NYR/WSH 10/12 Review: Ryan Lindgren’s Big Brother Robs and Shuts Out Blueshirts; Rangers Still Looking For First Home Goal This Season, No Slow Start Yet For Mika – But Where’s NDArtemi? Tough To Grade Sully’s Squad’s First Test; “Same Old Rangers” Creep In – But The Kids Look Good Too, Soucy Placed on IR; Robertson Embraces “Next Man Up,” M$GN & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Same old Rangers?

After all, leave it to a pair of Ranger Killers, Alex Ovechkin and former Islander Anthony Beauvillier, to connect on the lone goal scored on Sunday night at M$G.

Then again, perhaps Caps’ netminder, Charlie Lindgren, was aware of all of the slander that was sent his brother’s way last year – and where of course – I was not one of these millennial mouth-breathers that ever dared to dirty the good name of double-nickel himself, Ryan Lindgren.

After all, blogs and social media postings don’t lie – I’ve always been a fan – and still remain as a supporter – of all things #55.

Going into Sunday night, then all you heard from me – and from everyone else in Rangerstown, USA too – was how this game against the Capitals would be the first true litmus test of the season.

After all, three-games against two teams that went nowhere last season, and projected not to do much this season either (Penguins twice, Sabres), didn’t really tell us that much about these “new” Rangers.

Following Sunday night’s 1-0 loss – and I’m not so sure how you can grade this one – but similar to last year – and the Blueshirts’ record this season against playoff/Cup contending teams, and for as small as a sample size as it is thus far, carries a losing percentage.

While the Rangers didn’t fail this particular test in my eyes, not even close whatsoever; but at the same time – and it’s not like they passed it either.

At the end of the night, this final result was just a reminder that every team, of the NHL’s 32-franchises, will get GOALIED at least three times a season.

Unfortunately for the Rangers – and they got GOALIED in only their fourth game played.

Compounding depressing matters was the fact that the Blueshirts were also shutout in their home-opener (3-0); and while Arturs Silovs played well in that game – he was nowhere as lights-out as Lindgren was tonight.

Furthermore, and the Rangers shot themselves in their skates a lot during the first game of this here 2025-26 campaign.

That wasn’t the case five nights later – and where it should also be mentioned that not only were the Rangers on the second-half of a back-to-back set on Sunday – but it was also their fourth game played in six nights – tops in the league.

(And so much for player safety too!)

For sixty-minutes, and where it should also be mentioned that the Capitals had played the night before too (they beat the Islanders – and now the D.C. team joins Pittsburgh in sweeping both N.Y. hockey franchises during a road-trip this season) – and without a shadow of a doubt – and the Rangers were the more aggressive team.

But aggressiveness – and for that matter – energy too; well both of these traits don’t always translate into goals either.

And especially not when another back-up goalie (both Lindgren and Silovs are back-ups) decides to perform like the second coming of Terry Sawchuk.

The Blueshirts, both prior and after Beauvillier’s goal (which was scored with only 6:13 remaining in the second period), had numerous chances to beat Lindgren.

However, it was just one of those nights where you have to tip your hat to the other goalie.

Mika Zibanejad should perhaps burn his stick after this one – as despite recording a game-high seven shots on goal – and Lindgren was there for all of them – and where I’d reckon that at least five of these shots resulted into robbery saves.

Get Lindgren a ski mask.

While you can’t be happy after a loss – and again – being shutout on home ice too; but at the same time, there was a lot to like too.

Suffice to say – and we can’t bury our heads into the sand about the positive things that we saw on Sunday.

Outside of Zibanejad getting to the net – and let’s not forget that he’s notoriously been a slow starter during the past several seasons – which hasn’t been the case yet this year; and there was a lot of good, including, but not limited to, the following:

— The Rangers’ fourth line trio – Rempe/Carrick/Edstrom – continued to excel. They spent most of their shifts in the Capitals’ zone. At times, it felt like the Caps couldn’t get the two monsters, Carrick’s flanks, to budge. There was also a monster hit that #73 laid upon one of the most vicious Ranger Killers of all-time too, #43 in Washington, you know, Tom Wilson.

— Noah Laba was extremely noticeable – and on both ends of the ice too. Not only was he a pest whenever pressuring Lindgren – but he was also breaking up plays behind his own blue line.

— Vladislav Gavrikov, along with Adam Fox, did a good job of shutting down the Caps’ shooters. Speaking of the defense, and Matthew Robertson, playing for the injured Carson Soucy, also did a strong job in his season debut.

— While on the topic of injuries, not only is Soucy gone for at least week, but as a reminder, so is Vincent Trocheck. In other words, the injury bug has hit the Blueshirts early, as they are now down two of their regulars.

— Quick, in his first game this season, made a few robbery saves himself. Only a puck-luck play beat him.

— It should also be stated that the Rangers limited their opponents to only twenty-one SOG too – or an average of seven SOG per period.

— Conor “PTO” Sheary, perhaps the Ranger with the most criticism and derision around him (and only where his linemate, Taylor Raddysh, can contend for this distinction – and only because these thought-to-be one-and-done Rangers are taking ice time away from the likes of Brett Berard and Gabe Perreault), also had a superb showing.

If you’re one to come to the conclusion that the Rangers failed in their test against the Capitals, then you’d have to look at the team’s 0-2 power-play – but it wasn’t for a lack of trying either – as Lindgren was a one-man PK (four saves, two robberies).

More alarming than another no power-play goal performance is the fact that NDArtemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere can’t get going yet.

Along with Minus Mika – and this line all finished with a -1 next to their names in the box score.

While Mika wasn’t the problem on this night (and that’s me saying it!) – but where is the $11.6M pending unrestricted free agent?

And of all men representing Rangers’ blue – and perhaps there’s nobody that needs a bounce-back season more than Lafreniere – although Mika may have a say in that!

(Yes, Lafreniere did score against the Sabres – but the Sabres are a joke.)

But really, you can ultimately boil down this 1-0 loss to two-words:

Charlie Lindgren.

The Rangers got “GOALIED.”

It happens – and you can just ask any team that’s had to see CZAR IGOR ever since his 2020 NHL debut if you don’t believe me.

In case you missed last night’s GAME REVIEW (and news update too), then click the link below:

NYR/PITT 10/11 Review: Blueshirts Get Revenge; Sully’s Squad Smashes & Smackdowns Penguins, Complete Team-Wide Effort – And a Near FLAWLESS VICTORY Too, Mika Actually Gets Involved in Scrums; First “Rangers’ Responder” As Well, Eleven Forwards Pick Up Points; Fox Pots Two, LABAMANIA Runnin’ Wild, CZAR IGOR Continues Master Class in N(y)et, Trocheck & Soucy Injured, Vagistat Turns Trump Orange; Return of The King, M$GN & More

As mentioned last night, then things didn’t look good for Soucy when he went down in the middle of the second period in Pittsburgh.

Since the NHL won’t give us any specifics, then we are left to assume that Soucy sustained a concussion in the 6-1 win.

What we do know for a fact is that Soucy has been placed on the injured reserve (which means that he’ll miss at least a week’s worth of games) and that Connor Mackey has been recalled from Hartford:

UPDATE: Connor Mackey has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack.

— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) October 12, 2025

For those wondering about why Mackey and not somebody else (like a Scott Morrow), then as mentioned last night when talking about the Trocheck injury, it’s all salary-cap related.

Mackey carries the least amount of AAV on his deal and since the Rangers aren’t really accruing that much cap space with a 23-man roster, then they had to recall the cheapest player available. (For a comparison, Morrow earns $200K more than Mackey.)

That said, and I was surprised that the Rangers recalled anyone – and as I explained last night (they are at home and not on a road-trip).

As far as any other news, then the new three-time father, Jonny Brodzinski, also made his season debut tonight – as Juuse Parssinen was told to take a seat upstairs.

According to the bench boss – and Sully wanted to give Jonny Broadway a twirl – and didn’t want him to gain any rust either.

Mackey, a seasoned veteran (and who could ever forget about his KO win over Brady Tkachuk years ago), joined The Feckless Finn 2.0 in the press box.

Last but not least – the obvious:

Having played the night before – and despite his lights-out play this season – and it was always the plan for Quick to get this start.

While some may contend that CZAR IGOR should’ve played the better team of the weekend; at the same time, then how could you sit him in Pittsburgh following his 4-0 no-no against Buffalo?

Here’s how Sully covered everything prior to puck drop:

Here was Sully’s line-up for the fourth game of this 2025-26 season:

FIRST LINE:  Panarin/Zibanejad/Lafreniere

SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Miller/Sheary

THIRD LINE: Brodzinski/Laba/Raddysh

FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Rempe

FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox

SECOND PAIR: Robertson/Borgen

THIRD PAIR:  Vaakanainen/Schneider

STARTING GOALIE: Jonathan Quick

BACK UP GOALIE: CZAR IGOR

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Juuse Parssinen and Connor Mackey

WEEK-TO-WEEK BUT NOT ON IR: Vincent Trocheck

IR: Carson Soucy

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

The M$GN pregame show tonight was hosted by John Giannone – and where “THE KING OF COMMENTARY,” Henrik Lundqvist, joined him.

Sadly, the smug Sieve Vagistat was also there – and of course – not only was he plugging his ANALytic company that nobody cares about – but he also did his normal routine where he compares his career to Lundqvist’s.

That stuff was funny maybe once, twice at best.

It’s not funny after the 66776767679867986798696th time.

Lundqvist, and later Dave Maloney too, described this game like any one of us – a true litmus test for the Rangers.

Omitted in all of that talk was the fact that CZAR IGOR wasn’t in net – but with the way that Lindgren played tonight – then it may have not mattered anyway.

Another agitating and aggravating “Vagistat-ism” is whenever he offers critique to Jonathan Quick – because you see – both of them have played the back-up backstop role for the Rangers.

Of course, the major difference between the two is that Quick is a future Hall of Famer, while Vagistat will go down as being the worst Blueshirts’ back-up goalie in franchise history.

Three other stats shared during the M$GN broadcast were the following:

— Alex Ovechkin, still on goal #897 and searching for a clean #900, has never scored a hat trick against the Rangers. That trend continued after tonight. However, he did pick-up the game-winning assist.

— Anthony Beauvillier, after tonight, now has 27-points in 35 games-played against the Blueshirts – including his game-winner from this one.

— Lindgren, in his four starts, had never lost to the Rangers (3-0-1) – but I already mentioned this at the top of this manifesto.

GAME REVIEW time – and where we don’t have to go too long tonight.

After all, how many times can I say, “a robbery save made by Lindgren?!?!?”

That said, then if you want the complete play-by-play, then check out my Tweeter feed here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC

FIRST PERIOD

If there was anything noticeable early, then it was the fact that the Ranger skaters were able to stick-handle with ease, as countless times, both Will Cuylle and J.T. Miller were able to extend plays.

I mentioned this in the preseason, but it bears repeating here too:

Matt Rempe has improved so much.

Not only is he skating better and playing smarter – but you can see that he’s been coached to get the puck to the blue line – then haul ass in front of the opponent’s net.

I don’t how many times he elongated time in Washington’s zone, but he was extremely successful with all of his passes – which is much more than I can say about Panarin.

While the end result was the same; it was also clearly apparent, and despite playing 24-hours the night before, that the Rangers had about 76786798679867867986 times the energy that they had during the home-opener.

Again – Lindgren.

Five-minutes in, and Quick, whose performance in net shouldn’t get lost in all of this, had already amounted five saves.

All game-long and whenever the Blueshirts coughed up the puck and there was #32 to bail them out.

After turnovers from Mika and Panarin, Quick’s biggest bail-out took place after a Big Billy Borgen turnover – as the Blueshirts’ rearguard had his pocket picked by Beauvillier with 9:40 remaining:

JONATHAN QUICK THE MAN THAT YOU ARE

NICE SAVE#NYR pic.twitter.com/rAwYcX5TWH

— Everything Team USA/NY (@EverythingUSANY) October 12, 2025

I don’t know if the ice was bad at M$G or not, but as the period progressed and both Sheary and Lafreniere blew tires when attacking Lindgren’s net.

The final eight-minutes or so of this frame was all Rangers – and say it with me – Lindgren too.

Lindgren was able to deny Gavrikov, Miller and Cuylle and after that – Laba just went wide.

There was also a comment made by Faust during all of this – this one:

“The NHL has had a jam-packed schedule this week!”

Lost in all of that was the fact that the NHL didn’t play a game on Friday night and this Rangers/Caps game was the only contest played on Sunday.

Later on during a third-line shift – and Laba created a <DING> sound.

Somewhere, and Sam Rosen proclaimed, “SAVE BY LINDGREN!”

As the period started winding down then it was obvious that the Caps had no answers for the two giants – THE CONDOR FROM SWEDEN and REMPESTEIN.

The Capitals could never get these two out of their crease – and as noted earlier – when Rempe hit Wilson – then you would’ve thought that the iconic ceiling was going to blow off of M$G.

We remained scoreless come intermission – and where this was also evident – we had a goaltender’s duel on our hands.

Here’s what I said at the time:

Scoreless after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Entertaining first period despite no score – and hey – at least #NYR didn’t give up a final minute goal either!
— SOG 13-10, home team.
— Quick has the save of the game (Beauvillier).
— Fourth line looks dominant, ditto Cuylle, Miller…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 12, 2025

SECOND PERIOD

Another obvious occurrence throughout this match was how much the Caps were trying to force passes to Ovi.

Early into this frame, and the Rangers had already picked off three of these pass attempts.

But they could never make the Caps – or should I say Lindgren – pay for it.

As the Rangers continued their attack, then this is when Lindgren one-upped Quick’s robbery of Beauvillier:

Mika Zibanejad robbed by Charlie Lindgren#ALLCAPS 0 #NYR 0 2nd pic.twitter.com/2ZklUD3GCa

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) October 13, 2025

You know that I can’t stand Stinka Zibanedud – and I’d trade him tomorrow too – but at least he put this puck on net – and rather than into the fifth row which seems to be the standard for him during these plays.

And had Lindgren been a left-handed catcher – then this would’ve been a sure-fire goal.

But of course – “coulda, woulda, shoulda.”

As the Rangers continued their offense, Robertson was stopped while Miller just missed a rebound.

And when Sonny Milano was out there?

Then it came to me that Faust, nor Maloney either, ever told me if he grew up on Long Island or not – something that Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti would always remind us about!

“OH JOE, MILANO IS FROM MASSAPEQUA JOE!”

“SAM, ALL AMERICAN BURGERS IS FABULOUS!”

And yes – I will always keep the Rosen & Micheletti memories alive on this site!

As Maloney brought up that tonight was Edstrom’s 24th birthday; then, and with 11:47 remaining – Lindgren robbed Lafreniere.

By the half-way mark of the period, both teams had only amassed two SOG a piece – but those totals would soon increase.

We’d soon get our first goal too – and as scored by Beauvillier with 6:13 remaining:

Anthony Beauvillier redirects an Ovi shot-pass and the Caps open the scoring 🚨 pic.twitter.com/WQNDAasxkg

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 13, 2025

1-0, bad guys – and your eventual game-winning tally too.

Ugh.

The Rangers, now trailing, had two back-to-back chances when attempting to find the equalizer.

With 4:42 remaining, Wilson tripped Sheary.

The Caps’ PK, who entered this match with only a 40% success rate, saw that number increase – and again – solely because of Lindgren – and where Ryan’s big bro robbed Zibanejad once more to boot.

Once completing their now 0-1 power-play, the Blueshirts immediately got another, and as they did with 3:18 remaining, as Beauvillier had hooked Carrick.

The PP2 took the bulk of this man-up time, as the PP1 unit took the full two-minutes on the previous power-play.

Laba and Rempe were noticeable during these two-minutes – but it didn’t matter.

The Caps’ PK ended the period by finishing as a perfect 2-2.

Special Teams Swing Games.

1-0, bad guys, through forty-minutes of what was an entertaining hockey game – and despite the score.

Here’s what I said at the time:

1-0, them, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— It would be very easy to cry about this – but Charlie Lindgren heard all of the slander about his brother from some fans and is taking it very personally.
— SOG 28-14, #NYR – Lindgren with about 4-5 robbery saves in there.
— Rangers’ PP…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 13, 2025

THIRD PERIOD

In George Grimm’s excellent book about the Emile Francis era of Rangers, he entitled the project as “We Did Everything But Win.”

This game was “We Did Everything But Score.”

Just 2:10 in and Rempe almost scored – and get this – following an in-between the legs shot.

A minute later, and Lindgren continued to terrorize Zibanejad – and where you could visibly see the frustration all over the face of the Swedish-Iranian.

The Caps then had two chances to extend their lead.

Beauvillier, looking for his second, just missed an open net (he hit the side of it).

Then, and just 3:35 in, and Miller blatantly tripped Pierre-Luc Dubois.

The Rangers’ PK, a flawless 9/9 when entering this game, made it a perfect 10/10 – and where Quick only had to make one save during these two-minutes of man-down time.

And they got a break too – as Chychrun, following a pass from Ovi – missed a WIDE-OPEN and GAPING net.

Down to 12:16 remaining, and Quick found himself on his belly, and seemingly gliding to the first row. Thankfully, Sheary was there to prevent Wilson from scoring a Caps’ insurance goal.

As we hit ten-minutes remaining – and Mika was stoned by Lindgren again – and where I bet #93 will go to sleep tonight with nothing but Charlie’s name in his head.

Now under ten-minutes to go, and Gavrikov and Leonard had two nasty collisions – including one where the Russian Ranger landed awkwardly – and where he was lucky to come out of this without suffering a broken leg and/or concussion.

Thankfully, he’s okay – and that was a major crisis averted.

Come six-minutes remaining and Lafreniere caught the Caps off-guard – but Lindgren was on-guard.

Off camera, and we were told that Sheary was getting medical attention on the bench after a mix-up with P.L.D. – and where as a result – the Capital went down the tunnel.

No update on Sheary’s status for Tuesday (v. Edmonton) as of this writing.

Robertson, again, who I thought played well tonight, was stopped by Lindgren with three-minutes remaining.

Mika then missed a rebound opportunity too.

Following a Caps’ icing with 1:54 to go and this is when Sullivan pulled Quick.

Not that it mattered.

After all – and I can’t remember the last time when the Rangers scored a 6 x 5 goal – and it may have been K’Andre Miller or Ryan Lindgren.

Heck, the Rangers gave up two empty-netters in the home opener too!

And if the power-play can’t score – then do you really think that you’re going to score during these situations?

The PP1, along with Cuylle, went the rest of the way here – and where I would’ve used Rempe instead.

With eleven skaters on the ice – then I just think that you have a better chance to score at 6 x 5 with the big man crashing the net.

Instead of that, and the Rangers got too fancy – but hey – at least they didn’t give up another ENG either (and where Wilson and Carlson both came close).

1-0, Capitals, your final.

If it wasn’t for the shutout during the home-opener, and had this been a “dog’s day of winter” game – then you’d forget and move on.

And while that’s most likely the case anyway – the Rangers are going to need to start scoring at home – and winning games at M$G too.

After all, they charge the highest ticket prices in the league – and at the very least – then you’d like to see the team score every now-and-again.

Up Next For The Rangers: An assumed off-day on Monday, then a game against a pissed-off, and recently re-signed too, Connor McDavid, on Tuesday night at M$G.

It should be restated in this space that wins and losses – or points in the standings – count as much now as they do at the end of the season.

Need I remind you of last year?

The Rangers did get GOALIED on Sunday night – but they also blew a bunch of chances to at least get an overtime point out of this.

And don’t get me started on the home-opener again either!

At least the Islanders are 0-2!

Back at it again on Tuesday night, which as a result, means the following for you…

PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)

My fourth title and tenth book is now available!

“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!

For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/

My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”

As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD

For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:

Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today

My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.

My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.

To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/

To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”

The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!

“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.

All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.

To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com

To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/

If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:

Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”

If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com

For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/

Thanks for reading.

LET’S GO RANGERS!

Sean McCaffrey

BULLSMC@aol.com