Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Color me shocked – and better than that – pleasantly surprised too!
After all, then going into Wednesday night in Raleigh – and there was no doubt in my mind that the first-place Hurricanes would handle the Rangers with ease – and just as they did several weeks ago on M$G ice by a 3-0 final.
Rather than such an assumed demise, and instead, and the Blueshirts found a way to win during this Thanksgiving Eve tilt – and ironically enough – in a fashion that’s primarily doomed them on home ice this season.
In a rarity thus far during this 2025-26 campaign – and it were actually the Rangers who “GOALIE’D” the opposition – but to be fair – and it was the highest-paid goalie in the league, CZAR IGOR (36 saves on 38 shots faced, .947%), that did so – and not some back-up or AHL type.
From the Carolina perspective – then this was a bad loss.
Not only did they go a lowly 1-4 on their power-play tonight (which means that the Rangers’ penalty kill went 3-4); but most of this game was spent in the visitor’s zone – and as the period-by-period shots on goal totals would suggest:
— 13-4, Canes in the first period.
— 11-9, Canes in the second period.
— 14-5, Canes once more, in the do-or-die final frame.
Just as batty – and if this was “Blueshirts’ Bizarro World?”
Then it was actually the Rangers, the team who leads the league in most opposing goals allowed during both the opening and final two-minutes of the period, that scored twice in this manner – and where the first goal eventually became the go-ahead goal, while the latter held up as the game-winner.
Go figure.
Isn’t that amazing Suzyn?
And oh yeah – the NHL remains as “Any Given Sunday” sport too!
On the heels of the big reveal of Jusso Parssinen being waived-and-sent-to-Hartford (complete details in the NEWS segment), then Wednesday night’s game felt like any other Same Old Ranger script from this season.
The Blueshirts were massively out-shot and at one point, the first period SOG totals read as Carolina 11, New York 1.
And that’s not a typo.
However, then it should also be mentioned that the major SOG disparity between these two Metrosexual division and recent playoff rivals came as no surprise either.
After all, the Canes lead the NHL in SOG per game, while the Rangers rank dead-last in this department. (And boy oh boy – don’t we know all about it!)
A god-awful and blatant Artemi Panarin tripping penalty, committed at the 8:16 mark of the first frame, gave the Canes the first man-advantage of the match.
And once the Rangers were through with successfully killing this penalty?
Then the tide turned – somewhat.
While Brind’amour’s Brood is known for shooting from anywhere and everywhere (even K’Andre Miller was in on the act, as while only being credited with two SOG, he sent five other pucks CZAR IGOR’s way, including one that found iron), it was after these two man-down minutes where the Blueshirts started to get more zone time.
Leading the way was the new Rangers’ third line, Connor Sheary be damned, a trio consisting of Brett Berard, Noah Laba and Jonny Brodzinski.
This Hartford alum line was easily the most noticeable – and most impactful triad of the match.
Heck, with only 4:00 remaining in the period – and Berard had half of the Rangers’ SOG – as in one! (Fox had the other.)
It was also this new combination that produced the first goal of the game.
Come 3:07 left on the clock, and Noah Laba, while on another elongated attack, was able to dance around a few Cane defenders – and BLAMMO – beat Carolina goalie Frederik Anderson with a perfect snipe.
1-0, good guys – and despite the 14-3 SOG disparity – which also speaks to how rock-solid CZAR IGOR was in net too.
Feeding off of the energy of the two rookies and former captain of the ‘Pack, and the Blueshirts started to buzz a bit.
Down to 2:11 remaining and Sebastion A(ss)ho(le) was forced to trip Mika Zibanejad.
The best save during these two-minutes is when CZAR IGOR prevented a K’Andre Miller to Seth Jarvis short-handed goal – or in other words – the Rangers’ power-play was now 0-1 with just eleven-seconds left to be ticked.
For the Blueshirts, often the victim of “STOLEN WINS,” and whether it be by opposing goalies, an inability to score/finish or a fluke goal allowed, were now on the right side of this.
And for Carolina?
Then they had to be frustrated with themselves, as despite their dominance, they couldn’t get anything past CZAR IGOR.
Once the second stanza commenced and the Rangers picked up right where they left off.
However, a series of infractions, three in all, led to a Carolina equalizer – and where of these three penalties called- then only one of them was legit.
And go figure, it was the soft and fugazi call assessed to Laba that led to the only power-play goal of the game.
As the Laba line continued to look like world-beaters out there, then at the 4;56 mark, and after crashing Andersen’s net – and the Ranger rookie was boxed for “slashing” – a call so blasphemous that it deserves the bold, italic and in quotes treatment.
Four-seconds later, and on the Hurricane o-zone faceoff – and boom – there was Shayne Gostisbehere for the 1-1 goal.
And just to say it – then no – this goal allowed wasn’t on CZAR IGOR.
Instead of that, and the Hurricanes just ran a perfect play off of the puck drop – where not only did the Blueshirts’ backstop have to fight off the quick shot – but while screened too.
Just 76-seconds later – and Mika blatantly tripped Justin Robidas – so much so – that I thought it was absolutely ridiculous when the longest-tenured and driest-haired Ranger started to cry to the officials about the call.
CZAR IGOR, who would go on to record ten saves while short-handed tonight, made a bunch of them here – including routinely stopping Andrei Svechnikov at every turn and corner.
The end result?
A now 2-3 Blueshirts’ penalty kill.
Now past the half-way mark of the game/period, and with 8:44 remaining to be specific; and Carolina, now out-shooting their opponents 19-7 at the time, were now set to embark on their third power-play of the period – and their fourth overall.
Similar to the soft call assessed to his linemate Laba, and Berard was sent to the sin bin too – as a normal hit in the corner on Sean Walker was assessed as a dangerous “boarding” penalty.
In reality, Berard and Walker both went to play the puck, Berard hit Walker, Walker went into the boards and this was just like any other play that you see in dirty areas on the ice.
Of the four Ranger penalty kills and this was CZAR IGOR’s most impressive.
While his skaters did get him several clears; but this was a one-man PK, as #31 racked up four saves during these two-minutes of this still 1-1 game.
In a scary, but HOCKEY PLAYERS, moment – then come 5:55 to go and Gavrikov was skating gingerly to the bench after blocking a shot.
He never missed a shift – but in the moment – and you were worried about him.
As CZAR IGOR, the top-pair and the third-line continued to excel – then finally – the FAT CATS woke up.
With only 64-seconds remaining and we now had a 2-1, GOOD GUYS, score.
On this play, Fox, after a J.T. Miller o-zone faceoff win, slung the puck to Panarin – and somehow – the man who has forced M$GN staffers away was able to beat Andersen with a crazy one-timer.
For the Rangers, after giving up about 7986786797969869867986 end of the period goals this season, finally had one to call their own – and this was a major (duh) go-ahead goal too.
Come the do-or-die third period – and the Rangers wasted no time in getting their 3-1 insurance goal.
Just 45-seconds in, and there was Trocheck to give the Blueshirts some breathing room.
On this play, Zibanejad, from his own end, passed the puck up to an awaiting NDA Panarin.
As Zibanejad changed for Trocheck, then Panarin, like waiting out an alleged sexual assault victim to sign an NDA, bid his time as his center joined the rush.
And once Trocheck was there?
BLAMMO – a shot from the real captain of this team – as #16 split two defenders and then beat Andersen.
And oh, perhaps another thing that Cane fans are ruing over?
Andersen (14 saves on 17 shots, .824%) wasn’t very good – and where perhaps Brind’Amour & Co. are missing the days when Antti Raanta used to man their pipes!
As Sully’s Squad continued to play a simple game and focused on protecting their lead rather to find goal number four; then a bad puck-luck play brought you closer to the edge of your seat.
Down to 9:07 remaining, and Seth Jarvis, on the end result of a broken play/failed Rangers’ clears, was able to find the microscopic piece of net that CZAR IGOR afforded him – the top right corner of the net.
3-2 – and where your Blueshirts’ butthole was as puckered up and tight as a snare drum.
The Rangers were able to protect their lead.
In turn, then with 2:09 remaining and Carolina out-shooting their opposition to a tune of 35-17 (more than a 2:1 ratio) as well, and Andersen left his net for the extra attacker.
Following a Fox try that went for icing, then on the Rangers’ second attempt, and with 1:43 remaining too – and CUYLLE HAND LUKE made it count.
4-2, Blueshirts, after #50’s seventh goal of the season – and a goal that led to some weird shit out of that loser Alexis Lafreniere – as the worst first-overall pick of the past ten-years decided to celebrate this Cuylle goal by dry-humping him to kingdom come for a minute straight (I’m not making this up).
Seriously?
With the way that Lafreniere was trying to pound Cuylle’s ass – then you’d think that Lafreniere was doing his Artemi Panarin/female M$GN staffer act (video below).
This was perhaps the gayest thing that I’ve ever seen in hockey (not that there is anything wrong with that – but it was weird as hell nevertheless) – and that includes the Kreider/Mika bromance – and Brad “The Rat” Marchand licking the lips of his opponents – and as he did to former Blueshirt, Ryan Callahan.
Up 4-2 and you thought this game was now in the bag.
Not so fast – as for whatever reason – then Captain Miller decided it was a good time to take a boneheaded roughing penalty (on Taylor Hall).
For the next 67-seconds and the Rangers were under siege, as Carolina now had a 6 x 4 attack (Andersen pulled).
I mentioned this at the time – but I found it surprising that one of the final four that Sullivan had out there was rookie Matthew Robertson – and not Vladislav Gavrikov – and where mind you – the head coach used his timeout just as these final seconds were about to roll off of the clock.
Robertson?
Two blocked shots during this time – and of his game-high total of six!
Come the end of the horn?
4-2, Rangers, your final – and now a two-game winning streak too.
In my eyes, then the most impressive takeaway from Thanksgiving Eve was in regards to how well all of the Ranger rookies played.
Laba. Berard. Robertson. All of them were excellent.
And with Sheary getting scratched for Berard tonight, then perhaps it’s only a matter of time before Raddysh feels the same fate – via a return of Perreault.
You know me.
I’ve been preaching REBUILD over WIN NOW ever since the epic, infamous and historic 2024-25 collapse.
That’s why I want to see what these younger guys can do – and where I feel much more confident in the likes of Berard, Laba and Perreault than I ever did in Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko.
Heck, I even told you at the time, aka DAY ONE, that I had no faith at all in both The Concussed Czech and The Feckless Finn.
Unlike those soft Euros – and these North American rookies come to play – and they aren’t afraid to rough it up against men either. (But not in the way that Lafreniere wanted to rough up Cuylle tonight!
Yes, the Blueshirts bested the best team in the league on this night – but I still don’t feel like they are a playoff team – much less a Cup contender.
After all, here were the standings after this game – and standings BEFORE both Ottawa and Montreal also won on Wednesday night:
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – a rare Rangers’ victory at home:
Following the Rangers’ “huge win” on Monday night, then come Tuesday, the team returned to their training facility in Tarrytown.
Three developments were announced at the practice:
One, both J.T. Miller and Will Borgen were skating with the team, although they were wearing non-contact jerseys.
Two, Jonathan Quick was officially placed on the injured reserve, and just to jump ahead, where bench boss Mike Sullivan said after the skate that he wouldn’t be against giving CZAR IGOR every start until his Hall of Fame goalie is able to return.
With a back-to-back set coming up this weekend (Black Friday in Boston, Saturday hosting Tampa), then that wasn’t exactly the best news for a Dylan Garand – and a goalie who has yet to play in an NHL game.
Three, Jusso Parssinen was withheld from the practice due to “roster management purposes.”
Obviously, the news of Parssinen’s demise received the most talk around the streets of Rangerstown, USA – and where really – this decision, after only 24 games played this season, just confirmed everything that I said once the Blueshirts extended him for two more years – and as the failed general manager, Chris Drury, did back on May 2nd of this year.
If you recall, then at the time, I said that I had no clue why the Rangers would not only make Parssinen their first priority of the off-season – but why would they extend a guy who flamed out in two different cities (traded twice, first by Nashville to Colorado, then Colorado to New York) to a two-year deal – and a pact that carried an annual salary of $1.25M – or $500,000 over the minimum required.
To paraphrase the late-and-great Larry Brooks?
This:
“WHAT. IS. CHRIS. DOING?”
Once the news hit of Parssinen being withheld due to fear of a potential injury sustained at a practice, then it told us two things – either Drury had a trade in the works – or that “The Feckless Finn 2.0” would be waived.
Come 5PM Tuesday we got our answer – no one wanted to trade for Parssinen, and in turn, the “Finnish Flush” was waived with the intent to send him to Hartford.
Some 21-hours later, at 2PM EST, then it was announced that nobody was interested in getting into the Parssinen business.
In turn, Parssinen is now a full-fledged howler in Hartford.
And for those who don’t know?
Then the main reason why none of the other 31-teams took a chance on Parssinen was the most obvious explanation – no one wanted to take on the second-year of his deal – and just like how every NHL team tries to avoid bad contracts of players who have now flamed out in three different markets in less than a calendar year’s worth of time.
As a result of all of this, then $1.15M of Parssinen’s $1.25M is now buried with the team’s AHL affiliate – which also means that the former #71 of the Rangers is now eating up $100K worth of dead cap space – and cap space that the Blueshirts really don’t have much of to begin with either.
In other roster news from Wednesday, then as expected – and the Rangers called-up an insurance defenseman for this upcoming two-game road-show – this time, Connor Mackey.
Here is what Sullivan said about all developments, including how Noah Laba pretty much wrested Parssinen’s job away from him, following Tuesday’s practice/flight to Raleigh – and where of note – Sully’s suit was just as ugly as the Rangers themselves this season:
Come Wednesday morning, game day, and the Rangers held a light skate in Raleigh.
It was revealed at the practice that both Miller and Borgen were likely to be back.
(But as you know by now – then only Miller returned – while Borgen, now off of the IR, remains day-to-day.)
Elsewhere, and K’Andre Miller, now healthy, was the focus of the pregame talk.
Miller pretty much said what you’d expect him to say, as after all, it was stuff that he had previously said – he knew the trade was coming, he was happy about his stay in New York, he’s happier to have a new life in Carolina, playing against his former team would be tough/weird and blah-blah-blah.
We’ve talked about the Miller trade so much that I’m over it.
As noted up top, then while he did send a lot of pucks towards CZAR IGOR, he, and perhaps in a miracle too, didn’t become another member of the alumni to score against the Blueshirts.
At least not tonight!
In his game-high of 24:08 on the ice, and the former #79 of the Rangers finished as minus-one.
Here was Sully’s line-up for the twenty-fifth game of this 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Cuylle/Zibanejad/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Miller
THIRD LINE: Berard/Laba/Brodzinski
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Raddysh
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Soucy/Schneider
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Dylan Garand
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Connor Sheary and Connor Mackey
DAY-TO-DAY: Will Borgen
INJURED RESERVE: Jonathan Quick
LTIR: Matt Rempe
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 38 | 2 | 36 | .947 | 25 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
CAR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 17 | 3 | 14 | .824 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58:05 | 0 |
As far as the M$GN pregame show went tonight, then John Giannone was joined by Dave Maloney, while Brian Boyle was with Kenny Albert in North Carolina.
I wouldn’t look too much into this.
After all, it’s Thanksgiving, and due to his veteran status, then I’m just to assume that Maloney wanted to be close to home.
That said, and once again, and Boyle was fantastic.
Seriously, and sans Sieve Vagistat, and M$GN has put together a strong panel for their broadcasts, as I’ve enjoyed Boyle, Albert, Maloney, Alex Faust, Dave Starman, and of course, “The King of Commentary,” Henrik Lundqvist, too.
I’m coming off an overtime shift at the real j-o-b and have real l-i-f-e Thanksgiving Day responsibilities tomorrow – or should I say later today!
(As noted on Monday night after Blueshirts/Blues, then I wasn’t even going to write anything tonight – but after a big win like this – then I felt it was my obligation to do so – and for as sick as that may sound!)
This is my way of saying that I’m just giving you the highlights and what I said after each period played tonight.
However, and as always, then if you want a complete play-by-play of the game, then check out my Tweeter/X feed here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
Let’s roll.
FIRST PERIOD
I want to make note of this:
Last night, I was catching up on the latest episode of “The Blueshirt Undergound Show,” and where the two co-hosts, Jim S. and Eddie G., were asking their viewers if there’s anyone that you really care for on the team these days.
While the obvious names popped up – Igor, Fox and to a lesser extent Cuylle and Trocheck too; but for me, and I’d also add Laba to the list.
Hopefully, Berard and Perreault will soon join him!
Here’s Laba’s ice-breaker:
What a play by #NYR Matthew Robertson being mobile on the blue line.
Hell of a finish by Noah Laba. pic.twitter.com/13SFd9xMdM
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 27, 2025
1-0, after 20-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, #NYR after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Canes out-shooting them, 14-3, but once again, it’s the Blueshirts’ bottom-six (and the top-pair & goalie) that’s carrying them.
— Hell of a rip for Laba.
— I guess Maloney has Thanksgiving at home, hence being in-studio tonight.
— PP…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 27, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
Here’s Panarin’s 2-1, good guys, one-timer:
Perfect execution pic.twitter.com/aMGCIUyZob
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 27, 2025
Here’s what I said after 40-minutes of play:
2-1, #NYR, through 40. 2P Thoughts:
— NYR PK is 3-4 – Canes PK 1-1
— Panarin finally showed up – although it was kind of lucky
— Canes have been better (SOG 24-13), but Igor has been best
— Third line, Fox/Gavrikov and the goalie has carried them
— Can they finish?— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) November 27, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
Here’s Trocheck’s beautiful 3-1 goal:
East-West hockey pic.twitter.com/fXMncZFAxG
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 27, 2025
Here’s Cuylle’s 4-2 empty-netter – and Lafreniere jumping his teammate like he was a Grindr date:
2 wins a row.
Looks like we have a new hottest team in hockey @DJ_Bean | @PeteBlackburn pic.twitter.com/1lcBYatfzm
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) November 27, 2025
All in all, this win felt like the hockey gods were giving back to the Rangers.
After all, they’ve been on the wrong side of many of these games – and it was about damn time that they won one of them!
Up Next For the Rangers: Black Friday in Beantown.
Of Note: As noted on Monday, then I won’t be around with a GAME REVIEW for that game, as I’m attending my local pub’s watch party – and I’m not rushing home to write – as I want to enjoy my time there with a pint or twenty among friends and family!
Site Note: I shall return on Saturday with a Rangers/Bolts GAME REVIEW, one much more detailed than this one, and where I’ll add any pertinent thoughts from Blueshirts/Bruins during that particular manifesto!
Again, Happy Thanksgiving everyone – and I’m glad that Sully’s Squad didn’t get gobbled up tonight as I thought they were going to be!
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.”
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
As always an excellent writeup. And a win is a win is a win. I actually got to see the game on a new channel. It was not in HD, but happy to view the game. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.