#new-york-rangers

#new-york-rangers

Live From the Blue Seats is back at it tonight after the Buffalo game, returning to our normal schedule after shifting things around during the holidays. Rob, Dave, and Producer JL will talk the Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin injuries, what it means for the short term, how it impacts their plans the rest of the season, and how the Rangers should approach the next month or so before the Olympics.

Alexis Lafreniere is a bust. As a huge fan of Lafreniere (he is my favorite player on the New York Rangers), it's taken me far longer to say that than most. I held out hope through an up and down first season. I held out hope through a rough second season. In the 2022 postseason, I was the first one to point out his seemingly improved play. In 2024, I was the first person screaming that this was the start of a breakout for the young forward.

Alexis Lafrenière had three assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 36 shots for the Rangers, who improved to 6-0-0 in outdoor games. Sam Reinhart scored for Florida, which was playing outdoors for the first time and lost for the fourth time in its last six contests overall. The Panthers gave up goals to Zibanejad and Panarin 64 seconds apart late in the first period, giving New York a 2-0 lead, and the Rangers kept control the rest of the way.

Remember that time Chris Drury sold James Dolan a false bill of goods after Tom Wilson embarrassed the Rangers in 2021 and got the regime changed? Well Tom Wilson certainly had a day for the Capitals after being named to the Team Canada Olympic team with 2 goals and a fight after taking Noah Laba out of the game with a clean hit. Yes it was clean. No response from the Rangers though, so maybe that Tom Wilson problem hasn't been fixed after all.

Trocheck's game has not deteriorated, though he did have somewhat of a down season following the 2024 postseason run. Trocheck's locker room presence also did not prove to help, as the team struggled to get on the same page, and Trocheck's nightly "we're doing all the right things" quotes enraged fans rather than comforting them. With a slightly improved team this season, Drury may want to hold onto his prized center.

With injuries mounting and the Rangers seemingly unable to play like an NHL team consistently, the Rangers lines tonight got a minor shakeup. Brennan Othmann will be scratched tonight, as Conor Sheary draws back in. Jonny Brodzinski is also out, with Will Cuylle jumping back into a top-six spot. On defense, nothing will change as Urho Vaakanainen will again be the healthy scratch.

Is getting shutout 8 times in a season before New Year's Day good? I don't even really know what to say anymore at this point. It's the same thing over, and, over, and, over again with this group. They put up 5 in the third against Washington, but can't even muster a real chance against the Islanders. They are the most mystifying team in the entire NHL. What more is there to say other than this team absolutely stinks,

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.