Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Now that was a “GOOD RESPONSE!”
If you can recall back to two nights ago, when I said that I wasn’t a fan of everyone talking about the team’s “good response” in a 1-0 shutout loss to the Blue Jackets (after being demolished by the Devils in the game prior, by a 7-1 final), then following Monday night’s 5-2 victory over the Ducks – and everyone and their mothers can now tout “GOOD RESPONSE!”
Perhaps the only exclusion?
The new $11M bust in town, the Russian import from Las Vegas, Pavel Dorofeyev – but more on him as we continue.
In fact, then at this time, let me share with you what I wrote last time around, as I’ll be referencing some of what I said on Saturday night in this very manifesto that you’re reading:
NYR/CBJ 10/17 Review: Rangers Take The Blue Jackets Off The Coat Hanger; Betray Dylan “The Great” Garand Too, The Post-Game Questions The Beat Reporters Should Have Asked; Loser Talk Galore, FAT CATS Can’t Score; Dorofeyev Strengthens “The Vegas Power-Play Merchant” Narrative, Exiled Edstrom Outscoring Big Buck Blueshirts, Colon Health PSA, What Fourth Liner Will Sully Demote Now, Night & Day: The PP & The PK, M$GN & More
The Rangers, after scoring only one goal in their last two games played (a lone power-play goal), entered Monday night at M$G on their worst losing streak of this young season (two games).
Despite whatever Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney were trying to sell tonight, in regards to the Ducks’ cross country flight, then I wasn’t really buying such an excuse.
After all, then the Ducks entered this game with a 4-3 record after seven games played, and where not only were they off over the weekend (they last played on Friday night, a 4-2 loss to Boston), but they had only played three games in the last nine days.
Conversely, then the Rangers took to the ice tonight with a 6-3-1 record, as their ten games played, along with Carolina and Vegas, were tops in the league.
Furthermore?
Then, and especially when compared to the days of old – and these players are staying in luxury hotels and have their own private planes.
In other words, then they aren’t shacking up four players in a shitty Motel 6 room, nor are they riding a rickety rail either.
And do you think guys from previous eras ever heard of a “personal masseuse,” a “nutrition specialist” or a “physical therapist” in their day?
In a match that featured the immovable object (the Rangers’ 5-0 home record) against the dominating force (the Ducks’ 3-0 away record), and it were the Blueshirts that prevailed – and they prevailed in so many ways too:
— Don’t let the final score fool you. Dylan Garand was once again perfect – or at least for the first 58:51 of the contest and with the score reading 5-0 in the Rangers’ favor. Only a pair of late Duck “A-Rod goals,” scored within the final not-so-nice 69-seconds, were the only pucks to beat the rookie Rangers’ netminder.
— The Blueshirts’ penalty kill was also flawless, as the second-best man-down team in the league went 3/3.
— The bottom-six was also noticeable and productive. Not only did Bjorkstrand score two goals, but Noah Laba led all skaters at the dot with an eye-popping 77.8% success rate (14/18).
— The miserable power-play (1/4 tonight) finally got on the board – but where that goal didn’t come without controversy either (more below).
— While there weren’t as many scrums in this game when compared to previous matches; but regardless, then when they were there and so were all five Rangers on the ice.
— Following Sean Durzi’s early-and-opening goal – and the Rangers never looked back. No joke? There was never a time when you thought that the Ducks could win this game.
— Just like the early season success – and this game was another team-wide effort – and where many stats were filled in the box score too as a result.
The best thing following the 5-2 blowout?
Not only did the Rangers end their recent losing streak – but they are now a perfect 6-0 at home this season too!
Why is this so impressive?
Easy – because I don’t even know if they won six games in regulation time at M$G last season! (And if they did, then it was when the season was long lost, post trade-deadline.)
I have an extremely detailed GAME REVIEW for you tonight, so I’ll save the bulk of what happened in the game for that segment.
However, and to jump ahead for a second, then I found a lot of the post-game stuff to be interesting.
Let me preface with what I’m about to say next with the absolute truth:
The Rangers were pretty much perfect on Monday night.
The only true imperfection?
The $11M bust.
And again – read my past blogs to find out why the “acclimation” excuse doesn’t work with me.
Dorofeyev, who must’ve struck a deal with the Devil when Chris Drury gifted him his new contract, and where per the terms of that contract with Satan, the Russian is bound to never score goals again, was indeed all over the ice tonight.
Heck, the Russian led all shooters in SOG (5), while also hitting the post once, to go along with his 6-7 misses.
But this is hockey – and not horseshoes & hand grenades.
To be blunt – “coming close,” and just as it is with prostitutes on a time clock, doesn’t work in hockey.
However, and before destroying Dorofeyev any further, then at this time, let’s sandwich-in some positivity – as really – while what Sully said about the new #16 on Broadway is a story – it also shouldn’t be the lede either – as plenty of Blueshirts gave us a lot to boast about.
“We did a great job. We took what the game gave us. We made good decisions for the most part. There was good execution,” said Mike Sullivan in his opening remarks. “We did a good job of funneling more pucks to the net. I’m happy for the guys. We played well. We created a lot of offense off of defense. We played an aggressive game and got results.”
“I’m thrilled for him. Both goals were exactly the same. Bar down,” said Sullivan when asked about Bjorkstrand’s big night. “He has an excellent release. I’m happy for him.”
“I was disappointed that he didn’t get the shutout,” said the head coach when asked about another near-perfect performance out of Garand. “He was excellent. He was solid tonight and made key saves for us. He was excellent in Columbus. He’s going to go in and make saves for us, timely saves. He has given us a chance to win every night and that’s all you can ask for.”
Now back to Dorofeyev.
As Sullivan was yawning when talking to the two simpletons of the beat, Wince & Mollie, then the head coach gave an elementary response when asked about Dorofeyev’s game:
“I thought it was one of Pav’s better games. He had chances. It just didn’t go in for him. His second effort on pucks was strong. Pav was good on the puck battles as well. I know that he wants to score. If he keeps playing games like this, then it will go in for him.”
Thankfully, Jonny Lazarus was also there (and as opposed to Saturday night – as he only does home games).
Lazarus, after the school children were done talking to the head coach, asked the only question that mattered – and something that not only did I bring up during tonight’s GAME REVIEW segment – but was also talking about on social media when it happened too.
To give you some background to Lazarus’ question/Sully’s answer, then the Rangers began the game 0/2 on the power-play – and also 0/1 when on a 5 x 3 two-man advantage.
During both of these power outages – and Dorofeyev was on the PP1 unit.
Come the second period, the Rangers were now on their third power-play of the game – and where this time – Gabe Perreault was on the first man-up team, while Dorofeyev sat on the bench.
Lazarus asked Sullivan about his decision, and in a response, the head coach gave us his most fiery quotable quote yet:
“You really want to know? You really want the answer? Then I asked the power-play unit to change smarter. Pav didn’t. At some point, there needs to be some accountability around it.
“Unfortunately for Pav, he was the guy. I told the power-play guys that we have to be smart. We have another unit that’s good and smart. I know that Pav is well-intentioned but we need to have a sense out there.
“When you extend your shifts, you get tired and don’t execute the same way because you don’t have the juice to play the right way. We’ve been asking our group to change for some time now and we have to take the appropriate measures.”
While not as vicious as Mike Keenan once was with Alexei Kovalev, as Sullivan was careful when using his words in an attempt to not completely bury his highest-paid forward; but the head coach made his point.
Unfortunately, this follow-up question of mine wasn’t asked (unless it happened off-camera, as I’m only going by what M$GN aired during their post-game show):
“If that’s the case, then why was Dorofeyev back with the PP1 team on the fourth power-play of the game – and especially with Perreault already having a goal to his name?”
Speaking of Sullivan?
Then let’s get into all of the pregame stuff, a sad update on Ron Duguay, and then conclude with tonight’s GAME REVIEW.
The Rangers, after being shutout by the Blue Jackets on Saturday, took off on Sunday.
Come Monday morning and the Blueshirts announced the following roster move:
The Rangers have signed forward Luke Glendening to a professional tryout agreement (PTO).
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) October 19, 2026
This was a harmless signing – that is – unless you’re Justin Dowling, currently centering the team’s fourth line.
(Perhaps Dowling was aware of this too – as he played his best game as a Ranger on Monday night. He arguably could’ve been credited with an assist on a Bjorkstrand goal and finished as +2.)
Luke Glendening, at 37-years-old, with thirteen years of NHL experience through nearly a thousand games played, was given this opportunity due to the Rangers need for a reliable fourth-line center after the injury sustained by Joe Veleno. Having last played for the Flyers last year, the defensive-oriented center has also spent time with the Devils, Lightning, Stars and Red Wings.
Once the Rangers had their A.M. skate on Monday morning and Glendening, wearing #43, was a healthy participant.
Sullivan, after the practice, talked about Drury’s latest acquisition as he said, “Luke obviously has a significant body of work in the league and the type of player that he is. He’s a reliable, conscientious player. Kills penalties. Really good in the circle. He built a career on that element of his game and prides himself on that. Obviously, we’ve got a little bit of a challenge with respect to depth of the center position. I think Chris [Drury] and his guys thought that we bring him in and see if potentially he could help us.”
As far as anything else worth quoting, Sullivan, who also confirmed that Garand would start in net, commented about his team’s last two games played too:
“Our last two games, I don’t think we’ve been at our best. When you combine them as six periods, it’s not a great picture. Are we satisfied with what we’re generating offensively? No. Do we think there’s another level to it? Yes, we do.”
These words didn’t really scream out “GOOD RESPONSE,” you know, the two words that the head coach and captain echoed on Saturday night. (Have I hammered that point home enough already?)
For all of Sullivan’s comments, then check out:
In the latest update on the health of Ron Duguay – and it’s not looking good – as his girlfriend, Sarah Palin, posted the following late Sunday night:
Prayers for Ron Duguay are felt & appreciated🙏@RonDuguay10 @cityofhope #CityOfHopeCancerCenter https://t.co/QPG1jRADn4 https://t.co/CnAAW5U2TN
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) October 19, 2026
Obviously, and based on the recent social media postings from both Duguay’s daughter and girlfriend – and it doesn’t sound like Duguay is making a full recovery right now.
I don’t think that I have to explain what this means to you any further.
All we can do is wish for the best for Duguay.
And yes, it still shocks me that both the Rangers and M$GN continue to ignore him.
Ditto the idiotic birdbrain Blueshirt beat reporters too.
Even Dave Maloney, who once was Duguay’s captain, hasn’t said anything about his former teammate on M$GN airwaves – and despite Maloney recently telling John Davidson stories on-air – you know – the guy that Chris Drury stabbed in the back in May of 2021.
We all know what cancer is and what the success rate against stage-four cancer is too.
I don’t think that money, for drugs/treatment/travel to facilities, is the issue anymore for Duguay.
At the very least, then the Rangers and M$GN could support one of the most beloved Blueshirts of all-time.
I just hope we don’t have another Emile Francis or Al Trautwig situation on our hands (everyone knew they was sick, the Rangers ignored them, and then the Blueshirts acted like he was their best friend after these men died).
Instead, and the Rangers should be praising and wishing their best for Duguay NOW. Let him know it when he’s still with us.
We are all rooting for you Ron.
And my thoughts are also with Ron’s family and Palin.
Here was Sullivan’s line-up for the eleventh game of this 2026-27 campaign:
FIRST LINE: Perreault/Mika/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Kartye/Miller/Dorofeyev
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Laba/Tolvanen
FOURTH LINE: Bjorkstrand/Dowling/Raddysh
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Pettersson/Durzi
THIRD PAIR: Smits/Schneider
STARTER: Garand
BACK-UP: Martin
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Morrow and Rempe
PTO: Glendening
LTIR: Korpisalo and Veleno
SEASON ENDING LTIR: CZAR IGOR
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
Dylan Garand#33
|
|---|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 31 | 2 | 29 | .935 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
ANA
|
|
Ville Husso#33
|
|---|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 30 | 5 | 25 | .833 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
At 6:30:00PM I tuned into the M$GN broadcast. At 6:30:01PM, and once seeing the smug Sieve Vagistat there, I flipped back to ESPN for their Monday Night Football pregame coverage.
Once returned to M$GN at 7PM, the A-team was back too – Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney.
It was revealed that the Rangers were undefeated on home ice this season (5-0), while the Ducks were undefeated on the road (3-0).
In other words, something would have to give.
I thought it was ridiculous when Maloney, prior to puck drop, was hyping up Mika for having a huge season.
Ten games played, and Mika was still looking for his first even-strength goal when entering Game #11.
(After tonight’s 5-2 win? Eleven straight games with no 5 x 5 goals scored.)
And oh yeah, and half of his two goals were of the empty variety too! (The other was a PPG.)
With that all said?
Finally, GAME REVIEW time.
FIRST PERIOD
As Dylan Garand and Ducks’ back-up goalie Ville Husso settled into their nets after the national anthem, then Mikael Granlund beat Mika at the dot to win the game’s first draw.
Durzi had a good chance early, about a minute in, from the high slot – but the d-man went wide.
He wouldn’t miss on his next shot though.
At the 1:18 mark, and after Kartye had hit the post – and BOOM – Durzi finished on his second shot attempt:
Rangers get on the board EARLY with Durzi ripping it home 1:18 in 😱🚨 https://t.co/VDqSiaXUyC
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 19, 2026
This shot, from the right point, was also the team’s first SOG, thus meaning that Durzi had given Husso a zero percent save percentage (the more you know)!
It also gave the Rangers a perfect shooting percentage!
Garand, at just the 2:00 mark, made his first save of the contest when he denied Cutter Gauthier.
Right after this, at the 2:23 mark and Jeff Malott was sent to the box for high-sticking Fox.
Needless to say, and the Rangers’ power-play most certainly had to right their ship, as they currently have one of the worst power-plays in the league.
With 45-seconds remaining on a power-play that didn’t register a SOG, then this turned into a brief two-man advantage, as Nick Jensen, when trying to defend in his own zone, swatted a puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty.
Thirty seconds later and Husso stopped Lafreniere on the Ranger’s first power-play SOG of the match.
As the first power-play expired and Dorofeyev hit the post.
This also meant that the Rangers had two SOG – and two <DINGS> at the time – and we were barely five-minutes into the game too.
Once returned to even-strength and the Blueshirts’ power-play was now 0/2 – as the man-up teams still couldn’t score a goal to save their lives.
And yep, you know the old adage too – “you deserve to lose if you can’t score a 5 x 3 power-play goal.”
Thankfully, that adage didn’t see the light of day by the end of the game.
Another old adage?
Then once you fail on a 5 x 3 power-play, then you’re bound to take a penalty yourself – and as the Rangers did here, as Smits was sent to the box at the 7:08 mark for holding Malott.
The Rangers’ heralded penalty kill, third-best in the league at the time, did their job here, as after two saves made by Garand and that was it for the Ducks’ power-play.
At the 9:47 mark and now back at 5 x 5 – and Husso denied Mika – making the Ducks’ netminder the tenth goalie (the Rangers played against Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy twice) this season to prevent Mika of scoring an even-strength goal.
Down to 9:26 remaining and Garand was able to deny a tricky shot from Jensen.
About a minute later and Husso was able to make a pad save on Fox.
Come 7:30 left on the clock and Schneider, all alone in the slot, sent the puck high-and-wide.
With 6:09 left to play and Garand made a great save on the new $18M man in the league, Leo Carlsson. Fifty-seconds later and Garand stopped Tyson Hinds, thus giving the Ranger goalie his tenth save in the match.
Approaching four-minutes remaining – and Husso stopped Dorofeyev from point-blank range. Even Ray Charles could’ve scored on this try.
Down to 2:50 remaining and Garand now had a baker’s dozen of saves, as he denied former Ranger, Frank Vatrano on his sneaky shot.
After this, with 1:50 to go in the period, and Husso was able to shut down a Perreault try from short distance.
As only 25.4 ticks were left to be played and Garand watched a Bennett Senecke attempt just miss its target.
We remained at 1-0, GOOD GUYS, come the horn.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, GOOD GUYS, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Hell of a blast for DIRTY DURZI – and where with how god awful this Rangers’ power-play is – and perhaps he should get a shot at quarterbacking the first quintet.
— The Blueshirts, and as they’ve been doing as of late, are allowing another team to hang around. 0/2 on a 5 x 3 power-play – that’s losing hockey. Sully’s Squad should have a multi-goal lead now, but since Dorofeyev and Co. can’t score – and it’s still a one-shot affair.
— At least the PK, third-best in the league, remains valiant (1/1).
— Nearly $28M in salary for Dorofeyev, Zibanejad and Miller – and for very little in the goal scoring department.
— Garand, and as usual, has been fantastic. For as bad as the Rangers have been throughout their hundred years (only four Cups), then they’ve had solid and/or elite goaltending for 90% of it.
— Let’s Go 49ers – sweep the NFC Least and keep the Giants “big” lead alive in the division!
SECOND PERIOD
Once again, and Granlund beat Mika at the dot to open a period.
It was also reported at this time that Marcus Pettersson didn’t return to the Blueshirts’ bench after eating a hit from Malott in the boards late in the first.
At the 1:20 mark, Dorofeyev was denied again, this time after Husso shut down his back-handed attempt from a foot away.
Thirty seconds later and Husso stopped Cuylle from a tough-angle shot from a foot out too.
At the 2:30 mark, Pettersson returned, thus ending all doubt about his availability.
Come the 3:52 mark, the Rangers went back on the power-play for the third time, as Nikita Klepov went to the box for tripping Perreault.
Thirty-seconds into the power-play and with Perreault on PP1 in steed for the punished Dorofeyev – and a Fox blast from the point went for a goal – as the Captain tipped in the puck for the much needed 2-0 power-play goal:
Power play goal with a tip from Miller in front of the net. Assist to Fox, his 10th of the year #NYR https://t.co/MYB2hVsg2Y
— Nick Ziegler (@NickZiegler20) October 20, 2026
This 2-0, GOOD GUYS, score also doubled-up as Fox’s tenth assist of the season.
Once returned to even-strength?
And Husso denied Dorofeyev for the fourth time.
As the two teams continued to battle after a few minutes with no SOG from either side, and Husso was able to fight off a Gavrikov try with 10:30 remaining. However, Husso lost his stick during this, which just allowed the Rangers’ second line to keep on attacking – but they couldn’t find the field goal here.
However, once changing, and with 9:43 remaining – and Perreault did find the field goal:
WHATTA BEAUTIFUL PASSING PLAY BY THE RANGERS AND IT’S FINISHED BY PERREAULT 🔥🚨 https://t.co/1PIcZxRSHO
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 20, 2026
What concentration! What a finish!
On this goal, Lafreniere found Mika and the center then found Perreault at Husso’s short side. Perreault was then able to settle down the off-kilter puck and bang it home.
3-0, GOOD GUYS!
Down to 8:03 remaining and Zibanejad went down in a bloody heap, as Jensen, on a follow through, caught the Ranger in the nose.
After originally not calling anything, the officials conferred and then assessed Jensen with a double-minor high-sticking call.
This just allowed the officials the benefit of replay – and to decide if this was truly a penalty or an accidental follow through.
(In other words – had they just called a two-minute minor, then they wouldn’t have been able to review it – that is – unless Sully or Joel Quenneville challenged it.)
Maloney, who was calling this in real-time, and despite his devout Ranger fandom, was saying that this wasn’t a penalty.
He was right, as after the review and the officials said it was an accidental follow through.
Play on.
And Zibanejad never missed a shift either.
HOCKEY PLAYERS.
Come 6:46 remaining?
Some reverse Devils’ deja vu – as Sennecke, like Miller in the game against the Devils, turned the puck over in his own zone from the boards.
Oliver Bjorkstrand wasted no time when scoring the 4-0, GOOD GUYS, goal:
Oliver Bjorkstrand makes it 4-0 for the Rangers 👀 https://t.co/KBfan7dgbx
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 20, 2026
What awareness – and finish too – from the Rangers’ fourth-liner.
Down to 4:00 remaining, and Dorofeyev, again all alone with Husso, missed the net.
The Russian must’ve done something to piss off the hockey gods.
3:12 away from intermission and Garand, who wasn’t too busy this period, stopped A.J. Greer for save number 19.
Down to 2:57 remaining and the Rangers received their fourth power-play of the game as Klepov held Tolvanen.
Of note, Dorofeyev was returned to the first unit.
I didn’t get this, as the power-play had scored without him – and where Perreault, now returned to PP2, also had a goal in the game to boot.
End result?
The Rangers power-play was now 1/4, as with 90-seconds remaining in the period, 33-seconds left on the man-up, and Tolvanen was boxed for interference (on Jensen).
While on the brief 4 x 4, Garand was able to keep Washe off the scoreboard. This was Garand’s 20th save.
Come the final horn, and while the Ducks would enter the third period with a power-play, but it were the Rangers ahead where it mattered most – their 4-0, GOOD GUYS, score on the scoreboard.
Here’s what I said at the time:
4-0, GOOD GUYS, through forty-minutes. 2P Thoughts:
— For all of the bad stuff in Rangers’ history (and there’s plenty of it) and it’s amazing how strong the goaltenders have been. A third-string goalie heading into the season and Dylan Garand continues to be one of the best players on this team (20 saves).
— The Rangers’ power-play finally gets off the schneid – and where it was noticeable that Sullivan had to take Dorofeyev off of it in order to get the PPG.
— The Russian had to do something to the hockey gods. Even Julien Gauthier has to be laughing about all of these missed chances.
— Perreault had a fantastic finish on that off-edge puck that was fed to him by Mika. I don’t get why Sullivan removed from PP1 on the fourth man-up try.
— Oliver Bjorkstrand has been a good addition. You know he wants to play more, especially since he’s on a one-year deal, but he’s soldiering on without complaint.
— Make it 6-0 on home ice this season! (They only had 14 wins at M$G last season – and where the bulk of them took place after the deadline, when the season was long lost.)
— LGR!
THIRD PERIOD
Laba, with the Rangers still on a brief penalty kill, beat Sennecke at the dot to open the final frame.
A few seconds later and the Rangers were now 2/2 on the PK.
At the 90-second mark, the first line had a good shift in the Ducks’ zone. While Mika failed on a chance, then at least the Rangers killed some clock.
Following a nice hit from Laba on Sennecke, then Raddysh thwarted a Ducks’ attack too. This allowed the Rangers to get the puck – and then get their fifth goal too:
Second of the night for Bjorkstrand and it’s a blowout in MSG #NYR https://t.co/4ELjuPZGoI
— Nick Ziegler (@NickZiegler20) October 20, 2026
I don’t know about you – but in my eyes – and Bjorkstrand made this look too easy!
Heck, he pretty much scored this goal in the same fashion that he scored his first.
And maybe it’s time to flip-flop Bjorkstrand and Dorofeyev too!
After this, and at the six-minute mark, and the Rangers had a 3 x 1 opportunity – but Tolvanen couldn’t find the touchdown.
Thirty-seconds later and Bjorkstrand almost got his hatty – twice over at that – but fanned on two back-to-back shots.
Now under ten-minutes remaining and Maloney & Albert were making excuses for the Ducks, due to their cross-country travel.
I really didn’t want to hear any of that, considering the fact, and as mentioned earlier, this was the Ducks’ eighth game of the season, while the Rangers were skating in their eleventh.
As the clock continued to tick, both Cuylle and Raddysh made great defensive plays to end visitor attacks. Then, and with 8:47 remaining, Miller almost got the touchdown, but Husso, on a rare instance, was able to make a save.
Come 8:00 remaining and Fox almost had Lafreniere set-up for a goal, but the pass just missed.
A minute later and Garand recorded save number 24 by denying Hinds.
Down to 6:02 remaining and Smits took his second penalty of the game, as he tripped Washe just as the Duck was approaching Garand.
The Rangers, 2/2 on the PK at the time and now on their third man-down situation of the game, saw Garand make two saves with 36-seconds remaining on it – including two stops while his own net was dislodged.
Come the end of the Ducks’ power-play – and the Rangers’ PK was now a flawless 3/3.
Under three-minutes left to play and Bjorkstrand was out there – and as you’d expect – as every Blueshirt on the ice was trying to feed him for the potential hat trick goal.
Down to ninety-seconds remaining and Dorofeyev turned over the puck in front of Husso.
Just as you thought that Garand would leave the ice with his second shutout of his season/career – and with 69 (not-so-nice) seconds remaining – and Jensen broke up the no-no with a nice blast.
5-1.
Thirty seconds later?
Greer made it 5-2 with his off-angle shot that bounced off Garand and then trickled past the goal line.
The two Duck goals, scored within 36-seconds, just marred Garand’s stat line – as he was perfect for nearly 59-minutes there.
(It also helped -6.5 total goals over bettors too.)
Either way, and the only thing that mattered, the Rangers’ win, was secured.
5-2, GOOD GUYS, your final.
Up Next For The Rangers: Three games, the next two in Ontario, before a five-day break.
The Blueshirts will play guest in Toronto (4-4-2) on Thursday night.
Two days and a short drive or flight later and they will continue their Canadian road-trip in Ottawa.
After that, the Rangers will return home on Monday night and host, at the time of this writing, the win-less (0-4-2) L.A. Kings – the NDA Panarin return game.
Stay safe M$G staffers!
The 10/26 game against the Kings marks the last Rangers’ match of October.
Once these three games are complete, then the Rangers, who have at this time, and who will have after next Monday night too, played the most games in the league, will enjoy a five-day mini vacation.
Following the break, the Blueshirts will then return to action on Sunday, November 1st, when they will host the red-hot Edmonton Oilers.
It should be noted here that the Rangers, just like these final weeks of October, don’t have any back-to-back games in November either.
In other words, then this is good news – as it will allow Sullivan to ride Garand.
And should Garand need a break, then by that time, Joonas Korpisalo should be ready for a return – and whether that’s good news or not is left to be determined!
After all, who was high on Jaroslav Halak when he first got here?
Heck, not many were high on Jonathan Quick either when he first arrived too!
Perhaps Korpisalo will surprise us – but make no bones about it – this is Garand’s team now – until proven otherwise.
See ya Thursday night after the Original Six match-up played north of the border.
Until then, your favorite segment and mine, 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
