Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Well, at least the Rangers aren’t the Flyers.
(If you don’t know by now, then the Blueshirts, despite being smacked 7-1 on Thursday night, are still in second-place. The Flyers, who many, yours truly included, predicted to reach the playoffs in 2027? They are currently win-less after nine games played, dead-last in the league, with a record of 0-6-3.)
And this too:
The Rangers would’ve never lost by six-goals had Matt Rempe been in the line-up!
I kid, I kid or am I!?!?!
There are two ways to think following the way that the Devils absolutely dominated the Rangers on Thursday night at The Pebble.
The glass half-empty perspective is that the past seven games played were just a flash in the pan – and this loss – this touchdown defeat to an arch-rival – will now begin the tail-spin that many, including yours truly, projected prior to the first puck drop of this 2026-27 campaign.
The glass half-full perspective, and shockingly, one that my pessimistic side is ironically taking, is that every team in the league, every player in the league and every coach in the league too, are due for 3-4 absolute stinkeroos per-season – if not one or two more due to the now expanded schedule (84-games).
Unfortunately for Ranger fans, then the Blueshirts picked a bad time to get their hineys kicked – as it was Devils’ boots to Rangers’ asses for forty-minutes straight.
(Note FORTY-minutes – and as opposed to sixty-minutes.)
What I’m trying to get at here, is that this loss, one that nobody enjoys, would’ve been easier to accept had it been the Vegas Golden Knights, the Edmonton Oilers or the Colorado Avalanche doing the whippin’.
To get blown out and embarrassed by the Devils?
Then only a loss like this one would’ve been worse had the Long Island team, and not the Newark club, was orchestrating the ass kicking.
Ugh.
It wasn’t all bad.
In fact, then it was pretty good for the Rangers for the first 19:30 of the game.
The Blueshirts, who by this point, had valiantly defended against a two-minute 5 x 3 Devils’ power-play, where not only did they prevent a go-ahead two-man up goal, but where they didn’t even allow their opponents to register a shot either, looked like they were going to skate into the first intermission with a nil-nil tie.
Then J.T. Miller made a brutal turnover, so bad, that even pee-wee level players don’t make them, and that was that.
With only thirty-seconds remaining in the first period, Captain Miller, from the side boards in his own zone, was apparently looking for Will Cuylle. Cuylle wasn’t there – nor was there much wood behind Miller’s pass either.
In turn, Miller just sent the puck to vacant space at center ice – and where very quickly – Evan Rodigues quickly intercepted the puck and then beat Dylan Garand, via a breakaway, for the opening 1-0 goal.
“I should have just ate it. I tried to set it up quickly. I think he [Cuylle] was over there, and I just missed it. I fanned on it. It’s on me,” said the Rangers’ captain following the mess in Newark.
We didn’t know it then, but this was the beginning of the end for the Blueshirts on this night.
Not only did the Devils soon score a pair of goals within 48-seconds of game-time, then another pair of goals within 21-seconds of game-time too, but starting with Rodrigues’ goal, followed by Luke Hughes 2-0 goal, Nico Hischier’s 3-0 goal, and for good measure, the 4-0 goal as scored by Arseny Gritsyuk, which ended Garand’s night in net – then the Devils scored four goals within a time-span of 5:09.
So yeah, not good.
I know that one popular opinion out there following the game was that Miller’s turnover just killed the Rangers’ chances of winning.
Had this game been played last year, or the year before that, then perhaps I’d be inclined to agree.
Heck, let me rephrase that – I’d not only champion that opinion, but I’d be the first to share it too!
Maybe since I have such low expectations that I’m not angry whenever this team loses anymore.
Maybe I’m being soft because I have enjoyed what I’ve seen out of the Rangers during their past septet of matches.
Maybe it’s because I believe that every team has a few games a season where they just look like shit.
But whatever it is, then I can’t blame one lousy turnover for a complete downward spiral.
That’s just too lazy – and incorrect too – to do so.
Fine, Miller made a bad play that gave the Devils a 1-0 lead just 30-seconds prior to the intermission.
No one is arguing otherwise.
But do you know what happened before, during and after that?
The Rangers, once again, were terrible on the power-play, with another 0-fer in the stat sheet when this was still a game. (They ultimately went 1/4 – and where the one power-play goal was scored after the Devils had already put up a six-spot on the scoreboard.)
For the rotten cherry on top – and the Rangers’ man-up teams gave up a short-handed goal too – their second shorty given up in their past three games played at that.
Mopey Mika Zibanejad only has one goal this season that wasn’t scored against an empty net.
Repeat, your first line center only has one non-empty net goal in nine games played.
Pavel Dorofeyev is starting to look like many other big names of Rangers’ history that made their name elsewhere, got paid in New York and then never to replicate their previous out-of-town success.
The Blueshirts, and as if this game was ripped out of last season, also had a fifteen-minute shot on goal drought. You can’t win like that at all!
And like it or not – and the Rangers can’t rely on Tye Kartye to be the second coming of Wayne Gretzky every game either.
It was one bad play by Miller – but for a team that has played well this season thus far – then you just can’t tell me that a 1-0 score absolutely derails this team – that is – unless these Rangers want to continue the garbage that they spewed last season.
Ironically, the Rangers, in their first eight games played, had only surrendered seven goals.
They matched that number tonight in Game 9 of the season.
Say what you want about the Devils’ offense and the Rangers’ miscues – but Garand never had a chance – and especially not when his team had only challenged Nico Daws, who entered this game with a 4.58 GAA, with seven shots by the 35-minute mark of the contest.
For as bad as this game was, then there were a few redeeming things to take away from it, even if such items will be forgotten about:
— The Rangers’ PK was again perfect – as they went 4/4 on the night – including killing off a two-minute Devils’ 5 x 3 power-play.
— Despite the six-goal loss, then I never thought that the Rangers gave up, looked lethargic or were disinterested. Things just didn’t go their way – and again – this happens to every NHL team at least 3-4 times a season.
I also liked some of the post-game reaction – but where of course, and unlike last year – then all of these words will ring hollow if we have a repeat of this game on Saturday, when the Rangers travel to Columbus.
“Obviously, today was not our best. I’m not proud of that performance. That being said, we got off to another good start today,” said Miller. “Will throws a big hit, has a good fight. We have a couple of really good chances at the end of that period. Unfortunately, I make a mistake, kind of flub one, then they get one. But honestly, we felt good going into the second. We played a lot of great hockey, and we’re a confident group.”
Miller continued:
“Today, we just didn’t have it. Disconnected all over the place, and giving up, obviously, chances we haven’t been giving up. We’ve learned a lot about ourselves over the last couple weeks and the last month, and I think that we have a high-character group in here. So, all we can do is learn from today, move forward, and be ready for the next game and come out firing.”
Again, while I agreed with Miller – but talk can be cheap.
He needs to back up his words with action on Saturday – and it would be nice if he could finally score a goal without a puck going off of his skate too.
“It’s not on Dylan,” said Sullivan. “I think Dylan’s played pretty good for us. He’s played sound hockey. We were trying to change the momentum of the game a little bit, and I know Dylan will bounce back. He’s a high-character kid. He’s a competitive guy. He’s played really well for us to this point. I would expect him to respond the right way, just like our team.”
The head coach of the U.S.A. gold medal team echoed the thoughts of his gold medal Olympian captain:
“It’s a humbling experience when you go through games like this. Nobody wants to live through those types of experiences. What I will tell you is when you go through a humbling experience like this, it forces all of us to look in the mirror and and make sure that we bring the right intentions and try to respond the right way.”
The Devils, once up 4-0 and with Spencer Martin making his 2026-27 season debut in relief of Garand – scored two more goals – as L. Hughes’ second goal, and of the second period too, put the red-and-black attack up 5-0.
Stefan Noesan scored the Jersey touchdown at the 7:01 mark of the final frame.
Only a lucky Dorofeyev goal, a deflection off a Fox point blast, a power-play goal, prevented Daws from shutting out the Rangers.
And I hate to be a “DORO DOUBTER” – but this was a pure A-ROD goal – nothing more, nothing less.
Once again, and the new $11M man in town did absolutely nothing positive when the game mattered.
I get there is an acclimation process, but at the same time – and how long did it take Sean Durzi, Marcus Pettersson, Alberts Smits, Tye Kartye, Eeli Tolvanen, Dylan Garand, Oliver Bjorkstrand and even Gabe Perreault and Noah Laba from last season, to get acclimated?
It’s been nine games.
When you’re the highest-paid forward on the team – then a lion’s share of the blame will fall on you when you’re not producing – like it or not.
And for the ninth consecutive game – and Dorofeyev was another non-factor.
Another point to consider is that Sullivan has already made two line-up changes in order to get his FAT CAT going – and while Dorofeyev did get a (lucky) power-play goal tonight – but is anyone dancing in the streets over a goal where the end result was a decreased six-goal lead?
This is not to say that he’ll never get going, but it is to say that we’ve seen many big-buck big names enter Broadway then bomb out once arriving.
Needless to say – and Dorofeyev needs to get his shit together – and where as noted throughout these past eight games – then it was the strong and winning play from the Rangers that allowed Dorofeyev to be overshadowed from any criticism.
As I said at the start of this preamble – BURN THE TAPE!
But these three words will only ring true should this game be a one-off disaster.
It just can’t be the start of another string of Rangers’ misery.
And really, I don’t think it will – and I know that’s hard for some of you to believe due to my negative feelings about this team when entering this season!
Heck, even I can’t believe that I’m saying this too!
I’m giving the Blueshirts the benefit of the doubt after this wet diaper – and not only because of the way they’ve played in this season thus far – but because the down-and-out Devils desperately needed a win too.
As even Dave Maloney mentioned on the broadcast – and there are already rumors about Devils’ head coach Sheldon Keefe’s future in Newark.
One last silver lining?
At least Jack Hughes (who I’ll never boo or root against again – USA! USA! USA!) didn’t beat them.
Instead, and the Rangers beat themselves.
Before continuing, as we do have some news and a GAME REVIEW to get into; then in case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – another Rangers’ drubbing of the Lightning (and I can’t believe I’m saying those words either!):
NYR/TBL 10/13 Review: “The JFK” Blueshirts Beat Down Bolts (Again); Play Another Near Flawless Game on The ESPN/Hallmark Dubbed “Frozen Frenzy”, Lafreniere Strikes Twice; Lightning Don’t, TEAM WIDE VICTORY (Except For Pavel “We’re Waiting On Ya To Score” Dorofeyev); “MASON DIXON LINE” Excels (As Usual), “WHY NOT THE RANGERS?”, Smits Happens, Durzi/Pettersson Fit Like An Old Hat; Garand Downs The Cat, Be Proud, M$GN & More
On Wednesday, following the Rangers’ 4-1 victory over the Bolts from the night before, and the team reconvened for practice at their training facility in Tarrytown.
There was one roster transaction made prior to the A.M. skate, as Cole Beaudoin had been returned to Hartford for the second time this season. In a corresponding call-up, veteran Justin Dowling was promoted to the varsity squad.
(Dowling, as a result, played in his first game this season on Thursday night.)
As far as Beaudoin goes, then right before he was sent down for a day last Saturday, before immediately returning to the Rangers for Sunday’s 6-2 win against the Canucks, then I said that he hadn’t really showed much.
Nothing against Beaudoin, but unlike other Ranger rookies, Dylan Garand and Alberts Smits, then he doesn’t look quite ready yet.
Due to Beaudoin’s young age (twenty-years-old) and lack of pro experience, then it made all of the sense in the world to return him to Hartford.
After all, then it doesn’t do the player or the team any good to have this young man playing only three-minutes a night – and as was the case on Tuesday night against Tampa.
If you recall back to the start of the season (Game 4), when Joe Veleno went down with his three-month injury, then I said that I would’ve called up a Dowling, Anton Blidh or any other veteran type – as it makes more sense to put a veteran in a limited role position rather than a young kid in his development stage.
And while it was nice to see the Rangers give Beaudoin a chance, then let’s face it – then if Veleno never got hurt against Utah – then Beaudoin would’ve never been promoted in the first place.
For Beaudoin, then he got his taste of the NHL and what it’s all about. Now, he can work on his game in Hartford, where presumably, he’ll play first line minutes for the AHL affiliate.
Dowling, 36-years-old, is more suited to play fourth-line minutes than a player sixteen years his junior.
Furthermore, then at both his age and level of experience, then I’m sure that Dowling is more than happy to receive an NHL payday and whether it’s on the fourth line or in the press box as a healthy scratch.
Good luck to Beaudoin as he tries to advance his NHL career.
As noted in my Blueshirts/Bolts review, then only Beaudoin played less than Matt Rempe did on Tuesday night.
Following the Rangers’ Wednesday practice, where of note, Pavel Dorofeyev, still on PP1, was switched to the bumper position, a lot of the media attention during Sullivan’s post-skate was on Rempe.
Rempe, who earlier in the day, told Newsday’s Colin Stephenson that his hand was alright after fighting on Tuesday, while also adding that Jeff Viel had challenged him to a fight, heard his coach say the following about him:
“There’s a value when you have a player like Rempe in the line-up. He’s going to keep players honest with how they approach the game. Nobody polices the game better than the players themselves.”
While I don’t know if I’d really consider Rempe as a true enforcer, or at least not like an enforcer from the days of old (I mean, Rempe isn’t exactly a Bob Probert – and I don’t think #73’s presence will ever deter a Tom Wilson type either); but it was nice to hear the head coach shower some praise upon his hard-workin’ big man.
Funny enough?
Then Rempe was made a healthy scratch tonight.
I’ve heard conflicting reports about this.
As noted, Stephenson said that Rempe was fine after his fight. However, some fans in-attendance, including one who claimed to know #73, said that Rempe sliced his hand.
While the injury isn’t serious, and where Rempe could’ve played if required, then I guess it wasn’t worth the risk this early into the season.
Sullivan, who you can tell, is very proud of his team right now (again – these words were uttered prior to Thursday night’s debacle), spoke for nearly a whopping fifteen-minutes on Wednesday.
Here’s the video of his media session:
On Thursday morning, GAME DAY, the Rangers had an optional practice in Newark – and where it was well-attended and led by captain J.T. Miller.
Joining Miller were Smits, Durzi, Morrow, Dowling, Rempe, Tolvanen, Bjorkstrand and Chmelar – as you had a healthy mix of young guys and veterans.
While this isn’t a criticism, but it is worth mentioning – but neither Zibanejad or the struggling Dorofeyev were there.
At least the captain was.
That’s leadership.
One last news item – and one that may come into play come Saturday in Columbus, Ohio too.
A few hours prior to puck drop on Thursday night and the Hartford Wolf Pack announced the PTO signing of James Reimer.
Reimer is expected to immediately join the Pack for their weekend games.
In a corresponding move, then defenseman Anthony Kehrer was loaned to the Worcester Railers (ECHL).
Should Reimer, who turns 38-years-old on March 15th, play (and then win) for the Rangers, then it will mark his ninth NHL stop, after previously playing for Toronto, San Jose, Florida, Carolina, Detroit, Anaheim, Buffalo and Ottawa.
As brought up last week, then only Cam Talbot has won games for nine different NHL franchises.
Should Reimer ever play for the Rangers, then Talbot’s record will remain in-tact, as Reimer never won a game for the Ducks (0-2).
And after watching Spencer Martin in relief on Thursday night – then I wouldn’t rule out recalling Reimer off his PTO deal right away either.
After all, we already know what Martin is – and it’s not good.
In my eyes, this signing made sense.
Reimer gives Hartford help until Joonas Korpisalo is able to return – and even then – and Reimer could still be in the mix – as again – then no one besides Chris Drury even knows why Martin is still here.
In a Blueshirts’ best case scenario, then Reimer, under a temporary deal, becomes permanent.
After all, if that’s what transpires, then that means that Garand, and despite this Devils’ debacle, would have solidified his place in net as the Rangers’ starter.
Should Garand falter as starter?
Then the Rangers may look for goaltending help elsewhere.
For now, then Reimer is a band-aid – but where we hope that Garand stops the bleeding himself.
Here was Sullivan’s line-up for the ninth game of this 2026-27 campaign:
FIRST LINE: Perreault/Mika/Dorofeyev
SECOND LINE: Kartye/Miller/Lafreniere
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Laba/Tolvanen
FOURTH LINE: Bjorkstrand/Dowling/Chmelar
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Pettersson/Durzi
THIRD PAIR: Smits/Schneider
STARTER: Garand
BACK-UP: Martin
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Morrow, Rempe and Parssinen
LTIR: Korpisalo and Veleno
SEASON ENDING LTIR: CZAR IGOR
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
D. Garand#33
|
|---|
|
S. Martin#41
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 13 | 4 | 9 | .692 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24:25 | 0 |
| 18 | 3 | 15 | .833 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35:21 | 0 |
|
NJD
|
|
N. Daws#50
|
|---|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 19 | 1 | 18 | .947 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59:40 | 0 |
The M$GN pregame show tonight consisted of Sieve Vagistat and John Giannone.
You know the drill – I immediately turned off M$GN once it was revealed that the idiotic Vagistat, the favorite customer over at “The Ramrod,” was left to his own devices.
A half-hour later I returned to M$GN, where thankfully, Vagistat was off of my screen and Dave Maloney & Kenny Albert were now on it.
And with that said, GAME REVIEW time – and I’ll try to limit the pain too!
FIRST PERIOD:
As Dylan Garand and Nico Daws settled into their nets, then in a battle of the captains and Nico Hischier beat J.T. Miller at the dot.
Just 28-seconds in and Gavrikov laid a nice hit on the Devils’ captain, thus forcing a New Jersey offside.
A minute later and Perreault forced a turnover at center ice.
Daws soon the made the first save of the game, and as he did on Dorofeyev.
After that, then Schneider, Lafreniere, Miller and Perreault all blocked shots within the first four-minutes, thus helping out Garand early.
Come the five-minute mark, then Dorofeyev’s weak shot held up as the only SOG of the game.
With not much going on offensively, then this is when Maloney brought up the rumors about Sheldon Keefe’s future with the Newark hockey club.
At the 6:30 mark, Jack Hughes hit the post – a break for the Blueshirts.
Following a Devils’ icing at the 7:12 mark and Garand was still looking to make his first save.
At the 7:25 mark, Cuylle absolutely leveled Declan Chisholm with a big time hit. This led to Johnathan Kovacevic challenging CUYLLE HAND LUKE to a fight. This fight was mainly a draw, but the Ranger did win the Greco-Roman wrestling match with his takedown for two points.
Take a look:
Johnathan Kovacevic and Will Cuylle drop the gloves after a BIG hit from Cuylle 🫨👊 https://t.co/9eu7c1DOLT
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 15, 2026
Just to mention it – but Kovacevic didn’t get a two-minute instigator. What else was Cuylle supposed to do there after being challenged for making a clean hit?
By the 8:30 mark, Daws made a pair of stops on Schneider and Miller. As a result, the SOG tally at the time read as New York 3, New Jersey 0.
At the 9:20 mark, Dorofeyev stripped Brett Pesce of the puck but then had his shot blocked by the Devils’ d-man.
As a result, at the 9:49 mark – Garand finally made his first save of the game – and on who else – Jack Hughes.
A few seconds later and Garand stopped Amadeus “Don’t Call Me Vinny” Lombardi.
Out of TV timeout following the half-way mark of the game and M$GN ran Sullivan’s pregame comments about Dorofeyev, and how he hopes the new Russian in town “catches fire.”
At the time, then the new import was sitting in an ice bath.
Marcus Pettersson, ever so reliable, blocked a Timo “Unibrow” Meier attempt. (And is it me, but as a Ranger fan – and is Meier now the most despised Devil of them all?) However, the d-man lost his stick, which then allowed the Devils to have their best attack of the game.
Once Garand was able to freeze the puck, Durzi and Meier went at it in front of the Rangers’ net – and where once again – every Blueshirt was there to back up their teammate.
Now down to 8:02 remaining – and the officials decided to give the Devils a 5 x 3 power-play, as Petterson was boxed for holding Dawson Mercer, while Laba was nailed for slashing Jack Hughes.
The Rangers’ PK, who entered this game with the second-best man-down teams in the NHL, were now put under unfortunate circumstances.
Miller, Durzi and Gavrikov were extremely noticeable in the first (and successful) minute of the two-man down team.
This penalty kill was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
Not only did the Rangers kill it off – but they didn’t allow the Devils to get a shot off either!
And Mika and Schneider almost scored at the end of it too.
JUST AMAZING WORK BY THE PENALTY KILL!
And you know what I always say – then if you can’t score a on a 2:00 5 x 3 power-play – then you deserve to lose.
Unfortunately – and that’s not what happened tonight.
Good things happen after making big penalty kills, as once returned to full-strength and Jonas Siegenthaler tripped Smits with 5:23 remaining in the frame.
After the Devils couldn’t even get one shot off on their 5 x 3 power-play and it took Fox all of seventeen-seconds to challenge Daws.
While this shot didn’t go for a goal, but at least it was a shot.
It was also the only shot during this Rangers’ power-play too – as the first man-up quintet continues to struggle when trying to score PPGs.
Down to 1:45 remaining and Gavrikov was able to get back and block a Hischier attempt.
Thirty seconds later and Daws made a hell of a save on Smits.
Just as you thought this period would end as nil-nil, then, and with just 29.8-seconds remaining and Miller made a god awful turnover from the boards – and right to center ice to an awaiting Evan Rodrigues – and for the easy 1-0, them, goal too:
Rodrigues gets us started in the Hudson River Rivalry after a NYR turnover 😤 https://t.co/79StPpxNR1
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 15, 2026
1-0, through twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, them, through 20. 1P thoughts:
— I’m not gonna get on J.T. Miller for that god-awful turnover with only 30-seconds to go. You can see he’s beating himself up over it.
— Plus: Miller, along with five others, were a huge part why the game was still scoreless – as that 5 x 3 penalty kill was absolutely flawless. No goal allowed – nor shots either!
— SOG, 6-5, Devils. Not much offense, but this isn’t boring either.
— Cuylle continues to bring the noise and the funk with his hits – wish he didn’t have to leave the ice for five-minutes for defending himself (at least call an instigator on the Devils).
— Maloney said that Sullivan wants Dorofeyev “to catch fire.” Instead, and the Russian is sitting in an ice bath.
— Smits is growing more noticeable, while Pettersson/Durzi continue to impress.
— The Rangers already have ten blocked shots. The Devils have six.
SECOND PERIOD
In another captain v. captain faceoff to commence the period and Hischier won another against Miller.
Eighteen seconds later and Luke Hughes cleanly beat Garand for the 2-0, them, goal:
New Jersey goal!
Scored by Luke Hughes with 19:42 left in the 2nd. Assisted by Timo Meier and Brett Pesce.
NJD: 2 | NYR: 0
#NYRvsNJD #NJDevils #NYR https://t.co/uE6culMTFT
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 16, 2026
Hughes just beat the Ranger goalie with a simple shot – and one that Garand has routinely stopped in his previous starts.
At the time, Garand, 5/7, had a .714 save percentage.
It also meant that the Devils had scored two goals in 48-seconds of game-time.
At the 3:54 mark, the Devils almost had a chance at the field goal, but on the 2 x 1 odd-man rush Hischier missed the net.
However, and on the same attack, Hischier didn’t miss a second time, as he scored the 3-0, them goal, on a rebound set up by Meier.
Now down by three scores – and Sullivan took his timeout at the 4:08 mark.
It didn’t help, as the Devils won the ensuing faceoff, went on the attack and bang-bang-bang, 4-0 them after the Hughes-to-Gritsyuk rebound connection:
Saved them a front-row seat to the show. https://t.co/aBdj5kqGPr
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 16, 2026
This ended Garand’s night at just the 4:39 mark, as Spencer Martin entered the game – and his first of the season.
Martin, just seconds after entering the game, had to stop Luke Hughes on a breakaway.
Down to 12:07 remaining and the Devils had another mini-breakaway but Jack just went wide.
Approaching the half-way mark of the game/period and the Rangers were on a near ten-minute SOG drought – while Daws, who entered the game with a GAA over 4.50, was only tested seven times.
Down to 8:48 remaining and Gavrikov sacrificed himself when he blocked Hamilton from point-blank range. After this and Kartye came close, but Mercer, at the last second, was able to deflect the puck away from Daws.
Come 5:30 left in the period – and the Rangers were still stuck on 7 SOG, as their SOG drought had now extended past fifteen-minutes.
Down to 4:50 remaining and Daws finally made his eighth save – on Lafreniere.
With 3:26 to go, Jack’s little brother scored again:
Luke Hughes goes dancin’ and it’s 5-0 DEVILS 😳 https://t.co/dI3wDkNxix
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 16, 2026
5-0, ugh, them, after Luke skated around Chmelar and rung the puck around the iron for the see ya, Rangers, goal.
Come 94-seconds remaining – a rare occurrence – a Rangers’ save – as Martin denied Kovacevic of the Devils’ inevitable touchdown.
5-0, them, through 40-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
5-0, ugh, Devils, after two periods. 2P Thoughts:
— Well, Garand wasn’t going to stay perfect forever.
— I wouldn’t be hellbent over Hellebuyck either.
— Like Garand, and every team has 3-4 bad losses a season. This is one of them for the Rangers.
— Jack Hughes isn’t beating them – but his brother is.
— So, is Dorofeyev going to do anything?
— The poor Ranger fans in-attendance. Ouch.
— SOG, Devils 20, Rangers 10.
THIRD PERIOD
Miller lost another draw to Hischier to open the period.
Some 2:57 later, the Rangers got their second power-play of the game, as Meier, for some stupid reason, crashed into Martin – goaltender interference.
Daws was able to hold off the Rangers’ first man-up quintet 30 seconds in – and where Zibanejad’s deflection off of the post gave the goalie a break too.
The first unit, some 90-seconds later, were now 0-2 on the power-play.
At the 6:01 mark, Lombardi scored the Devils’ touchdown that we all knew was coming – and where the only solace in this score was for the over-under bettors (-5.5).
Down to 12:23 to go and the Blueshirts received their third power-play of the game as Luke Hughes went off for holding Zibanejad.
Out of a TV timeout and the power-play commenced – and with Sullivan still using his first team that hadn’t scored a man-up goal in a dog’s age.
They did score here – as Adam Fox fired a puck from the point and Dorofeyev deflected it for the 6-1, A-ROD, goal.
Down to eleven-minutes remaining and Mika had a chance, but you know the deal, wide.
Come 10:35 to go, the Rangers returned to the box as Pettersson was sent to the sin bin for a delay of game (puck over glass).
The Devils, now on their second power-play, but their first of the 5 x 4 variety, had the same result – nada – and as a result – the Rangers’ PK was now 3/3.
However, the Rangers were right back on the PK, as just seconds back on even-strength and Pettersson kicked off a scrum when he took down Bratt with a cross-check.
In other words, down to 8:21 remaining and the Devils had their third power-play of the game.
With Luke Hughes looking for the hatty, he was shooting any puck sent his way.
If there was anything redeeming for the Rangers on this night, then it was the fact that the PK was now 4/4, including the 5 x 3 kill.
Down to 6:00 left and Noesan, with nothing but net to shoot at, hit the crossbar.
23-seconds later, and just to prolong the game, and the Rangers were back on the power-play as Kovacevic cross-checked Perreault.
The Rangers, just terrible on the power-play this season, did themselves no favors as Cody Glass scored a short-handed goal with 5:06 left on the clock.
7-1.
It looked like Mercer had tripped Fox to set-up the breakaway goal, but the refs weren’t having it.
This also ended Lafreniere’s night, as off-camera, he must’ve cursed out a referee as he was given a ten-minute game misconduct for “abuse of an official.”
M$GN, a network that has cameras everywhere, refused to show us whatever Lafreniere did. Talk about STATE TELEVISION.
The rest of this game were mainly Devil fans serenading the arena with bellowing chants of “RANGERS SUCK!”
7-1, them, your final from Newark.
Following the Tuesday win over Tampa, Sullivan bellowed from the rooftops that the game was pure “RANGER HOCKEY.”
How fast one game can be different than another.
This loss wasn’t like anything we’ve seen this season – as it was the first time where the Rangers got blown out.
Even the other two losses were essentially one-goal losses (Boston and Washington).
One last time:
BURN THE TAPE.
I’d also like to add here an assignment that Stan Fischler gave me – some early grades for “THE MASON DIXON LINE” and the Rangers three pairs.
From the “Younger Maven” to the “Young Maven,” the following:
Will Cuylle – an easy A+. He’s leading the league in hits, willing to fight and scores points too.
Noah Laba – a quiet B+. The points haven’t come quite yet, but he’s defensively reliable and winning a ton of faceoffs to boot.
Eeli Tolvanen – a solid B+. Like another former Krakhead-turned-Ranger, Tye Kartye, and Tolvanen is making the other 31 GMs in the league look foolish for not signing him on the cheap.
Adam Fox & Vladislav Gavrikov – a collective A. But if you focus on Fox alone, then his grade dips to a B – and only because of his role as the quarterback of a bad and unproductive power-play. Gavrikov? He remains as an A – as he’s a featured part of the best PK in the league.
Marcus Petterson and Sean Durzi – A’s across the board. I’m still in awe how two guys, even if they are veterans, feel like they’ve been teaming/playing together for years. I just wish that Dorofeyev acclimated to New York as quickly as this pair.
Alberts Smits and Braden Schneider – B’s all over. Neither have been bad, nor great either, but they haven’t hurt the team at all. You can see the potential in the 18-year-old rookie and for all of the criticism that Schneider gets – and I think a lot of it is bullshit.
Up Next For The Rangers: Saturday night, in THE Ohio State.
Up Next For Me: The god damn toilet.
As brought up all-week, then I have my first colonoscopy (I’m getting too old!) scheduled for Saturday, which means nothing but flushing and wiping all day Friday – which is also a good way to describe how the Devils handled the Rangers!
As also noted earlier this week, then once recovered, and I’m going out with the old man and friends on Saturday night, at our favorite watering hole – and where we will watch both the Rangers and Notre Dame football.
I’ve been told by people, mainly my dumbass friends who pretend to have medical degrees, that only alcohol can help the anal medical procedure recovery.
I’m sure Vagistat says the same!
It’s my plan to share a few words on this site with you on Sunday about whatever happens against the lowly Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
That said, and expect CBJ to come out pissed off – as in their last game played, Tuesday, 10/13, and they were decimated by the Florida Panthers by a final score of 7-3 – Brady Tkachuk’s first of two hat tricks this season – and where Brother Matt chipped in five assists too.
In other words, CBJ, come puck drop on Saturday, will have been stewing for four days.
Let’s hope the Rangers two-day stew job overcomes whatever CBJ throws at them.
And with that all said, your favorite segment and mine (and wish my poor five-hole some luck on Friday too)…
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
