NYR/STL 11/24 Review: Last Place Blueshirts Find a Team Much Worse Than Them; Eke Out One-Goal Victory Over Stumbling-and-Bumbling Blues, Fox & Gavrikov Absolutely Dominate; Solid Season Debut for Berard Too, Not Much Desperation Displayed; Another Low Energy Game, Egads CZAR IGOR, Real Test on T-Day Eve – Then Even Tougher Travels The Next Two Weeks Ahead, Injury Updates, Brian Boyle/M$GN & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Thankfully, they did what they were supposed to do.

While it took seven-weeks, but I’m happy to report that the Rangers now have two wins on home ice this season!

When’s the parade?

PRINT THE TICKETS!

Last time in this space (after the loss in Utah – which also doubled-up as the Blueshirts’ fourth consecutive defeat), then in a blog full of predictions, I added one more, this particular prognostication:

And now (drum-roll please) for my latest prognostication?

Then I believe that the Blueshirts won’t make it five losses in a row – as they will host a team far worse than them on Monday night – as that’s when the St. Louis Blues will come rolling into the World’s Most Expensive Arena.

And once the Rangers emerge victorious?

Then everyone involved, the players, coaches and fans alike, will all do the KING KONG shit and proudly proclaim, “THE BLUESHIRTS ARE BACK! THE LOSING HAS ENDED! WE WANT THE CUP!”

And after that?

How about a 5-1 drubbing against the Carolina Hurricanes – as the Rangers will spend Thanksgiving Eve in Raleigh – and where I fully expect Rod “The Bod” Brind’Amour to have his brood ready to walk all over the doormat of the Eastern Conference.

Following the events of Monday night at The World’s Most Expensive Arena, then it’s one down, one to go – and sorry to be a Debbie Downer here (I’m realistic, not a wide-eyed dreamer) – then I believe that the Rangers will go down in Raleigh come 9:38PM Wednesday evening.

Prove me wrong.

I know that this may sound sacrilege to some, and especially offensive to the cock-eyed optimists that reside in Rangerstown, USA too – but c’mon – did this one-goal win over the fourth-worst team in the league really change your perception in these here 2025-26 Blueshirts?

Heck, the Blues didn’t even use their starter tonight (Jordan Binnington – you know – who’s also the starter for Team Canada); as instead, St. Louis bench boss Jim Montgomery went with his back-up backstop, Joel Hofer.

(And this is becoming a trend for Western Conference teams making their east coast road-swings – as their starters are usually going up against the Islanders and Devils – while against the worst team in the Metrosexual division – which these Rangers are – and these teams from different time zones are employing their back-up goaltender against them.)

Just to throw some more gas on the fire, then had a puck or two bounced the other way, thus meaning had it been the Rangers that were on the wrong side of this one-goal loss – then not only can you imagine how you would’ve felt – but what would have been said about the Blueshirts across the entire hockey landscape too?

For one 24-hour time period, then the Rangers will avoid such negativity – but due to their own faults and the weak opposition against them – then I’m not so sure that we learned anything new about the Blueshirts on Monday night.

After all, then what does it say when the M$GN announce crew, Kenny Albert and Brian Boyle on this night, along with mainly everyone else that lives-and-dies by these Blueshirts on a daily basis, had to keep on talking about how good Brett Berard looked during his 2025-26 season debut?

(And nobody was wrong about Berard either.)

And what does it say when the head coach, Mike Sullivan, kept repeating that the Rangers needed someone like Berard in order to give his team full of FAT CATS some “juice?”

Are you telling me that the Rangers required a six-figured-in-salary AHLer in order to motivate the highest-paid players on the team?

Egads.

Until the Blues’ back-up goalie imploded once in the second period, then twice more during the final frame, then five things about the Rangers prior to these events were true:

— One, Brett Berard was their most active forward, as he had the two best Blueshirt scoring chances in the first period.

— Two, and despite all of their big-talk, and once again, the Blueshirts played another low-event, no-desperation, not-much-energy, type of a game – and again – against the 28th ranked team in the league.

— Three, Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov were the two best skaters in blue – and as they usually are.

— Four, CZAR IGOR wasn’t that hot – and where had the Blueshirts dropped this game – then he would’ve been crucified (heck, he’s still being crucified by some fans and reporters after the win) for giving up the first goal of the contest – and a shot that without question – he needs to stop.

— Five, it was largely SAME OLD RANGERS – again.

Come the end of the game, then if there was any difference from this game than the four matches (losses) that preceded it, then it was the fact that the Rangers’ special teams were flawless, as they batted a perfect four-of-four – and all on the penalty kill. (This stat is a little fugazi because this also includes a two-second penalty kill – but it does also include a four-minute double-minor penalty which was assessed to Berard.)

Yes, the Rangers won tonight – but aside from some moments during the third period – and this match was largely boring – and as the period-by-period shots on goal totals would suggest:

— 9-5, Rangers in the first period.

— 7-6, Blues, in the second stanza.

— 9-5, Blues, in the do-or-die final frame.

Collectively, and with the 3-2 final, and this meant that CZAR IGOR only made 19 saves on 21 shots faced, while a goalie being paid $5,100,000 less than him, made 17 saves on 20 shots faced.

And goaltending wasn’t really the make-or-break deal in this game either.

The Blues’ inability to manage a power-play (0-4, 3 SOG) was.

Ditto Fox and Gavrikov both being able to stunt-and-thwart the bulk of all Blues’ attacks too.

When my good pal, “The Maven,” Stan Fischler, is back to doing his “PIGGY IGGY” stuff about CZAR IGOR – then you know that #31 isn’t living up to his end of the bargain.

While goaltending, along with the Fox/Gavrikov pair, has been the Blueshirts’ biggest strength this season; it wasn’t tonight.

Again, the Rangers were just fortunate that they found a team far worse than them tonight – and man-oh-man – how bad are the Blues?

I guess that they are as bad as their division rivals, the last-in-the-Central Nashville Predators – aka – the other team to lose to the Rangers at M$G this season.

During a game that was devoid of much life, then it was Dylan Holloway, with 2:24 remaining in the first frame, that broke the nil-nil score.

On a simple shot that we’d all like to think that CZAR IGOR would stop 999 out of a 1,000 times – and this was the one that beat the former Vezina winner.

1-0, bad guys – and while not a true “end of the period goal allowed” (under 2:00 remaining) – but the effect was still the same – as once again – and another period was wasted by the Rangers.

Come the end of the period?

Not only did we remain with this 1-0 score – but it also meant that the Rangers had now been shut-out in 20 of their first 28 periods played on home ice this season.

Furthermore, then at the time, and it looked like the Blueshirts were hellbent on being shutout for the sixth time at M$G this season too.

Thankfully, that didn’t happen.

As these two teams continued to suck the life out of the room, then it was Vincent Trocheck that rejuvenated the barn, as at the 10:06 mark of the second period – aka – just four-seconds shy of the half-way mark of the game too, and the man who should’ve been named captain (that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it), took a perfect backhanded feed from Jonny Brodzinski – and then deposited it right into the back of Hofer’s net.

1-1 – but not that much after.

Right after the equalizer, and the Blueshirts put themselves in treacherous waters again, as at the 12:29 mark, Braden Schneider high-sticked Jake “Won’t You Be My?” Neighbours.

To their credit, and the Rangers’ consistently inconsistent penalty kill, was Jekyll, and not Hyde, tonight.

After one loud CZAR IGOR save on Justin Faulk – and that was it.

Still tied at 1-1 when entering a third period that both teams desperately needed to win – and it was Gavrikov, who is earning every penny of his new contract this season (but we’ll see that how goes as the length of his contract progresses), that put the Rangers ahead – and at just the forty-second mark.

With Alexis Lafreniere attempting to screen Hofer – and Gavrikov shot the puck from the point.

As it goes – “good things happen when you shoot the puck” – and – “you miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take” too!

Gavrikov’s shot got a piece of the worst first-overall pick of the last ten-years – and blammo – 2-1, home team – and a goal for Lafreniere which broke up his current six-game goal drought.

Bobby Orr Vladislav Gavrikov wasn’t done yet.

At the 8:56 mark, then Gavrikov, who mind you, whose reputation is solely as a pure “defensive defenseman,” pulled off a play that I didn’t know that he had in him.

While behind Hofer’s net, Gavrikov made a back-handed pass to an awaiting “SWEDISH CONDOR,” government name Adam Edstrom, for the 3-1, good guys, goal – and a much-needed insurance goal at that.

Heck, let’s say it – such insurance would later be cashed in upon!

Berard, who did have his ice time cut as the game progressed (and despite playing well before pulling splinters out of his ass cheeks), perhaps was trying to do too much as the game was starting to wane down.

But can you blame him?

Not only was he having his ice time taken away (9:21, second-lowest to only Edstrom, who played 8:35), but he’s also aware of every one of his teammates in Hartford call-ups too – as none of them – Scott Morrow, Jaroslav Chmelar, Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, Connor Mackey, etc – have remained with the club for any amount of time once being promoted.

In turn, then with 5:51 remaining and Berard got too aggressive – as not only did he high-stick Neighbours – but he also drew blood too.

To be fair, then this four-minute double-minor could also be argued as a “follow-though” – as Berard was playing the puck – but perhaps due to his rookie status – and the officials gave the Blues the benefit of the doubt.

Regardless, and in a two-goal game – and the Blues had two power-plays when attempting to tie.

The Rangers, largely Fox and Gavrikov, weren’t having any of it – and that includes a double-four that took a Colton Parayko slap-shot right to the shoulder. (And after going down like a sack of potatoes? Gavrikov NEVER MISSED a shift. HOCKEY PLAYERS!)

The Blues, during this most fortunate opportunity, only mustered up two lousy shots on goal (and oh yeah – former Ranger, and if you can believe it, the current five-season Blue, Pavel Buchnevich, hit a post too) – and that was that.

St. Louis, who pulled Hofer towards the end of their continuous four-minute power-play, then saw their 6 x 4 turn into a 6 x 5.

And wouldn’t you know it – up next was your customary Ranger alumni point – as Buchnevich, from the sideboards, hit team captain Brayden Schenn for a 3-2 deflection goal with just 75-seconds remaining.

As M$G collectively gasped-and-groaned (and where every Ranger fan, and admit it, you were doing this too, were saying “how will the Blueshirts blow it this time?”) – and the Blues hit iron once more.

The Rangers, and despite their opponent’s net being empty for a total of three consecutive minutes, could never put this game away – that is – until the final horn went off.

Previous to such an elating sound, then down to 2.9-seconds remaining – and Trocheck high-sticked Schenn.

While the penalty was legit, the officiating wasn’t – as the Rangers never touched up.

No matter.

Following a faceoff and these precious 2.9-seconds quickly rolled off of the clock and that was that.

3-2, Rangers – and the end of a four-game losing streak too.

But who is to say that a new losing streak isn’t about to embark these Rangers?

As noted – and not much really changed tonight.

Where was your $20.1M alleged 1-2 scoring punch, NDArtemi Panarin and Mopey Mika?

Not one-point between these two – and not even against a back-up goalie playing on a bad team.

No offense to the likes of Carson Soucy, Adam Edstrom and Brett Berard, who combined, make about 25% of what Zibanejad and Panarin earn individually, but when it’s these three that out-played, were most noticeable and definitely more of a factor than these two FAT CATS – well that’s not a great thing for the Rangers.

A great thing for the Rangers?

One more time – Fox and Gavrikov – a top-pair tandem that weren’t just studs defensively – but who also finished with game-highs of two assists and +2 ratings.

In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off, the Rangers getting embarrassed by the Mormons on Saturday night:

The Rangers, following an epically terrible three-game road-trip out West, flew home from Utah on Sunday.

While the team had the day away from the ice, the organization was at work, as the following announcements were made at 5PM EST:

UPDATE: Brett Berard and Dylan Garand have been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack and Scott Morrow has been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) November 23, 2025

At the time, these three roster moves led to the obvious speculation:

One, Jonathan Quick was banged up after being hit into his own post by Utah’s Michael Carcone.

Two, J.T. Miller was still hurting after his collision sustained in Colorado.

Three, with the Rangers back on the east coast and already with seven defensemen on the roster, then they didn’t need an eighth/insurance rearguard.

Come Monday morning, at the team’s traditional A.M. skate, and all of this speculation, sans the third item was confirmed.

In order to accommodate (for salary cap purposes) a fourteen-forward, six-defensemen and three-goalie roster, then Big Billy Borgen, who had missed three of the past four games, was officially placed on the injured reserve.

(Since Quick wasn’t placed on IR, then I am just guessing that he’ll be ready for a start this weekend, when the Rangers play their next back-to-back set.)

Even worse for the walking wounded Blueshirts, then a new name joined the list, as it was revealed that Vincent Trocheck, who had already missed a chunk of the season with an injury, was withheld from the practice due to “precautionary reasons.”

Following the practice, Blueshirts’ bench boss Mike Sullivan told the media that Trocheck would be a game-time decision, while both Miller and Quick would be unavailable.

(And as you already know – then Trocheck’s game-time decision was a full “go.”)

In addition, then Sullivan, while admitting that his top players weren’t doing enough, kind of sounded defensive about all of the losing in New York – and for more, then you can see it for yourself here:

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

FIRST LINE: Cuylle/Zibanejad/Lafreniere

SECOND LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Brodzinski

THIRD LINE: Sheary/Laba/Berard

FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Raddysh

FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox

SECOND PAIR: Soucy/Schneider

THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Robertson

STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR

BACK UP GOALIE: Dylan Garand

DAY-TO-DAY: J.T. Miller

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jusso Parsinnen

INJURED RESERVE: Will Borgen

LTIR: Matt Rempe

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

I’m going to have to keep tonight’s GAME REVIEW segment extremely brief – as I’m coming off a 12-hour shift at work – and where another one awaits me come Tuesday morning – and probably by the time that you read these words.

(I was originally going to take tonight off – but since I’m probably going to do that on Wednesday, and most definitely on Friday, then I did want to post something about this victory. Plus, if I’m going to be around after every loss, then it’s my duty to be around whenever the Rangers rarely win too!)

As far as the pregame show went tonight – then I skipped it – as I don’t watch any of the solo Sieve Vagistat shows.

When it comes to the broadcast, then Dave Maloney, who mentioned on Saturday night that he’d miss this game (I don’t know if Maloney had a family commitment or not – but I’m now wondering if he’s kept his side-gig as a liquor store employee in his town – and I’m not making this up either – he really worked, and perhaps still does, at a Connecticut-based liquor store while calling Ranger games on M$GN radio), was absent.

In his steed was a man that’s becoming a jack-of-all-trades in the broadcasting game (announcing, studio analyst, interviewer, network host and podcasting), former Ranger Stanley Cup Finalist (2014), Brian Boyle.

As mentioned numerous times before on this site (and on social media too), then I really enjoy Boyle’s work.

While maybe he’s “green” at times, but make no bones about it – he’s improving – and I also feel that he’s becoming more comfortable in his new second act in life.

I say this for one reason only:

You can tell that he’s fully aware of the M$GN edict – be careful what you say.

Heck, even Maloney, a former captain and a man who’s been calling Ranger games for over twenty-five years, continues to tell us that he has to watch what he says on television.

If you listen to Boyle outside of M$GN, then he’s brutally raw and honest.

Not so much so whenever he’s sitting in the broadcast booth while announcing a game.

While Boyle will always say what’s what, he’ll also wear kid gloves when doing it – and just as he did tonight whenever talking about the lackluster seasons that NDA Panarin and Laissez-Faire are having.

At this time, tonight’s GAME REVIEW – but my shortest yet – as it’s just the highlights and goals.

However, if you want the complete play-by-play from this game, then as always, check out my Tweeter/X feed for all of it, and as you can do by going here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC

FIRST PERIOD

— Berard had two chances to score, including one where he just missed a GAPING net by hitting the side of it.

— As noted up top – and not much really went down – except for a whole lot of yawning.

— St. Louis controlled the puck for the majority of this period, as constantly, and the Rangers, and mainly their top-six, were pinned into their own zone for over ninety-seconds at a clip. (At one point, the Mika line was buried into their own zone for over two minutes.)

— The end result of the Blues’ fifth or sixth elongated attack?

— Holloway:

Big goal in the Big Apple pic.twitter.com/0shOXGmUaS

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) November 25, 2025

1-0, bad guys.

And that’s how we stayed after twenty-minutes.

Here’s what I said at the time:

1-0 them, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— SOG 9-5 #NYR, but it’s one bad goal allowed that’s the difference.
— Feels like “The Same Old Rangers” again.
— Berard had the best two scoring chances – good for him – not good for the Rangers though.
— Game is living up to its billing…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 25, 2025

SECOND PERIOD

— Gavrikov showed us his Russian iron curtain steel balls when he blocked a Parayko bomb – and then never missed a shift afterwards.

— As we hit the half-way mark of this game – and this was a snoozefest.

— Four-seconds later, and Trocheck changed that:

Trocheck ties it up! pic.twitter.com/V2LfWB8DFm

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 25, 2025

— Trocheck gets the goal here – but give it up to JONNY BROADWAY – as without the former Wolf Pack captain – and this goal doesn’t happen.

— 1-1.

— After killing off the Schneider penalty and CZAR IGOR vacated his net a bit. St. Louis had two chances to score, but puck-luck was on the Rangers’ side tonight.

— As far as anything else notable from these middle minutes, and Schneider, perhaps living up to his former nickname of “BABY TROOBS,” absolutely floored Holloway with a monster hit with 30-seconds remaining.

1-up after forty-minutes.

Here’s what I said at the time:

1-1 after 40. 2P thoughts:
— SOG 14-12, as this low energy game continues.
— STL has had a ton of zone time, #NYR have a ton of blocked shots.
— Trocheck with a big goal – not shabby for a guy who was thought to miss this game.
— You’d think the Rangers would have more pop…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 25, 2025

THIRD PERIOD

Just 40-seconds in and #44 set-up Rangers’ goal #2:

Laffy with the deflection! Rangers lead! pic.twitter.com/bJ1J7o2tNU

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 25, 2025

— 2-1, good guys. Lafreniere gets the credit for the goal – but this was all Gavrikov.

— While Lafreniere’s body was in the right place at the right time; conversely, and Edstrom crashed the net and scored a true “scorer’s goal” – and as he did after being fed by Gavrikov at the 8:56 mark:

Adam Edström extends it to 3-1! pic.twitter.com/BPa2HYD1Lu

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) November 25, 2025

— 3-1, good guys – and for Big Ed, who was made a healthy scratch in one game during the failed road-trip – he now has his second goal in a week. Keep it up.

— After this, then all of the penalty killing and two Blues’ <DINGS>.

— And once concluded?

— 3-2, good guys, your final.

Again, at least they won – but the Blueshirts should have beat a bad team like the Blues.

And when you’re not so sure that the Rangers can even win a game like this, and when you consider that they almost lost it too – then what really was learnt – outside of St. Louis really stinks?

There are no easy games in the NHL – and the Blueshirts, if they aren’t already aware of this, will soon find out.

Not only will the Rangers play in Raleigh on Thanksgiving Eve (and where the Blueshirts were shutout on home ice by Carolina last time – and as they were on 11/4 by a 3-0 decision), then after Turkey Day and the next two weeks look like this:

— Black Friday in Boston against a surging Bruins’ team.

— The second half of a back-to-back on Saturday, 11/29, against a revenge-seeking Lightning – and a Bolts team that will be much healthier than the last time these two teams met (a 7-3 Rangers’ road win on 11/12).

— A Tuesday night delight hosting the perennial Cup contending Dallas Stars (12/2).

— A roadie in Canada’s capital, as the Senators are playing better these days (12/4).

— A pair of extremely tough home games against two teams that dominated them last week, a 12/6 meeting with the Avalanche, followed by a Sunday soiree (12/7) against Vegas.

— And after a Wednesday night (12/10) game at M$G against Connor Bedard’s Blackhawks and a 12/13 home match against the Canadiens?

— Then the most expensive hockey ticket in New York today – a Monday night 12/15 clash with the Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba Anaheim Ducks – and if you have a ducat to spare – then hit a Blueshirts’ brother up!

Due to my own work and real-life schedules, then I’m 50/50 about returning on Wednesday night.

I definitely won’t be around on Friday, as my local bar is hosting its first Rangers’ watch party of the season – and where yours truly and company have never missed a Blueshirts’ Black Friday game.

(I’ve also never missed a fresh Labatt Blue keg there either!)

I will 100% be back on Saturday, following Blueshirts v. Bolts.

In other words, then while I will be talking about these games on my Tweeter/X feed, but if I don’t return to this site until Saturday – then Happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble Gobble.

And let’s hope that the Blueshirts aren’t gobbled gobbled by the Canes either – but I wouldn’t bet on it!

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