Blake Wheeler’s inspiring Rangers return spoiled by decisive penalty
SUNRISE, Fla. — The night’s heartwarming story took a sudden turn 59 seconds into overtime. Blake Wheeler, playing for the first time since collapsing on the ice at Madison Square Garden with a sore right foot on Feb. 15, was chasing Aleksandr Barkov down the ice after a Rangers turnover of the puck. Wheeler caught […]
Rangers’ Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad being put on defensive
SUNRISE, Fla. — The best thing that can be said about the Rangers’ top line was that they weren’t on the ice to concede runs, but one more game and it’s becoming nearly impossible to believe that’s enough. The Rangers’ belief that Mika Zibanded and Chris Kreider need more power wasn’t belied by coach Peter […]
Rangers were overwhelmed, outplayed in Game 4 OT loss
SUNRISE, Fla. — This wasn’t the ending Blake Wheeler deserved, but it’s certainly the end result the Rangers deserved. Looking at the scores, Paddy Tutts led 3-2 in overtime with two power play goals, including one by Wheeler in the penalty box by Sam Reinhart at 1:12, and another goal three seconds after the Blueshirts […]
Rangers massively out-attempted by Panthers again in worrying trend
With the Eastern Conference Finals returning to New York, the Rangers are facing a troubling trend: They managed to escape Game 3, but then suffered another painful blow in a Game 4 loss to the Panthers on Tuesday night. The Rangers lost Game 4, 3-2, in overtime, allowing the Panthers to tie the series. And […]
Rangers’ stunning Game 4 OT loss a ‘tough one to swallow’: Steve Valiquette
The Rangers ended a lengthy power-play drought early in Tuesday’s game, one of the few highlights from a brutal Game 4 loss in Sunrise, Florida, of the Eastern Conference finals. Florida dominated the final 40 minutes, outscoring the Rangers 27-10 over the final two periods and winning 3-2 in overtime on a power-play goal by […]
Rangers’ power play breaks through for Game 4 score vs. Panthers
The Rangers finally broke through on the power play in the Eastern Conference finals. The Blueshirts took a 1-0 lead over the Panthers when Vincent Trocheck scored with a numbers advantage early in the first period of Game 4 in Florida on Tuesday night. The Rangers began the night in a tough spot, succeeding just […]
Peter Laviolette’s ‘recyclable’ status paying off for Rangers
SUNRISE, Fla. — Exactly one year ago, May 16 to be exact, the Rangers were two weeks into their coaching search after the team parted ways with Gerard Gallant following a blowout first-round loss to New Jersey. Peter Laviolette, fresh from leaving Washington after three mediocre seasons, quickly became the leading candidate. His candidacy was […]
The diverging Rangers fates of Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Rangers’ top two overall picks have been in close alignment for the most part since the ping-pong ball rose from the machine in 2020 to give manager Jeff Gorton the right to select Alexis Lafreniere with the first overall pick. Lafreniere and Kapo Kako experienced similar struggles when they first came […]
Rangers’ Kaapo Kakko still stewing over Game 2 scratch
SUNRISE, Fla. — Kaapo Kakko is back in the Rangers lineup, for now. But the winger still wasn’t too happy when he was informed on Monday that he would miss Game 2 for medical reasons. “All the players want to play,” Kako said, “so I’m not happy.” Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko handles the puck during […]
Rangers must muscle up to survive with Panthers out for blood
SUNRISE, Fla. — It’s impossible to compare hockey from the ’70s to the game played today, but it has to be said that the Panthers copied the strategies of Zen master Fred Shero and the Broad Street Bullies, who terrorized the league 50 years ago. They commit borderline penalties, if not obvious penalties, almost every […]