Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. This will be a short one (at least “short” for me) tonight.
After all, how many times can you say the same things over and over?
Heck, writing about these games is like recapping a Seinfeld episode that you’ve already watched six times in a week!
Plus, I’m also coming off a long overtime shift at work – and these Blueshirts did nothing to wake me up either!
But hey – I’m still here – and forever as long as that may be!
On Thursday night, the 2025-26 reeling Rangers, a team that feels like it hasn’t scored since the Herbert Hoover administration, entered Toronto by looking to snap a two-game losing streak – and a lengthy goal scoring drought too.
By the end of the evening – and the Blueshirts settled for half of their goals – and where yes – I’m all too aware of the irony of that word – “GOALS!”
While the Rangers did pick up a point in the standings as a result of their 2-1 overtime loss (while also extending their win-less streak to three straight matches); but once again – and scoring goals was like asking these guys to find a needle in a haystack.
Of all people, and it was Juuso Parssinen, who was previously a healthy scratch during the recent two-game homestand, that snapped a Blueshirts’ goal drought that had hit an ungodly 170:39.
Parssinen’s third period equalizer matched a previous Matthew Knies power-play goal which was scored during the first frame.
And as it’s been throughout the majority of these past half-dozen games – and once again it was the Blueshirts’ bottom-six whom did all of the heavy lifting.
Worse than that?
Come the overtime period and Rangers’ bench boss, Mike Sullivan, looked wise when he opened up the three-vs-three portion of hockey with J.T. Miller, Alexis Lafreniere and Vladislav Gavrikov.
After Miller won the faceoff, Gavrikov, who was only there for defensive purposes (meaning had Miller lost the draw), immediately changed for his partner, Adam Fox.
The Rangers spent the first fifty-seconds of bonus time in Toronto’s zone, which also allowed both NDArtemi Panarin and Stinka Zibanedud to come on for Miller and Lafreniere.
Eight-seconds later?
A puck in the back of CZAR IGOR’s net, as Zibanejad had turned over a puck in his own zone, which then led both William Nylander and Auston Matthews on a 2 x 1 odd-man rush against a defending Fox.
As Panarin refused to hustle back (nor assault any nets either – and with no goals through six-games played thus far – then you have to wonder when he’ll start assaulting nets as if they were female M$G employees), then Fox had no chance against this Leaf power two-some.
Neither did Igor, as all he could do was watch as Matthews tapped-in Nylander’s pass.
For Nylander, this game-winning assist was his seventh helper of the season – or in other words – about 798678679867986876897669 more than the points that Miller, Panarin and Lafreniere have this season – and where the Leaf has played in less games (5) than these BIG BUCK BLUESHIRTS have played in too (6).
(Yes, I may be exaggerating that figure of 798678679867986876897669 – but it sure feels that way!)
This game was another cruel reminder from this young season that despite CZAR IGOR’s status as the best goalie in the NHL – he’s also being outplayed by nearly every opponent that he squares-off against too.
(And yes, I had a tough time when writing that very difficult, yet true, sentence.)
Whether it’s Arturs Silovs, Stuart Skinner, or on this night, another journeyman in Anthony Stolarz – and it’s the other team’s back-up that’s not only facing more of a work-load (more SOG faced/more saves/more robbery saves) – but also making that one extra save too.
And that’s not an indictment on Igor either.
It’s just what it is right now.
After watching Thursday’s tilt, then all you could do was cry – and if you don’t know why I’m using the word “cry” here, then here’s where I last left off:
NYR/EDM 10/14 Review: Centennial Rangers Make NHL History; First Team To Get Shut-Out In First Three Home Games, Blueshirts Say No To All of Their HOF Alumni; Kreider Making An Ass Out of Bozo Drury Too, The Biggest Difference Between Miller & Zibanejad; Very Telling Post-Game Interviews, The New Third Line/Old Fourth Line – Edstrom, Carrick & Rempe Stand Tall Among All, Another Pissed-Away CZAR IGOR Start; All Games Count, NDArtemi Unable To Assault Oilers, WE MISS CHRIS; CK20 Leads League in PPG’s, Lundqvist’s New Book, M$GN & More
Just to jump ahead for a second, then I found it sad, hilarious and telling (and all at once) when Miller basically said the same thing that he said following the loss to Edmonton – and right down to the “don’t blow this out of proportion” stuff:
“If you’re mentally weak, you’re gonna go off the rails because this isn’t working on paper. It’s about getting the look. It’s not about if it goes in. We’re gonna keep pounding pucks at the net & outplaying teams we’re playing against & it’s gonna work eventually”
– J.T. Miller pic.twitter.com/hgDXwigv1K
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) October 17, 2025
What did Mika say?
Who knows?
Just like last year, and when the times get trying – and Mika goes crying – while not being available for the media too.
But if I had to reckon what Zibanedud was doing after the game, then I’d imagine it went something like this:
What a game for Zibanedud #nyr pic.twitter.com/7Ngkv8e1T9
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 17, 2025
And what did Panarin say?
Well he must have an NDA with the Rangers’ reporters too – as nary a word!
Let’s now get into a heavy news portion of tonight’s tome before blowing through the GAME REVIEW segment.
As previously noted in this space, then I found it odd at the time when Carson Soucy, who we’re all speculating sustained a concussion, was immediately placed on the injured reserve list after the third game of the season (against the Penguins), when Vincent Trocheck, who was injured during the second game of the season (against the Sabres), was just ruled out on a “week-by-week” basis.
After all, if Soucy was going to be placed on the IR (which opened up cap-relief until his return), then why not do the same with Trocheck?
And as also said at the time, then this is why the Blueshirts recalled Connor Mackey ($775K) over Scott Morrow ($916,667), as despite the small difference in-between salaries/cap-hits – and the Blueshirts couldn’t afford Morrow, as they are presently teetering at the salary-cap ceiling – and for no goals scored on home ice too!
On Wednesday, October 15th, and just prior to the team’s final practice before boarding their bird to Canada for a two-game roadie – and the Rangers announced that Trocheck had now been placed on LTIR, retroactive to 10/11.
Per LTIR rules, then #16 can’t return until November 1st, when the Rangers will play guest in Seattle.
And since that game against the Krakheads is the fourth-and-final game of a late-night (EST) road-trip – then, and assuming that things are working out during Trocheck’s recovery – and you probably won’t see him again until November 4th, when the Blueshirts host the Hurricanes at M$G.
Then again, this is also the same franchise that’s being run by Chris Drury – you know the team president/general manager that flew Filip Chytil a few times back-and-forth coast-to-coast last season – and only to not play him once arrived.
How’d that work out?
As said then, and as I’ll say again here – and it would be idiotic to interrupt Trocheck’s recovery/rehab by making him board a 6,000-miles round-trip flight.
Instead, it would be in the best interest of all parties involved to return #16 (again, assuming that he’s healthy come 11/1) when the Rangers host the Canes.
Not only would you avoid unnecessary travel for Trocheck, but with three off-days between the games against the Kraken and Hurricanes – then it would also allow ample practice time for Trocheck too.
With Trocheck now on LTIR, then, and in a corresponding move, and the Blueshirts decided to recall Morrow from Hartford.
Why not a forward?
Easy – the Rangers already have a spare forward.
Furthermore, and as brought up on this site after the Soucy injury information became official – then it makes sense to carry two spare defensemen (but only during road-trips).
After all, should the Blueshirts blow out of any of their spare forwards, then you could always dress 11F/7D.
And of course, this road-trip is a short one and it’s always better to err on the side of defense than offense – or at least that used to be the case – as the Blueshirts could most certainly use some offense these days – and rather than offending us with all of these anemic scoring attempts!
In our latest “SAME OLD RANGERS” story, and it was reported early Thursday morning that Brennan Othmann’s name has been floating around on the NHL’s trade block.
Why S.O.R.?
Because, and just like last year, and really, during most of Drury’s tenure as GM too – and once again – it’s the Rangers who are involved in negative trading block news.
What? Did you already forget about the Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba sagas from last season, which began immediately after “Et Tu Drury” stabbed Barclay Goodrow in the back?
The Blueshirts hadn’t even played in six games by the time that this Othmann story broke – but yet again – and they are in the news for all of the wrong reasons.
And of course, and from the department of “SAME OLD BLUESHIRTS’ BIRD BRAIN BEAT” – and it was not one of the usual Ranger quote transcribers to break this news.
As is always the case, and it was a reporter out of Canada, Elliotte Friedman, that had the news first.
(But don’t worry – Wince, through clickbait, is doing his best when “confirming what Friedman reported” – aka – the usual!)
According to Mr. 32 Thoughts and Othmann, and like so many Rangers’ first-round picks/busts before him, wants a chance to play in the NHL – and even if he’s done NOTHING to earn a spot – and despite every opportunity being given to him on a silver platter too.
Also hurting the soon-to-be Blueshirts’ flame-out is the fact that the Rangers have a bunch of young wingers in the system – players like Gabe Perreault and Brett Berard – and a pair of YOUTS who seem to be light-years ahead of Othmann too.
(In a way, and you can also throw Cuylle’s name into this conversation too.)
And let me say this for the 79867867986868679867986798236478634th time on this site and then move onto our next news item:
Who can ever forget, and just prior to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, when Chris Drury deemed the likes of Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil and Brennan Othmann himself, as “untouchable.”
Not only could the Rangers have landed Jake Guentzel at the time – but they could’ve brought in an in-his-prime J.T. Miller too – and when the Blueshirts needed him the most.
But you’ve heard me pull a Mika (cry) about this topic before, and with that purged from my system, our next topic of discussion.
In other news from the Mouth of Friedman (and while the birdbrain beat didn’t have an inkling about this either), and the main man in Canada reported that Panarin, a pending unrestricted free agent, has shut down talks about him accepting a team-friendly contract extension, ala the one that Connor McDavid just signed in Edmonton.
While it remains to be seen what happens (and Panarin’s play thus far isn’t helping his case for more bread in his bank either); but if Friedman is correct (and he’s rarely wrong for that matter too), then Panarin wants big money in order to stay.
To be blunt, and again, assuming that this report is true – then Panarin is kind of a dick.
After all, both of team owner Jim Dolan’s entities, M$G and the Rangers, did their best when trying to cover-up the Panarin sexual assault allegations and confirmed NDA payout settlement- and even today – and outside of me and a few other pundits – and you don’t hear anyone else talking about it.
And when things got bad for Panarin during the 2021 season (the nonsense – FALSE ALLEGATIONS at that) – and the Rangers were there for both him and his family.
I get that this is a business – and despite all of Panarin’s off-ice drama – he’s still the greatest free agent signing in franchise history too – but this report just makes me sick of him a little bit more.
As I’ve predicted several times during the past months – then I see Panarin with his BFF, Sergei Bobrovsky, in Florida, come the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
And I’ve predicted this BEFORE Panarin’s first dreadful six-games of this season.
While NHLers are aging better than ever before; I also just don’t see the upside in giving Panarin a long-term deal.
And unlike McDavid, then the Russian’s reported refusal of a team-friendly deal tells me that he’s not that interested in winning either.
After all, and Panarin has already earned over $100M in his career.
Is an extra $1M, $2M, $3M per-season discount really going to affect his lifestyle?
Then again, perhaps he needs all of the money that he can get – as that way – he’ll have more money at his disposal whenever signing NDA’s with alleged assault victims.
The Rangers practiced on Wednesday, Sullivan said nothing of note afterwards and then the team touchdowned in Toronto.
And just to say it:
Then of course, and mum’s still the word on whatever is currently plaguing both Trocheck and Soucy.
Here was Sully’s line-up for the sixth game of this 2025-26 season – and where it should be mentioned that the head coach flip-flopped Lafreniere and Cuylle as the game went on (in order to give #50 more ice time):
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Zibanejad/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Miller/Sheary
THIRD LINE: Parssinen/Laba/Raddysh
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Robertson/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jonny Brodzinski, Connor Mackey and Scott Morrow
LTIR: Vincent Trocheck
IR: Carson Soucy
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 24 | 2 | 22 | .917 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:51 | 0 |
|
TOR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 29 | 1 | 28 | .966 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:48 | 0 |
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the Gotham Sports App SUCKS.
Since I was at the real j-o-b tonight (and where I use all of my break-time to watch these games); then I wasn’t at home.
In turn, and since the Gotham Sports Crap never works – I was forced to find an illegal stream of this game – and despite yours truly paying a hefty cable bill (Optimum) in order to get this terribly produced application.
(And as a reminder – then previous to the Gotham Sports App – and I never had a problem whenever watching the M$GN app.)
I couldn’t find an M$GN stream of this match until the second period.
Admittedly, I found the Toronto stream/broadcast to be both entertaining and informative.
Furthermore – and there was no Sieve Vagistat to be found in Toronto either – and where sadly, M$GN viewers had to deal with a “SOLO SIEVE” pregame show.
My condolences.
But once I was able to find an M$GN stream right before puck drop of the middle period – then I switched over – because for as much as I can’t stand Vagistat, then equally – and I just adore and appreciate Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney.
As noted up top, I have to blow through tonight’s GAME REVIEW due to my own personal and work schedule.
In turn, just a bullet-point format tonight – and really – how many of you want to relive another Rangers’ repeat episode this season?
(And why write at all? Easy. For the sake of posterity/archives. I am a Rangers’ historian after all – and if you don’t know about that by now – then just wait for Monday night’s blog…)
FIRST PERIOD
— One-minute in – and CZAR IGOR had to stop Knies. At least these early SOG allowed, a staple of Rangers’ hockey throughout one-hundred-years, aren’t going into the Blueshirts’ net this season.
— Or at least not yet!
— And this is why I’m so concerned about these losses. After all, how long can you expect CZAR IGOR to be lights-out on game-in and game-out basis? At some point, the Rangers are going to have to lift him – and despite taking the air out of him when wasting all of these A+ showings.
— We had four alternating penalties in this first period – and with the Rangers making the first infraction (Panarin for hooking at the 4:20 mark).
— Toronto began their power-play by going 0-1.
— Taylor Raddysh, of all people (the third line most certainly rebounded in this game after having their ice time cut against the Oilers on Tuesday), almost scored a short-handed goal (wide) – and this was the closest that any team scored during these two-minutes.
— At the 7:22 mark, and with the Rangers having no SOG yet – and Will Cuylle drew Dakota Joshua for roughing.
— This was a BS penalty in my eyes. After all, I always say that you either box both guys or none at all following the events of a post-whistle scrum.
— The Blueshirts’ PP1 unit wasted two chances. Lafreniere couldn’t score from a foot out at a vacated net, while Zibanejad shot another puck at Stolarz.
— I’m telling you – this Rangers’ top-six, during this here centennial season, feels like a tribute to Gene Carr.
— “Jim, Gene Carr couldn’t hit the ocean from a pier!”
— At the ten-minute mark, Toronto was back on the power-play after Cuylle had blatantly hooked the Pajama Boy (former Islander captain John Tavares).
— The Rangers’ PK, previously flawless until this game, finally gave up their first power-play goal allowed of the season – and under fluky circumstances too.
— With just twelve-seconds remaining on the Leafs’ PP – and Matt Knies, following a shot from Nylander that practically hit “Knies’ Knees,” drew first blood:
A power play goal for the Buds? Very Knies! 💙 pic.twitter.com/24agSzcukX
— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) October 16, 2025
— 1-0, bad guys – and the score on the board that we largely had for the majority of this one.
— With 4:17 remaining, and the lone goal scorer of the game thus far had tripped the first Ranger to take a penalty.
— The PP1 unit remained god-awful and were unable to score – but once the PP2 unit came on – and Stolie The Goalie, and like every other goalie that the Rangers have seen this season (sans the one in Buffalo), came up with a monster robbery save – and where Cuylle was the victim of this particular crime.
— Seriously, and Stolarz looked like a goalie at M$G ice this season against the Rangers tonight.
— We remained at 1-0, them, through twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0 Leafs after 20, thoughts:
— Special Teams Swing Games
— Top guys look off
— Another goalie playing lights out against them.
—- Gotham sports suck #nyr— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 16, 2025
“SECOND PERIOD, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR HERE JOE?”
“A goal would be fucking fabulous Sam!” #nyr
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 17, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
— In case you haven’t received the message yet – and the top-six were basically hockey’s version of erectile dysfunction – and where sadly for Sullivan – then it’s only his bottom-six that’s getting it up these days.
— Just 1:23 in and Stolarz had committed his second robbery against Cuylle.
— No joke, and between Cuylle this game and Sam Carrick last game – and these two should both have had a hat trick to their names this season.
— But of course – “COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA!”
— It was also brought up, and on both broadcasts too, that both Chris Drury and his minion, Ryan Clowe, were in-town and joining the Rangers on this road-trip. This was interesting news, and especially with the NHL’s Governor’s meeting in N.Y.C. on Wednesday.
— And I’d love to see Drury’s face-to-face meeting with both Jeff Gorton and Jim Ramsay come Saturday in Montreal – that is – if the Rangers’ GM doesn’t watch the game on his phone from the parking lot!
— As it’s been thus far – and the other goalie not only matched CZAR IGOR with every save made – but made the extra one too.
— While it was bottom-sixers and d-men testing Stolie the most; the Toronto backstop was also able to make a save on a five-hole shootin’ J.T. Miller (8:20 remaining).
— Down to 6:02 remaining and the Rangers received their third power-play (Simon “Don’t Call Me Chris” Benoit for tripping Conor Sheary).
— The Blueshirts’ power-play then ended this man-advantage by going 0-3 – and where we got our first instance of Dave Maloney restraining himself – as he bit his tongue when talking about the ineffective Rangers’ man-up teams. (He would’ve went bat-shit about this if he was still on the radio.)
— Again – what’s Lafreniere doing? What’s Mika doing? What’s Panarin doing? And sorry to say it – but what’s Miller doing?
— I’m now starting to wonder if Miller, now as captain, is doing what Kevin Shattenkirk did during his first year here.
— If you recall, then double-deuces, who left about $30M on the table in order to come to New York, started his Rangers’ career by playing through a crippling knee injury. Simply put – and Shatty didn’t want to start his first Blueshirts’ season on the IR.
— And if you also recall, then Shattenkirk’s tenure in New York didn’t work out so well – and despite him putting all of his heart-and-soul, and his money-and-mouth as well, into it.
— Knowing Miller, then would it shock anyone if he’s forcing himself to play since he’s now been tasked to lead this team? Furthermore, and with Trocheck out – then he must feel like he can’t take a game off at this juncture – and especially with the team not being able to pot pucks.
— For more on Shattenkirk, then check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/8119/
— Following Toronto’s third kill, the fourth line jumped on, CZAR IGOR made a save – and this sprung them on a three-vs-one odd-man rush.
— Stolarz then robbed Carrick of what should’ve been his seventh goal of the season – and where that number also speaks to how many chances that he’s been creating – and how well his line is playing too.
— These freakin’ opposing goalies – but when you’re paying your top forwards a butt-load of money to score – then they should be beating these journeyman types too.
1-0, bad guys, through two periods.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, them, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Another goalie, another opposing goalie having the game of his life.
— Cuylle and Carrick should have multi-goal games.
— Special Teams Swing Games – TOR has 1 PPG, #NYR PP is 0-3
— Gotham Sports stinks— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 17, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
— The third line and third pair had an electrifying shift – but again, and say it with me – Stolarz – as the Toronto goalie stopped both U.V. and Schneider at the 2:17 mark.
— Fun Fact (at the time): The Rangers were the only team in the league history to face Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews in consecutive games – and about to shut out all of them. But of course, and the Rangers couldn’t score either – and Matthews would later turn this fact into fiction too.
— Ugh.
— At the 4:51 mark – a goal that may as well have kicked-off a confetti parade – as Parssinen finally ended the Rangers’ goal drought:
THE RANGERS HAVE SCORED!
Juuso Parssinen! pic.twitter.com/hFfHBkDiJx
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) October 17, 2025
— This goal wasn’t without controversy either, as about five-seconds before the Finn scored – and it looked like a Ranger skater had made contact with Stolarz.
— Leafs’ head coach Craig Berube, one of my RANGER KILLERS (check out the PLUGS segment), was given a long time by the officials when deciding whether to review this goal or not.
— Berube declined – and while it worked out for the Blueshirts – then I still couldn’t understand this decision.
— I mean what’s the worst-case scenario? The goal stands and the Rangers get a power-play?
— After all, the plug on the power-play has been pulled from the outlet.
— In a one-goal game, and with his goalie pitching a shutout – then I would’ve reviewed this goal. At the least, then it would have been a vote of confidence for his goalie.
— But that’s a Toronto problem – and not a New York problem.
— And as we know – and the Rangers have a lot of problems to worry about right now!
— The Rangers almost won this game in regulation – and where I need to stress the word ALMOST!
— Toronto, in the first ten-minutes of this period, only mustered up two shots on goal.
— Meanwhile, and Big Billy Borgen just missed, a sure-fire Carrick-to-Rempe try failed and Cuylle was stopped again too.
— Down to 9:40 remaining and Igor logged his third save of this third period – and as he did after denying a Nick Robertson one-timer.
— Two-minutes later, and where I forgot to mention this earlier (I always write in a stream-of-consciousness manner) – and Borgen was absolutely crushed into the boards by Nick Roy.
— I bring this up, because as also part of Morrow’s call-up, and Borgen was a game-time decision heading into this game, as he was dinged-up in the loss against Edmonton.
— I don’t know what was ailing Borgen (the NHL has an NDA with reporters in regards to injury information), but whatever it was – and he bounced right back-up from this big hit – while also never missing a shift afterwards either.
— As we approached, hit and surpassed the FOXWOODS FINAL FIVE mark – and it was clear as day – Sullivan was going to ride his bottom-six.
— For a guy like Rempe, then he must love Sully – and especially after the way Lateralette treated him.
— Speaking of Mr. Rempestein?
— Then, and with only 3:00 remaining – and the other giant – THE CONDOR FROM SWEDEN, government name Adam Edstrom, forced a turnover right in front of Stolarz. Stolarz was able to fight off the Silky Swede – but on a rebound afforded – then had his bucket knocked off after a blast from Rempe.
— Since the Rangers were attacking, then play continued. No matter for the Leafs, as the now (and temporarily maskless) Stolie The Goalie was able to survive – as his skaters bailed him out.
— Furthermore? Then it also spoke a lot of both the way that the fourth line is/was playing, and Sullivan too, when Edstrom/Carrick/Rempe were out there with a minute-remaining.
— Lateralette would never.
— The last chance the Rangers had took place during the last minute of regulation time, as following two Toronto icings – and Stolarz stopped Mika. A tale as old as time – a goalie stops the Swedish-Iranian.
1-1 after regulation.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-1 through 60. OT is required. 3P Thoughts:
— At least #NYR finally get a point out of these superb defensive efforts.
— Once again, and the Rangers have been the better team for the majority of this match.
— Bottom six > top six.
— Sully is really rewarding the bottom…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 17, 2025
OVERTIME
As noted above, the top-six did nothing – and then the two-highest paid forwards were the sole culprits in the team’s inability to net two-points in the standings.
Here’s Matthews making both Mika and Panarin look silly:
WILLIAM NYLANDER.
AUSTON MATTHEWS.
OVERTIME WINNER!!!@OREO | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/6mkMRuC4Sk— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 17, 2025
2-1, bad guys.
2-1, bad guys, your final.
2-1, bad guys, everyone associated with this franchise continued to push the “morale victory” rah-rah nonsense.
Morale victory?
How about a real victory?
And a goal every now-and-again wouldn’t hurt either!
Up Next For The Rangers: More excuses.
Also Up Next For The Rangers: A game against the upstart and exciting Canadiens from Montreal.
Get the poutine – and some hotdogs too!
There are so many negative numbers and stats right now in Rangerstown, USA – but I’ll be nice.
In other words, I’ll wait until my annual Quarter-Pole Progress Report (Game 21) to get into all of it.
After all, 21-games is a better sample-size than six-matches.
Until then, it’s still the Same Old Rangers – they do everything but win.
Sadly, “they do everything but win” largely speaks to a hundred year’s worth of history too.
Back at it after the Original Six match-up – and where the Canadie(a)n broadcast of this game may be more interesting than the state media M$GN provides too.
In other words?
I expect a lot of Jim Ramsay, Jeff Gorton and even Martin St. Louis talk on the HNIC broadcast; and not as much, if at all (if anyone will bring it up, then it will be Dave Maloney – and for that matter, and due to his NFL commitments – and I don’t think that Kenny Albert will be there either) on the M$GN version.
Last but not least?
With the way things are going, and knowing Drury’s history too – then I wouldn’t be surprised if we had another major story during Friday’s off-day.
7,000 words tonight – and where I thought this would be “short!”
My final words?
I desperately need my bed – which also means that we’ve reached your favorite segment too, you know…
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
