Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. The Rangers will always have that hot early start and no one can take that away from them.
But today?
And the Blueshirts are colder and deader than a witch’s tit.
Furthermore?
Then, and as noted in tonight’s silly blog header photo – “Annnnnd It’s Gone” – and a lot of the positivity from the team’s hot start, and really, all sunshine around this team in general – also feels gone as well.
Oh yeah, this too:
Get well soon CZAR IGOR!
There were a lot of different angles and story-lines when heading into Monday night’s match against the Los Angeles Kings.
For starters, then this game signaled the return of former head coach, Peter Laviolette, ever since his 2024 firing.
Elsewhere, and NDA Panarin was skating back on M$G ice for the second time since being sold off for chump change at last year’s trade deadline.
From the Rangers’ end of things, then, and as M$GN so proudly boasted throughout their entire pregame show, stuff that also just screamed “ANNOUNCER’S JINX” all over it (and that was the moment when I bet both the Kings and the over/under of -5.5 goals) – and the Blueshirts had a six-game winning streak on home ice.
Their opponents, one of the worst in the league, as the Kings entered the game with a record of 2-5-2, had scored a league-low 21-goals in their nine games played.
Of course, the biggest Blueshirts’ story was the fact that the nine-team journeyman goalie, the 38-year-old James Reimer, who was just given an NHL contract by the Pepperoni Prince, Rangers’ GM Chris Drury, would be making his first start of the season.
What could go wrong?
The answer?
EVERYTHING!
In a lot of ways, then tonight’s double-up job of a loss felt like deja vu – as this game pretty much played out the way it did some 48-hours ago in Ottawa (more about that game below).
Not even five-minutes in and the Rangers found themselves trailing to the lowest scoring team in the league – and not just by one goal – but by a pair of them.
Down 2-0 early, and another puck that found the skate of J.T. Miller (the second time this has happened this season) turned into a Rangers’ goal.
2-1.
The Rangers, who were sitting on only two shots on goal for a large portion of the first period, then saw Kings’ captain, Drew Doughty, score another heart-breaker against them, as the long time Los Angeles resident scored a late 3-1 goal.
And that was pretty much it for the Blueshirts.
It was also “it” for James Reimer, who Giannone so glowingly raved about throughout the M$GN pregame show – as the back-up goalie was planted to the bench come the start of the second period.
But it was no better for Dylan Garand either – and a goalie that better hope that it’s only his recent heavy workload that’s the cause for the worst tailspin of his big-league career.
If one thing is for sure, then he’s no Cam Talbot – and the same GOALBUSTER that Chris Drury could’ve had this summer for the price of a veteran minimum’s deal – and where he wouldn’t have had to trade anything in return for him either – and as the GM did when he acquired Joonas Korpisalo (Boston).
By the seven-minute mark, it was already 5-1, L.A. – and where just like Reimer – and Garand too had given up a goal on his first shot faced.
And when as an over-under bettor, the over hits prior to the half-way mark of the game, then that means something isn’t right too – that is – outside of your wallet.
Only garbage goals, scored by Adam Fox and Tye Kartye, made the final score a little bit more respectable.
But don’t get it twisted – this was just another sixty-minute shit-show – and where as opposed to the previous two – this one just happened to take place on home ice – and not in Ontario.
For the Rangers, this marks their first three-game losing streak of the season.
Granted, the upcoming five-day break will probably do them some good, but if anyone truly cares, then they will also be steaming & pissed-off as they slowly await their next game to be played.
And their next game isn’t exactly a walk in the park either.
After all, then if the Rangers gave up six goals to the worst scoring team in the league, and as they did with L.A., then what’s going to happen when they host the Oilers this Sunday – you know – an Edmonton team that’s the highest scoring team in the NHL today?
Egads, egads.
There’s a lot to get into tonight, between tonight’s GAME REVIEW, Ron Duguay updates, the loss to Ottawa, the post-game reaction after the loss to L.A. and more.
At this time, let’s quickly jump right into the game that I missed (vs. Senators) and the crazy amount of roster transactions made over the past 72-hours too.
As you may have already noticed, then I didn’t return on Saturday night/Sunday morning with a GAME REVIEW of Rangers/Senators.
As noted last time around, then I took the game in from my favorite bar. Since I wasn’t home, then that blog was already planned to be delayed – but after a match like that – and much like the Rangers’ effort on that night – and I decided not to give any effort either!
(Plus, and only because of the way that the Rangers played on Saturday – then I wasn’t going to give up an NFL Sunday to write about it.)
Just to give you a few words on that 7-4 defeat in Ottawa, and where as a result, the Rangers got swept in Ontario by a cumulative score of 12-8 (Thursday night, against Toronto, 5-4); then it was already 2-0, Senators, just 6:40 into the game.
It was soon 3-0, home team, by the 1:47 mark of the second period, following Drake Batherson’s second goal of the game.
A Will Cuylle short-handed goal, scored by the team’s excellent penalty kill, at the half-way mark of the second period/game, made the score a little bit more respectable (3-1), only for Dylan Cozens to return serve just 74-seconds later to return Ottawa’s three-goal lead (4-1).
J.T. Miller scored his third goal of the season at the 12:54 mark of the second stanza to cut the Senators’ lead in half (4-2).
A huge momentum goal, Alexis Lafreniere’s ninth of the season, was scored with just six-seconds left in the second period to give the Rangers a chance in the third period (4-3).
In what probably was the Rangers’ best period of the game, Jake Sanderson scored his first goal of the season with just 6:22 left in regulation to return the Ottawa two-goal lead (5-3).
Down to 4:28 remaining, Pavel Dingorfeyev, yes, the $11M man, inspired some hope with his third goal of the season, which allowed the Blueshirts to make this a one-goal game (5-4).
However, once Mike Sullivan pulled Dylan Garand, then Ottawa scored a quick pair of empty netters, as Mike Amadio and Batherson (hat trick goal), to put the final score at 7-4, Senators.
While the Rangers did scratch-and-claw; but there was never a point where you thought they’d actually win. It was once again another case of too little, too late.
Elsewhere throughout the contest, and Garand had another tough outing in net. As we saw in Toronto, and he just couldn’t handle the rebound game.
Perhaps he’s getting burnt out (and Sullivan obviously thought so, hence the goalie switch on Monday night against L.A.) from the heavy work load (seven straight starts) – but regardless – and this was arguably his worst game yet – as it wasn’t like he was getting beat off of high quality chances all night.
That said, and the Rangers didn’t really do him much favors either.
Heck, I don’t think they even had a SOG until the ten-minute mark of the first period had eclipsed.
The Rangers barely touched the puck for the first thirty-minutes or so, and where in that time, they may have had two even-strength attacks worth talking about. In addition, then their god-awful power-play posted another 0-fer, this time 0/2.
At least the penalty kill, their biggest strength this season, went a flawless 3/3.
Similar to the goalie switch that was installed on Monday – and during Saturday night’s mess and Sullivan tinkered with his lines too – and lines that he entered tonight’s game against L.A. with to boot.
The biggest switch was the one that I predicted a few games back – Bjorkstrand on the second line, and a third line demotion for Dorofeyev.
The post-game reaction after the second loss in Ontario was another turnoff for me, as it was more of the “we talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk” variety, including Captain Miller who said they know what they have to do.
Then why not do as such?
Why do you need to sport the Senators a three-goal lead before waking up?
In any event, Saturday was a blown chance, and as a result, the Rangers would enter Monday night trying to prevent their first three-game losing streak of the season – and against Peter Lateralette and NDA Panarin of all people.
As far as anything else worth mentioning from Saturday, then it was noticeable that the Rangers didn’t wear a #10 decal on their helmets or patch on their shoulder for the recently deceased Ron Duguay.
At the time, it was my thought that such a tribute would be saved on Monday night for the Rangers first game at home since the passing of #10.
So much for that – but at least we have those Benjamin Moore logos on the Rangers’ helmets.
Since the Thursday night loss in Toronto – and there have a been a ton of roster developments.
In an attempt to play catch-up, then let me cover all of them in a chronological order.
As noted last time around, then prior to the loss against the Leafs and the Rangers added Luke Glendening to their ranks.
While he didn’t play on Thursday – he did play on Saturday against the Senators.
As a result, and Justin Dowling was returned to Hartford, and where one Ranger fan that I know, Jeanine F., actually saw him leaving the team’s hotel in Ottawa on Saturday. Obviously, this wasn’t the news that Dowling wanted to hear – but it was expected once Glendening’s PTO deal turned into a veteran minimum’s contract.
Elsewhere, and Sean Durzi was unable to practice on Friday and Saturday, as he was listed out for “maintenance reasons.”
Durzi had blocked a shot late against the Leafs, and perhaps that’s all it was.
However, and just as an insurance policy, and Matthew Robertson, a healthy scratch, was recalled prior to Rangers/Senators.
Durzi, and as you know by now, played against the Senators.
Come Sunday morning, and with the team already returned to New York and practicing at their training facility in Tarrytown, and the team made three more moves:
One, Robertson was returned to the Wolf Pack, as after all, Durzi is home (just like the team) and there is a five-day break ahead, thus meaning there was no reason to carry extra salary.
Two, and just like Glendening – and the team quickly turned James Reimer’s PTO deal into a one-year veteran minimum’s deal.
Three, to accommodate Reimer’s New York arrival and Spencer Martin was sent “Pack”in’ too.
Reimer, in his only start for the Wolf Pack, recorded a 2-0, 35-save, shutout on Friday night in the team’s victory against Providence.
Here’s what the organization had to say about this signing, courtesy of https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-agree-to-terms-with-james-reimer :
New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender James Reimer on a one-year contract.
Reimer, 38, appeared in one game for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, making 35 saves and posting a shutout. During the 2025-26 season, he appeared in 14 games for the Ottawa Senators, posting a 7-4-2 record, a 2.42 goals against average and a .886 save percentage.
The Morweena, Manitoba native has appeared in 539 career NHL games across 16 seasons between the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and Senators. He has posted a career 232-191-67 record, a 2.88 goals against average and a .909 save percentage. In 11 postseason appearances, he has posted a 5-5 record, a 2.70 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. During the 2017-18 season, Reimer established a career high 22 wins and matched his career high of four shutouts.
Internationally, the 6-2, 200-pound goaltender represented Canada at the World Championships in 2014 and 2011. He also appeared in two games for Team Canada at the 2025 Spengler Cup.
Reimer was originally selected by the Maple Leafs in the fourth round, 99th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
All of these moves then brought us to today, Monday.
However, before getting there, then in case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – paying my respects to Ron Duguay:
NYR/TOR 10/22 Review: RIP To The Legendary Ron Duguay. Full Tribute, Personal Stories and The Life Of #10. Phony Rangers & Plastic M$GN Pay Belated Tributes And Why Duguay Was Ostracized By Them (And By The NYP Too), Duguay’s Amazing Career; Passion Project Never Realized, One Of The Most Charitable & Beloved Blueshirts Ever; NHL Alumni & Rivals Pay Their Respects, Garand Beat Up By Leafs; BIG GAME BJORK > PAVEL DINGORFEYEV, And Much More On Doogie
If there was anything to note from Sunday’s practice (and I’m surprised they practiced on an NFL Sunday after returning home from a two-game road-trip too), then it was the fact that Sullivan, in his post-practice interview, mentioned that Joonas Korpisalo is now skating on his own as the projected second-string goalie prepares to make his first start this season:
Elsewhere, and the eldest player/newest Ranger in town, Reimer, also expressed his excitement about having a chance to continue his career in New York:
Just 24-hours removed from a hectic NFL Sunday (LET’S GO GIANTS/SAME OLD JETS!) and the team held an AM pregame skate at their training facility.
This was kind of newsworthy, as Sullivan made it clear that he was going to use the same lines that he ended with in Ottawa for Monday night’s match against the Kings.
In what was kind of shocking, and the head coach also confirmed that Reimer, and not Garand, would get the final start in net prior to the team’s five-day break.
On the goalie switch, Sullivan said the expected, “We’re asking a lot of Dylan. He just had seven starts in a row. I think there’s a physical challenge to it, but also a mental challenge to it.”
On keeping Dorofeyev in the bottom-six, Sully replied, “Would I anticipate this being a long-term solution? Probably not, but you never know. We’ll see what it looks like.”
Elsewhere, and the head coach was asked about Scott Morrow, the defenseman who was slated to be a healthy scratch for the fourteenth time this season, as the player received in last year’s K’Andre Miller trade has yet to skate for the team in this 2026-27 campaign.
Sullivan admitted it wasn’t his plan to keep a healthy player out on the sidelines for any length of time, but he, along with Drury, are also aware that Morrow would have to clear waivers in order to get playing time in Hartford.
Sullivan said he’s been communicating with Morrow the whole way and spoke glowingly of his player’s approach and attitude.
You can watch all of Sullivan’s Monday AM press conference here:
We’re now caught up on the Rangers’ end of things.
Just three quick hitters before getting into the remainder of our usual segments, including tonight’s GAME REVIEW.
One, when it comes to the pair of alumni in L.A., Mats Zuccarello and Artemi Panarin, then Zucc, who’s been gone for some time now, and despite doing an autograph appearance in NYC on Sunday evening, wasn’t going to be available for this game (upper-body injury).
Perhaps Zucc hurt his hand from signing so many autographs!
When it comes to Panarin, then since the Kings held an optional skate on Monday, then he wasn’t available to the media, as obviously, everyone wanted to hear his thoughts when entering this return match.
Two, while Panarin wasn’t unavailable, former Blueshirts’ bench boss, Peter Laviolette, was:
“The New York fans were awesome. It was kind of a tale of two years. The first year was really good. I mean, most wins and points in a very storied franchise. Took it to three-rounds to Florida and lost in Game 6. That was disappointing. Not win a couple more games and get a chance to play for the Cup.
“Overall, looking back at that year, it was a year that was really good,” continued Laviolette. “Obviously, the second year was not as smooth and had problems inside it.”
Three, and last but not least, and Sarah Palin teased a chance that the Rangers would do the right thing and honor Ron Duguay prior to puck drop Monday night:
Honoring #10 tonight before puck drop @NYRangers vs @LAKings at the Garden 💔bittersweet❤️ @RonDuguay10 #duguay #ronduguay #nyr https://t.co/gAuH2ujbME
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) October 26, 2026
Here was Sullivan’s line-up for the fourteenth game of this 2026-27 campaign:
FIRST LINE: Perreault/Mika/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Kartye/Miller/Bjorkstrand
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Laba/Dorofeyev
FOURTH LINE: Raddysh/Glendening/Tolvanen
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Pettersson/Durzi
THIRD PAIR: Smits/Schneider
STARTER: Reimer
BACK-UP: Garand
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Morrow and Rempe
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
|
|---|
|
J. Reimer#47
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 17 | 2 | 15 | .882 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 38:05 | 0 |
| 8 | 3 | 5 | .625 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20:00 | 0 |
|
LAK
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 26 | 3 | 23 | .885 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59:19 | 0 |
John Giannone began tonight’s M$GN broadcast by reminding us that the Rangers were entering this game with a perfect 6-0 record.
Following that fact and we had our first camera shot of the new #47 town, goaltender James Reimer.
After that, and Sieve Vagistat joined us and that’s when I turned off the M$GN broadcast, opting to wait until 7PM instead of listening to the worst goalie in franchise history spew his never-ending nonsense.
Come the top of the hour and Albert repeated the “REIM or REASON” pun that Giannone had made – and where my pal, Steve S., had a better one – “Optimus REIM.”
Neither pun applied after the game.
Albert and Maloney then talked about how dominating the Rangers were on home ice, which at the time, just screamed the word, “JINX!”
There was not one peep about Ron Duguay during this entire pre-show.
However, and right before puck drop and the Rangers paid their tribute to Doogie with a moment of silence:
A moment of silence for #NYR legend and New York icon, Ron Duguay.
❤️🤍💙 https://t.co/M3F3yQAv2X
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) October 26, 2026
But there was no #10 decal on the Rangers’ helmets, much less a number ten jersey patch either.
And really, tonight’s probably the last time that we’ll hear the organization mention Duguay again.
Heck, not even Drury, who always releases a statement after any prominent Ranger has passed away, couldn’t be bothered to share a few words on Doogie.
Sad and disgraceful.
FIRST PERIOD
As Darcy Kuemper and James Reimer took their places in net, then Alex Laferriere beat Captain J.T. to take the game’s first draw.
It was at this time that Albert mentioned that this was Fox’s 500th game as a Ranger – man does time fly.
Immediately after this, and Kartye, just seconds in, missed the net from point-blank range.
Just 1:15 into the game, and as Albert was saying how bad the Kings have been as of late, even only recording 13 SOG in their last game (in a loss against the Devils) – and BLAMMO – 1-0, Kings, as Taylor Ward scored his first goal of the season via the breakaway.
You can’t make it up.
To be clear, then on his first shot faced – and Reimer gave up a goal – even if this was more about the second-pair not being there rather than what the goalie was doing.
Not to be outdone, and Pavel Dingorfeyev, when all alone, missed the net.
At the 3:02 mark, Kuemper made his first save of the game (Fox).
As the game progressed, the Kings had a lengthy 6 x 5 delayed penalty attack, and where Reimer was able to deny the alleged Russian Rapist.
But at just the 4:52 mark, and with the Kings still on the delayed penalty attack, and Joel Armia was able to set up a 2-0 goal for Brandt Clarke.
As Maloney said, and this felt like “Ottawa Deja Vu.”
And since the statisticians took away the Panarin shot (they must’ve thought it was partially blocked) – then Reimer had given up two goals on two shots faced.
A zero percent save percentage isn’t going to help your case in the NHL.
Reimer then made his first real save on Panarin at the 6:52 mark, and where he received a smattering of fake applause in a response.
No parade was thrown for Reimer here.
Come the 7:38 mark, it was nearly 3-0 Kings, but somehow, Reimer, when facing the opposite direction, was able to deny Quinton Byfield from close-distance with a diving stick save. This was the best save of the game by far.
At the 9:00 mark, Reimer came up with another save, this time on Laferriere. The Kings then enjoyed a lengthy attack, but shots from Ward and Moore went wide.
With the Rangers still stuck on only one shot on goal, then, and with 7:40 remaining, and while all alone – and Fox went wide.
(How many times are you going to use the word “and” in a sentence my dear Robin? One for each Ranger goal scored tonight Batman!)
It was also around this time when Sullivan started fiddling around with his defensive pairs, most notably, by breaking up the second-pair.
Come 7:10 remaining and Miller hit the post.
But Kartye didn’t.
With just 6:59 remaining, Kartye, following the Miller <DING>, was able to send the puck towards Kuemper. Just as you thought that the red lamp signaled a goal for Kartye, then it was revealed on replay that the puck had actually redirected off Miller’s boot for the 2-1, them goal.
This was Miller’s second foot-job of the season, thus meaning that half his goals scored this season have been scored off of his skates.
Whatever it takes.
This bang-bang play also dropped Kuemper’s save percentage to .500.
Come 5:00 left to play and Lafreniere had a 3 x 2 odd-man rush pass intercepted.
Thirty seconds later and Kuemper was able to make a loud save on a Durzi slap shot.
Now under 4:00 remaining and the first d-pair, along with the Rangers’ third line, had a long shift in the LA zone. Only a dislodged net stopped them (Doughty pushed Laba into it) – a break for the Kings at the time.
With 3:00 left on the clock, Panarin had two quick shot attempts. Fox blocked one while Reimer denied the other.
While on this same attack, the Kings’ captain, Drew Doughty, who just bailed out his goalie earlier, blasted a puck from the blue line for the Kings’ 3-1 goal with just 2:28 left in the period.
Assisting on the goal? NDA Panarin.
Armia almost made it 4-1 with a minute left, but just missed on a rebound try.
And that’s where we remained come the horn.
3-1, bad guys, after one period.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3-1, bad guys, after 20. 1P #NYR Thoughts:
— The Rangers are lucky they have five days off after this. Hopefully Garand will be fully recharged by then. And maybe Joonas Korpisalo can eventually surprise us too.
— Chris Drury thought giving James Reimer a bump after shutting out beer-leaguers and young kids in the AHL earned him a start tonight. What’s next, Sieve Vagistat on Sunday against the Oilers?
— The second Kenny & Dave went on-and-on about how the Kings can’t score, how they are the lowest scoring team in the league (21G in 9GP) and how the Rangers were impregnable at home, then I figured L.A. would have a multi-goal win.
— The Kings were up 2-0 until the Rangers scored on their second shot of the game – which took place at the 13:01 mark.
— Feels just like the Ottawa game.
— The goaltending is obviously not Igor – but the Rangers aren’t shooting and helping themselves either.
— Of course, NDA Panarin already has a point.
SECOND PERIOD
It was revealed once this period was set to commence that the Reimer experiment was over, as Garand was in the Rangers’ net while Miller beat Laferriere at the dot.
Of course, such a decision begged this question:
Why did Reimer start if you were going to use Garand anyway?
Come the 1:16 mark and Braden Schneider took the first penalty of the game. After breaking his stick, Schneider tripped/interfered with Ward – as he wanted to prevent a breakaway.
It didn’t really matter.
Just twelve seconds into the power-play – and Panarin, of course, beat Garand for the 4-1, Kings’, power-play goal.
Just like Reimer – and Garand had given up a goal on his first shot faced too.
That has to be some sort of record.
The Kings, who again, we were told by the brainiacs at M$GN can’t score, now had four goals on ten shots.
After this, Mika went wide, while Lafreniere was denied.
Mikey Anderson, at the 3:16 mark, then went wide himself -and where you could already see some fans hitting the exits too.
Seriously, you could have heard a mouse fart into a cotton ball at this time.
At the 6:06 mark, Zibanejad beat Erik Haula at the dot after a Kings’ icing. This led to Perreault and Mika missing the net, and right after, a freeze-and-a-stop for Kuemper too.
Out of a TV timeout and the Rangers showed us that the family of Ron Duguay was there. Sarah Palin was also in-attendance for this and was notably broken up:
Ron Duguay’s family in attendance at MSG tonight. https://t.co/UgLB18Mc5U
— JBNYSports (@JBNYSports) October 27, 2026
This was completely classy – as the Rangers flew out everyone from the Duguay family, and whether they be in California or Florida.
But again, no patches or decals.
Also again?
Another Kings’ goal, as at the 6:54 mark Anderson beat Garand for the Kings’ 5-1 goal following the first faceoff out of the TV timeout/respect for the Duguay family.
This game was an abortion – and the game wasn’t even half over before the time the -5.5 over had hit.
If that wasn’t enough for you, the Kings scored the touchdown goal at the 7:26 mark, as Clarke made it 6-1 – or so we thought.
It was at this time that maybe the Kings were going to honor Duguay too – by scoring ten goals themselves.
Sullivan decided to challenge this goal for goaltender interference – perhaps a mercy challenge – and a way to give Garand some time to recover too.
I didn’t see anything worth challenging here (neither did Maloney), but in a rarity, and the officials did feel there was light contact made between Clarke and Garand.
With the no goal, it remained 5-1, them, and with 12:34 left in the second period.
Right out of the faceoff and the Kings took control of the puck.
Come 11:50 remaining and we had some foreplay, as both captains, Miller & Doughty, were given off-setting (and soft) holding penalties.
Garand had to stop Kempe and that was pretty much it for the 4 x 4 time, and where we were now past the half-way mark of the game too.
Down to 9:25 remaining, and the man still chasing Cups, Corey Perry, just missed the net.
A minute later and Garand was able to poke check a puck away from Laughton, just as the King was looking to complete his breakaway.
Come 7:20 remaining and Kuemper fought off a Miller wrap-around try.
However, and the Rangers also got their first power-play of the game, as Brian Dumoulin slashed the Blueshirts’ captain.
The Rangers, 0/1 on the penalty kill at the time, and a club that possesses one of the worst power-plays in the league too, watched Garand, and just nine-seconds in, stop Armia on a 2 x 1 Kings’ short-handed rush.
Two-seconds later, and Garand made his second save.
This stop then allowed Fox to get into the other end, and with 6:55 remaining, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner scored his first goal of the season with a wrist shot from the slot.
5-2, bad guys.
Just two-seconds later and Garand was tasked to work again, as this time, he denied Kempe. Garand then had to stop Kempe again, and as he did with 6:26 remaining.
Down to 5:46 left in the period and Kuemper made his best save yet, as he denied Mika in the middle from point-blank range.
Come 4:30 remaining, Garand pulled an Igor and sprung a homerun pass, but Perreault couldn’t get all of it on the ensuing 2 x 1 down low.
As we approached 2:30 remaining, Kuemper fought off Cuylle and Gavrikov.
Down to 67-ticks remaining and the Kings were back on the power-play for the second time, as Laba was sent to the sin-bin for roughing Perry (high hit near the boards).
It was also around this time where M$GN showed us that Dan Girardi, in I believe his first post-retirement appearance, in the building, as #5 was there to promote the upcoming alumni charity game.
I’m just happy to see Girardi back with the organization – and he’d be a hell of a talking head for M$GN too.
5-2, them after forty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
5-2, Queens, after two periods. 2P Thoughts:
— The Rangers are going to need find a goalie that can stop pucks for their next game on Sunday – or else McDavid & Co. will go double chili.
— Don’t get the decision to start Reimer if the plan was to put Garand in if the journeyman struggled. Should have just started D.G..
— Speaking of D.G., was that Dan Girardi’s first appearance back at M$G? I know that he worked with both Tampa & Buffalo in retirement.
— Nice to see the Rangers fly out the family of Duguay & Sarah Palin too. However, there should be a #10 decal or patch on the uniform.
— Mopey Mika and Dopey Dorofeyev can’t score big goals.
— The Rangers are lucky the refs gave them a reprieve by reversing the Clark second goal.
— Imagine paying for this?
— Every announcer’s jinx is in full effect tonight.
THIRD PERIOD
Garand, and as you’d expect, remained in net to start this final frame.
To begin the period, Mika beat Byfield at the dot, and with the Kings still on a 53-second power-play.
It was also noticeable that not many lower-bowl fans returned to their seats either.
The end result of all of this was a 1/2 Rangers’ PK.
At the 1:50 mark, Lafreniere and Perreault had a mini 2 x 1, but Laf’s pass just missed its target. Eight-seconds later, and with the puck now in the Rangers’ end and Smits was nailed for interfering with Ward.
This gave the Kings their third power-play of the game, and their second in about 2:30 of game time too.
The Rangers’ PK was perfect here, but it also allowed the Kings to kill 2:00 off of the clock with a three-goal lead.
Down to 14:12 remaining and the Kings almost got their touchdown, as a shot from Anderson hit the post and just stayed there before a King could slam home the rebound (Garand didn’t know where the puck was either).
Come 12:30 remaining and a pair of Doughty tries went wide.
Approaching 11:00 to go in this mess and Kuemper closed the door on Cuylle.
Coming down to ten-minutes remaining and Kuemper was able to defend against both Fox and Gavrikov.
The SOG were now at 24 a side, but of course, the Kings had three more goals on their 24 shots.
Down to 9:09 left in this tire fire, and Garand prevented Perry from scoring. It was also noticeable that just like the last two games in Ontario, both losses, and the Rangers were yet to have a full 5 x 5 scrum – and as opposed to all of those battles the Blueshirts were winning during their early-of-the-season winning streak.
Come 6:12 remaining, we had our first mini scrum of the game featuring Fox and Kartye – but the other three Rangers on the ice weren’t really involved – and as they were during the team’s first six home wins.
Now down to 5:42 remaining and Mika missed a wide-open net. At the same time, and off camera prior to the shot, and Zibanejad laid a dirty elbow on Kempe, and where as a result, the King came up with a bloody nose.
No penalty was initially called, but the refs went to video review to get a second look.
The refs, and perhaps because of Mika’s soft reputation, decided not to call a penalty, deeming the dirty elbow as accidental.
(In other words, then if this was Matt Rempe, then this would’ve been a 82-game suspension for #73 in Rangers’ blue.)
Come 5:27 remaining and Sullivan pulled a Patrick Roy – he pulled his goalie.
It almost worked right away – but of course – DINGorfeyev – as he rang one off the iron.
It did work for Kartye, as he made the score more respectable with his 5-3, glove-high, goal with 3:52 remaining following his snap shot from the slot.
Garand went back to his net after the goal, but left it a few seconds later after a Kings’ icing call.
The second empty net attack didn’t prove as successful for the Rangers, as Joel Edmundson, from his own end, pretty much scored a 180′ empty netter for the 6-3, Kings, goal.
Sullivan, now with the Blueshirts returned to a field goal deficit with 3:23 remaining, returned Garand to the net.
That’s where the score remained come the horn.
6-3, Queens, your final.
When the final horn blared on Monday night at M$G, then while the goaltending (they should have signed Cam Talbot this summer – and as I was begging for Drury to do all-summer long) obviously wasn’t there, but also missing were the FAT CATS.
Mopey Mika isn’t scoring. Ditto Dopey Dingorfeyev.
And of course – and I still can’t get over the fact that the Rangers don’t have a #10 logo plastered on a helmet or jersey.
I know that Eddie Giacomin meant more to the Rangers than Duguay did (as a player); but when Eddie passed, and all you saw were #1 logos all over the place – and that was the right reaction.
(Perhaps over this break, and I’ll do some sort of Top-Number BELOVED BLUESHIRTS list.)
I only bring up Giacomin here because it was well known in his retirement that he didn’t really want much to do with the Rangers – that is – unless he was being handsomely paid to attend some sort of an event.
And I’m not faulting him for that – as after all – Giacomin was lied to and betrayed by this organization on that fateful night in the early Fall of 1975.
When you compare the two, then it was Duguay who made a ton of appearances on behalf of the Blueshirts and charity organizations – and he did a lot of them without any financial compensation.
If he was in town, then he’d show up to as many events as possible.
Perhaps I’m making too much of this, but just to put this to bed once-and-for-all – then YES – the Rangers have erred by not making up #10 decals and/or patches.
Pay the man the utmost respect as possible.
I’m telling you, Ron Duguay absolutely loved and adored the Rangers – and even when those feelings weren’t reciprocated.
I found a lot of Sullivan’s post-game remarks to be interesting.
Before my black-and-white recap of them, then here they are in living color:
Sullivan immediately opened up his comments by talking about the obvious – the state of the Rangers’ goaltending position:
“Let’s just acknowledge we are in a different circumstance with our two top goalies injured,” said the head coach. “We’ve tried to shore some of this up. Dylan’s workload is up. It wasn’t an easy challenge [for Reimer]. I just feel Reims needs a little bit more preparation and acknowledging…. I put him in a tough spot. That’s on me.
“It’s tough coming into a game like that. They’ve given everything they had. It’s a tough circumstance. Dylan needs this break more than anyone right now.”
As I said before, during and now after the game – then why did Reimer start?
The Rangers have five days off after this game – and if the plan was to install Garand into the net if Reimer didn’t have it, then they should have just started #33.
That said, and again, just to give you the other side of it – then perhaps Garand wouldn’t have made a difference anyway with this group in front of him.
“I feel like we had energy in moments, like the second half in Ottawa,” said Sullivan about the game in general. “I thought we found our game late. I didn’t like the start tonight. We didn’t have enough guys who were ready to play at the drop of the puck. We gotta fix that. The onus is on every player. It wasn’t everybody but we just didn’t have enough.”
Sure, the Rangers had some energy – but only after the opponent raced out to a four-goal lead – again.
In other words, this was more about L.A. backing off than anything that the Rangers were doing.
But Sully is right.
Where are the FAT CATS at the start of the game? Counting their money?
“Our guys have played really well with the lead,” said Sully when asked about the importance of scoring first in a game. (The Rangers have yet to win a game when surrendering the game’s first goal – 0-5-1). “When you get down multiple goals, then it’s hard, because you’re chasing it. I have to shorten the bench. Without a doubt [scoring first] gives you a favorable outcome. But if we give up the first, let’s not give up the second one. Let’s make sure we lock down defensively and get the momentum.”
Maybe if the Rangers didn’t wait around ten-minutes before shooting the puck for the first time in a game, then they’d score more opening goals.
As far as the $11M bust goes, DINGorfeyev, then Sullivan explained that his highest-paid player had his ice time cut (16:14) due to all of the penalties taken in the game.
After all, then $11M doesn’t buy you a penalty killer these days.
Up Next For The Rangers: Five days off, and probably three practices sandwiched in-between the mini-break.
After that, then the Rangers will host the Oilers on Sunday (at least the Giants have their bye week – and where UGH – Edmonton may treat the New York hockey club as a bye team too).
If Garand, the presumed starter for Sunday’s late matinee, can’t rebound & recover, then it’s not too hard to imagine the Oilers going double-chili (ten goals) on the Rangers.
And just like chili, especially two bowls of it?
Then perhaps these five days off will give the Rangers, who have played the most games in the league (14), will have some gas themselves on Sunday.
But that could be some wishful thinking too.
I’ll be back should anything worth talking about takes place between now and the weekend.
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!
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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.”
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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
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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
