#new-york-rangers

#new-york-rangers

What a truly embarrassing loss to the Anaheim Ducks. So many storylines entering the day, but then to add to it, Mika Zibanejad was scratched for missing a team meeting because, from what it sounded like, he was stuck in traffic coming up to the practice facility. With all the drama heading into the game and without their best center so far this season, the Rangers played the part of shorthanded, mediocre team that can't score.

After a nice pre-game ceremony honoring Rangers from the 70's to the late 80's, the Rangers came out firing on all cylinders, getting the first 5 shots of the game and controlling play. That goodwill though was quickly shattered when the Rangers surrendered 2 goals on 2 shots, and shortly after, a 3rd goal that Igor would absolutely want back.

The Rangers have won five of their last six games, with all five wins coming off strong efforts. The one game in the middle is the one that broke many, the Tampa game, but it appears that was the blip and not the five wins in six games. But now the NHL's best team comes to MSG for a matinee matchup.

Down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils, Messier publicly declared a Game 6 win. Though the Rangers at one point trailed 2-0, Messier scored a natural hat trick to force a seventh game. Less than three weeks later, he scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks, bringing the Rangers their first championship in 54 years.

Cuylle, of course, caused all of the ruckus late in regulation of the Rangers' 3-2 overtime win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, as New York fired a season-high 41 shots on Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith. He picked up the rebound off an Artemi Panarin shot with just over two minutes to play, his team down by one. He spun toward DeSmith and flung it in. The Garden popped. Cuylle pumped his fist and yelled.

During the festivities, the Rangers recalled defenseman Scott Morrow from Hartford, returning the previously recalled Connor Mackey to Hartford. Morrow was initially recalled for the Rangers road trip out west, but was returned following a few injuries that necessitated roster moves. Space for Morrow was created when the Rangers finally got healthy and waived Juuso Parssinen to create room for Morrow.

The New York Rangers have come plenty close to winning a Stanley Cup over the last decade. They made the Cup Final in 2014 and three Eastern Conference Final in 2012, 2022, and 2024. In each series, the Rangers were overpowered by a combination of skill, speed, heavy play, and star power. Emphasis on star power is critical, as the 2012 and 2014 runs were done in by lack of consistent offense, and the 2022 and 2024 runs by underwhelming 5v5 play.

NEW YORK The New York Rangers and the St. Louis Blues entered the third period tied at one. This was a similar position to what New York had found itself in during the final two games of its Western road trip in Denver and Salt Lake City. Both those games, of course, the Rangers lost. On Monday night at Madison Square Garden, they held off the Blue just enough to secure their second home win of the season.

Live From the Blue Seats is recording tonight as the crew discusses the last week of Rangers hockey, from the good to the bad to the ugly and everything in between.