to correct that quickly. Each player has to take responsibility to prepare for the game. It wasn’t the whole team, but we simply didn’t have enough players ready to go.”
Veteran goalie James Reimer faced some scrutiny after he allowed two goals on the first two shots. The crowd at MSG sarcastically applauded him when he finally made his first save in a Rangers jersey.
The Kings’ first goal came when Drew Doughty set up Taylor Ward, who broke through Rangers defensemen Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson for a breakaway score.
Sullivan later chose to separate Durzi and Pettersson after they had been on the ice for the Kings’ second goal.
Durzi switched to play alongside Alberts Smits, while Pettersson was paired with Braden Schneider.
“This decision was a result of various events over some time,” Sullivan explained. “For the initial seven or eight games, Marcus and Durzi formed a solid defensive pair for us, facing tough minutes against top players. But in the last five or six games, they seemed to struggle, for reasons I can’t pinpoint. Durzi might be dealing with some physical issues, which could be affecting his performance. We just thought that changing up the pairs could bring some positive effects. This wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to just this game, but rather a build-up over the past several games.”
Former Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette returned to Madison Square Garden on Monday, marking his first visit since being let go in April 2025.
“I really enjoyed being here,” Laviolette said, now head coach of the Kings. “Being at Madison Square Garden is special. The fans in New York are incredible. I can’t tell you how often fans around the country share their stories, claiming to be the biggest Rangers fans. They all seem to have this deep connection to the team and its history, passing down stories from generations. It’s exciting to feel that passion from the fans. New York is an incredible city, a major sports market, and being part of the Rangers’ legacy is something I cherished.”
Adam Fox reached a milestone by playing in his 500th NHL game and extended his home point streak to seven games, contributing one goal and eight assists.
