Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Alas, and we’re right back to “SAME OLD RANGERS!”
And this too – “EXPECTED.”
After all, and take all of the former alum pregame stories out of it – then the Ducks, and just like any other team in the league that enters M$G on a losing streak – then who better than the “SLUMPBUSTING BLUESHIRTS” to alleviate such woes?
(Hello Vancouver by the time you read these words!)
Once the Ducks failed in their last two contests against the Islanders and Devils, then you just knew it in your bones – the Rangers would let them off of the hook – and thus end the schneid among the Anaheim faithful too.
And that’s what happened – and dramatically at that to boot!
OF NOTE: We’re going long tonight – and I have a ton of media for you too – so relax, pull up a seat, bust out your favorite drink and enjoy! But hey – we’re sticking to this site’s mantra – 10,000 words, no ads and all for one click!
There are many reasons why the Rangers dropped a 4-1 final to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night – but where really – then the four Blue alum, now in bright orange (Ryan Strome, Frank Vatrano, Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider), weren’t really amongst them.
After all, then it was only the former captain of this club, the one jettisoned out of town by both the recently deceased Larry Brooks and Chris Drury, in their now confirmed 1-2 conduit effort, that picked up a sole point among this quartet.
Then again, it was also a pretty big secondary assist for Trouba on this night – as his tenth helper of the season led to Jackson LaCombe’s 1-0 goal – and of the 5 x 3 shorthanded variety.
UGH!
And that LaCombe goal WAS one of the biggest reasons why the Rangers, like a cheap hooker on a $20 bill, fell to their knees on Monday night.
Of course, what I mean here is what always goes down with Sully’s Squad this season – “SPECIAL BUS SPECIAL TEAMS!”
Special teams, and as has been the case ever since Sully arrived, only to be amplified following the long-term injury received by Adam Fox, continued to plague the Rangers on this here night of December 15th, 2025.
In what was a tight game until the final ninety-seconds, then previous to that, and the Blueshirts had already squandered four separate man-up chances – including that dreadfully aforementioned LaCombe 5 x 3 short-handed goal.
Outside of one power-play where the Rangers challenged the returning Lukas Dostal – or DOSTWALL on this night – with four SOG – then really, and once again – and the man-up units were never much of a threat.
Ironically, then the Ducks’ power-play wasn’t that hot either – but it was luke-warm enough – as they finished 1-3 – but when you score while short-handed – and of course, then go on to win – and such power-play futility can be forgiven.
(It should also be mentioned that the lone Anaheim PPG scored took place at the 2:00 mark of their man-advantage.)
And when the other team, the opposition, in this case the Rangers, finish as a collective 1-7 on special teams – then these days – then that’s more than adequate when trying to down Sully’s “special” squad.
LaCombe’s goal, scored at the 7:18 mark of the second period, which also doubled-up as the Rangers’ third power-play of the match, pretty much took the wind out of the sails at M$G.
A fluky (but they all count) Matthew Robertson goal, scored exactly nine-minutes to the dot later (16:18 of the second stanza), tied the game at one goal a piece.
But alas, and as you long know by now already – and this Robertson goal, his second of the season, would not only be the first Rangers’ score of the game – but their last too.
Entering the do-or-die final frame with this 1-1 score still in-tact – and the Ducks responded with three unanswered red lights – or in other words – a field goal on the board.
A Will Borgen hooking penalty, committed at the 3:51 mark, kicked off the almighty Anaheim rally.
With just seconds remaining prior to Borgen’s hopeful release – and blammo – there was Cutter Gauthier, a man who may hate Philly more than any Blueshirt backer, with a wicked snipe to put the Ducks ahead, via his power-play goal, and a 2-1 score at that.
While the Rangers did somewhat try to hang in there – it wasn’t enough – and as the third period SOG stat, 8-5, road team, would suggest.
It wasn’t until CZAR IGOR was pulled with under ninety seconds remaining when the Ducks scored their insurance goal – and as Gauthier (not Julien – DUH), did with just 1:22 left to be melted off of the clock.
3-1, orange over blue.
For the rotten cherry on top, one so bad that CZAR IGOR almost pulled an Alexandar Georgiev vs. Tony DeAngelo fight with his moronic teammates, then his 22-year-old fellow comrade, the Russian Pavel Mintyukov, made sure to embarrass the Blueshirts – and as he did with his 4-1 Ducks’ goal – and a goal that was scored with only 2.9 seconds left in regulation time – and with #31 back in the Blueshirts’ barrel.
Egads.
Special Teams marred the Rangers’ chances of winning this game the most.
A lack of an effective 5 x 5 scoring also doomed them.
And for as much as I hate to admit it – goaltending (although this is more about Dostal being better and more elite than CZAR IGOR on this night – and as many rival goalies are whenever at M$G this season), also wrecked the Rangers.
While Dostal, who replaced the long-time Quack John Gibson in Anaheim is paid well ($6.5M annually) – he’s also not the highest-paid goalie in the league either – and as CZAR IGOR, who earns $5M per-season than the Mickey Mouse goalie, presently is.
Funny enough, and CZAR IGOR’s contract was also brought up during the M$GN post-game show by the hypocritical Sieve Vagistat (which is why I mention it here) – but more on that once we get there.
“It’s not the end of the world. We played good five on five. We get another chance tomorrow.” – J.T. Miller – and where the former #8, and captain of this club for that matter too, Mr. Kelly Trouba, was far superior than the one in the present.
“I’m not going to get into specifics on why we make decisions the way we made them. We believe strongly in a process that we’ve put in place here for our team,” said Sullivan about his decision to banish Zibanejad on this night (more in tonight’s NEWS segment).
“Just coaching a number of star players in the league, the power play means a lot to them. When it goes well, it carries over to their 5-on-5 play,” said a stubborn Sullivan, who is still obsessed with his failing five-forward power-play unit (Cuylle replaced Zibanejad in this match) – and where yet again, I must say – PUT GAVRIKOV ON IT – if only to at least protect the point/prevent short-handed attempts.
“A little weird, took me a couple of shifts to remember the guys in blue weren’t my teammates,” said an elated Chris Kreider – and a man who has to be happy to no longer be associated with these Blueshirt Bums anymore.
And there was also this immediate post-game reaction too – as CZAR IGOR, who accomplished what his predecessor, Henrik Lundqvist, did in half the time (a Vezina win, two ECF appearances, becoming the highest-paid goalie in the league, a Presidents’ Trophy, etc), pulled a page straight out of “The King’s” playbook – and as he did here:
Igor Shesterkin wasn’t happy after the Rangers’ 4-1 loss to the Ducks 😬 pic.twitter.com/aFpBi8bFOg
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 16, 2025
Oh yeah, then while you can check out the archives of this site for all of my previous praise on both Trouba and Kreider – then there’s also this – my major “Drury Disdain” as well:
The worst captain in #nyr franchise history – and Jacob Trouba. pic.twitter.com/klsymK60Pi
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 6, 2024
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off, the Rangers’ 3-0 loss in Chicago:
NYR/CHI 12/10 Review: Blueshirts Get Embarrassed on National Television; Give Jeff Blashill a Slumpbuster Birthday Present, Not The Rangers “Knight;” Historically Bad Loss Too, Special Teams Remain Atrocious; A Windy City Shorty Game-Winner, Not Much Shaved Head Talk For NDA Panarin; Lafreniere Is No Bedard Either, Torch The Centennial Jerseys, TNT; Gambling, The “Quotables,” Montreal Next & More
Before getting into everything else from a maddening Monday, then let’s first talk about what I missed – and afterwards – then we can continue this Blueshirts’ induced depression!
And spoiler alert?
Then it’s in this segment where you’ll find the most positivity!
WINNING!
As you may have noticed (and as teased last time around), then I wasn’t available on Saturday night, following the Rangers’ 5-4 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens.
(I may have said this before, but if not, then I’ll say it now – then I don’t have an urge to write after any one particular win – because more times than not – then the Rangers follow up a victory with a crushing loss – and as we saw again tonight.)
As you can tell from the picture above, then since it was my dad’s 75th birthday, then yours truly, my brother-in-law Ron and my eldest niece Cayleigh, all decided to watch the game at my parents’ house.
(My mom, also a die-hard fan, not pictured here, as in her own words, “my hair isn’t done,” also watched along with us!)
That said, and I did live-tweet some of the game, and if you should so desire such commentary, then you can find all of my real time thoughts from that match here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
If there was one thing that I truly enjoyed about Saturday night, and aside from both being with family and the Blueshirts’ win, then it was Cayleigh’s reaction to the game.
My nine-year-old niece is starting to get into the Rangers – and as brought up a few blogs ago when she attended her first game at M$G with us (the 2-1 colorful loss to Detroit).
What most impressed me about the wise-and-mature-above-her-years Cayleigh, was the fact that most of her commentary was spot-on – and right down to using correct hockey vernacular.
During the early stages of the game, and she commented, “this is quite boring.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Down 3-0, and with Jack Evans just shy of scoring a 4-0 shorthanded goal, and she remarked, “if that went in, then Jonathan Quick would have to go into the net.”
And I don’t think she was incorrect about that either!
As she was calling out offside and icing calls in real-time (her father Ron has done an excellent job in teaching her all of the rules), then she got her biggest wish too – a goal from her favorite player – Noah “Labubu” Laba.
(She later saw Laba assist on Cuylle’s 4-3 goal, and where she remarked, “Laba’s line has been the best!” Once again, she was correct!)
As Cayleigh continued to wonder why the Rangers refused to shoot the puck as much as the Canadiens did (my mom also had a few words about this matter too!), then my niece was also keenly aware of the fact that Montreal had the youngest player on the ice in their own net – a struggling Jacob Fowler. (I should note, the broadcast also mentioned this to the point of redundancy – but they weren’t wrong when doing so either.)
(And at one point, Cayleigh was also using hockey-vocabulary words such as “chippy” and “sloppy!”)
As she said, and as we all said (and like you probably said too), then once the Rangers mounted their comeback – and the new goalie in Poutine Land was regularly looking behind himself after every shot faced.
At one point, then I wondered if he had excruciating neck pain, as his head was on a swivel when looking at the red light behind him, when looking for confirmation of whether or not a puck went behind him or not!
For Cayleigh (and for all of us), then we witnessed one hell of a game during my dad’s 75th birthday.
After starting 0-5, with three shutouts included, and where the Rangers were outscored 16-2 in their new centennial jerseys – and all of these numbers improved: 1-5, and now with a 20-7 goal-margin.
Like Cayleigh some eight-years ago (and boy does time fly) – then for the Blueshirts – “BABY STEPS!”
Better than that, and we all saw the Rangers’ first penalty shot goal in ten-years (Panarin’s 3-2 goal was the first Blueshirts’ penalty shot goal since Dan Boyle’s score from the 2015-16 season), an epic comeback and of course, a J.T. Miller 4-4 equalizer, that was then only out-matched by his overtime power-play game-winner.
For both yours truly, a famed Rangers’ historian (at least that’s what Stan Fischler refers to me as), and my parents too, and we also got to witness a nice pregame ceremony, as many of the players from the 1970s and 1980s were honored:
While of course, both great food and drink were plenty available during my dad’s 75th birthday celebration (I devoured some gnocchi and calamari – and just like any other true Irishman would); then come 7PM, and the festivities continued, including an excellent tribute to the likes of Tom Laidlaw, Eddie Johnstone, Reijo Ruotsalainen, Kelly Kisio, John Vanbiesbrouck, Pierre Larouche, Teddy Irvine, Mike Rogers, Rod Seiling, Anders Hedberg, Ulf Nilsson, Ron Duguay, Nick Fotiu, John Davidson, Steve Vickers, Dave Maloney, Walt Tkaczuk, Gilles Villemure, Brian Mullen, Ron Greschner, Bill Fairbairn and Brad Park.
Among the names honored, then I was happy to see Ron Duguay back at M$G – and where I don’t think that I have to explain this subject anymore than I already have in my previous writings.
It was also nice to see the Swedes back, as it showed me that the Rangers actually ponied up some bucks in order to fly them out – which is something that I can’t say about the families of the Original Ranger alumni (all of them had to pay their own way back on 10/20/25).
Elsewhere, and after his public jettisoning from M$G from over four-years ago, then I believe that JD has now been back at M$G on three separate occasions now, as the ice on that frosty relationship has now thawed.
While I think that’s more about JD than anything else (he loves the franchise); but either way, and the Rangers have also facilitated, or at least accepted, a reconciliation process.
It was also nice to see Gilles Villemure back, and especially after knowing all about his previous health issues that were previously reported on this site (he beat brain cancer and at one point, was in hospice care. Today, and he weekly dines out with former teammate, and fellow Long Island resident, Pete Stemkowski).
Two other names that I must bring attention to are Kelly Kisio, the last player to wear #11 before that guy Mark Messier came to town, and where I believe that this was also his first appearance at M$G while representing the Rangers’ alumni.
(Kelly Kisio is also the best Ranger in history to ever have the initials of K.K. – and yes – that’s a shot at Kaapo Kakko!)
The other name to mention here is Brad Park, because like all of the legendary names from Rangers’ past that were honored back in October (check my 10/20 blog for all of it), then this tells me that his number isn’t going to be retired anytime soon.
(But as said 7679869868969689679 times over – then I’m not retiring Park until the names of Boucher, The Cooks, Francis, Greschner, The Patrick’s, Johnson and others are honored first.)
Last but not least, and while I don’t know if he had something else going on or not, but it did speak volumes that James Patrick, perhaps the most forgotten Ranger of them all, wasn’t included in these festivities.
Since the win over the Canadiens is now behind us, then just a few thoughts, followed by the entire alumni tribute ceremony, the game highlights and Sully’s post-game interview too:
My biggest takeaway from the win was two-fold.
One, the Rangers were extremely fortunate, and as Cayleigh pointed out, that Evans didn’t score when short-handed.
Had he, then it would’ve been 4-0 in the first period – and where most likely, Cayleigh wouldn’t have been allowed to stay up late with us – as a normal bed-time would’ve been better off for her instead!
The other takeaway, and as a result of Evans’ inability to run up Montreal’s lead to four unanswered goals, was the fact that the Canadiens had a rookie, the aforementioned Fowler, playing in his second game in net.
Once the Rangers started to comeback – then once getting there too – and that was it.
He was shakier than a leaf on a Fall day. He was shakier than Michael J. Fox. He was shakier than yours truly looking for a toilet after devouring a meal at Taco Bell – and you get the rest.
That said, and Montreal didn’t do that much to help matters as Fowler continued to battle the pressure and nerves – but yeah – they did also spot him a three-goal lead.
And much to the derision of my dear-old-dad (although deep-down, then I know that he did agree with me) – then that’s why following the win, I still remained as my pessimistic self – as I remarked (and without Cayleigh around, as I didn’t want to disappoint/jade her) – “watch them get blown out by the Ducks on Monday.”
After all, what did the Rangers really accomplish?
Yeah, you can’t be upset about a win, and of course, the two-points netted too – but no joke?
Then Fowler looked like the goalie from the team of my youth (and where the scores were very often 20-1, 19-2, 18-0 – and not in favor of us) – as he just shit the bed.
Seriously?
Then Montreal would’ve been better off with the ghosts of either Gump Worsley or Jacques Plante in their net during crunch time – and perhaps would’ve won this game had they pulled Fowler altogether and went at it 6 x 5 for the final ten-minutes!
Here are all of the videos from Saturday:
As you’d imagine, and as you probably already know as well, then all of the pregame talk was centered around the M$G returns of Kreider and Trouba:
Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba return to MSG tonight. #NYR pic.twitter.com/FtdZy0mszF
— Jennifer O’Regan (@Jenny_ORegan) December 15, 2025
Here’s some of the pregame stuff from Trouba and Kreider – and where yes, this too – and the returns of Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome, two former Rangers who unlike these two, have returned before, all fell to the wayside.
After all, then for all of the Kreider and Trouba talk – then not once did you hear about Strome’s strong personal friendship with NDA Panarin – nor how “The Stromer” dined with “The Breadman” over the weekend either.
Trouba, who previously admitted last week that losing the pressure of being the captain of the Rangers helped improve his game in Anaheim, once again rehashed his thoughts about being traded a year ago:
“It’s unfortunate and I didn’t enjoy it in the moment. But I think it’s kind of just a small piece of what was a very, very memorable and impactful five-and-a-half years for me.”
Trouba would later go on to say, and after saying that Kreider and himself had dinner with Zibanejad over the weekend, that he also walked by his former apartment – while also saying that once his career is over, then perhaps he and his wife, the one that Larry Brooks slandered several times over last summer, Kelly Trouba, may spend his post-playing career in NYC.
On what his feelings were going into the game, then Kreider remarked, “I don’t know. Trying to go on with no expectations and just get ready to play a hockey game. But it’s a passionate fan base. It’s a place that I’ve spent the majority of my life, so I’m sure it’ll be emotional for me. To what extent, I don’t know. I’m just trying to worry about the here and the now.”
As far as what Kreider’s feelings were on leaving – and when asked if he wished that dickhead Drury didn’t trade him too, CK20 diligently replied, “I try not to live in the past. I think I’ve said this a couple times: It’s arrogant to think that you know what something is in that given moment, right? So you don’t necessarily know if it’s gonna be a good thing or a bad thing. So just take everything in stride.
“And playing in the National Hockey League, then it doesn’t matter where you’re playing – it’s just a tremendous, tremendous honor. Obviously, playing here [NYC] is incredibly special, but the Anaheim experience has been fantastic. It’s just kind of been positive on all fronts.”
Kreider wasn’t asked about his BFF – Stinka Zibanedud – and one that also took up a lot of the headlines on Monday.
The Rangers, following an off-day on Sunday, returned to practice on Monday morning prior to their loss to the Ducks.
Once complete, then it was Wince Mercogliano that first transcribed Sullivan’s post-practice interview:
Mika Zibanejad won’t play tonight, according to Sullivan. He missed a team meeting and this is the consequence. #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) December 15, 2025
Here’s what Sully said about the matter in full – and where I’ll have his post-game reaction about it for you below as well:
Mike Sullivan announces that Mika Zibanejad will not play tonight against the Ducks because he missed a team meeting
Sullivan on the decision: “There are logistical challenges that this city presents sometimes…he feels terribly” pic.twitter.com/haeecRXtNc
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 15, 2025
“There are logistical challenges the city presents,” said Sully about Zibanejad’s healthy scratch/punishment. “Mika understands the importance of the rules that we all expect of one another.”
Sullivan continued:
“He feels terribly. The one thing about Mika is he’s an honest person. He’s a great human being and he takes responsibility for it.”
Going into the game, during the game, then most certainly following the game – and I don’t think that we got the full 411 out of Sullivan here.
If you just read Sully’s black-and-white pregame commentary about Mika – then you’re left to think that Zibanejad didn’t catch a few lights when trying to attempt attending a team meeting during the first snowfall in NYC.
I’m speculating here – but I think that there’s more to this.
While I don’t know if Mika was out partying/crying with Trouba and Kreider, thus missing said meeting – but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear such talk confirmed either.
In other words – then I don’t think that solely traffic alone was the reason why Mika was withheld from Monday’s miserable match.
Also in other words?
Then it’s my belief that Sullivan was trying to protect Mika – as he didn’t want to bury his top-six forward.
Something happened.
Mika had to be punished.
But Sully, and as you’ll see in his post-game remarks featured below, wasn’t going to air out all of the dirty laundry either.
And I have to say it:
Mika missed a meeting – and as a result – he was “suspended” for a game.
Panarin allegedly sexually assaults a woman, then, and in what’s been confirmed, signs an expensive NDA with this female victim immediately afterwards – and nary one game missed.
Make it make sense for me please.
Rempe, who returned to practice last week, was deemed as a “game-time decision” by Sullivan after Monday’s A.M. skate.
However, we all kind of knew that he’d be back – as not only was he skating with the regulars – but where Jaroslav Chmelar, the new fourth-line wing du jour (and most likely returned to Hartford by the time that you read these words), was out there late with the other determined-to-be healthy scratches.
And sadly, and to say it – and neither Connor Sheary nor Taylor Raddysh was among these scratches.
And for that matter, nor was Gabe Perreault finally recalled back to the varsity club either.
Just to fast-forward a bit, then Rempe, a game-high five hits, -1 (the last goal allowed), and back on the effective PP2 in his game-low of 9:02 of ice time; following the game, then confirmed what I first told you here on this site (yeah – his sister talked about it first – I just ran with it) – he did break his thumb in his fight with Reaves:
Matt Rempe says he’s not deterred from fighting but will have to cease for now while still recovering from his broken thumb.
Rempe also said he had to tell Ross Johnston he couldn’t fight because of his broken thumb recovery and he understood pic.twitter.com/1eRyNhFPZc
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 16, 2025
It was nice to have Rempe back, and while I wouldn’t champion a rematch with the former Islander Ross Johnston either – but all of this just confirmed what I kind of knew – #73 isn’t at 100% – which is also why I don’t think that he should’ve played tonight either.
Here was Sully’s line-up for the thirty-fourth game of this 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Miller/Sheary
THIRD LINE: Berard/Laba/Brodzinski
FOURTH LINE: Raddysh/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Schneider
SECOND PAIR: Soucy/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakainainen/Robertson
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
PUNISHED: Mika Zibanejad
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jaroslav Chmelar and Scott Morrow
LTIR: Adam Edstrom and Adam Fox
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
|
| 25 | 3 | 22 | .880 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 59:13 | 0 |
|
ANA
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 27 | 1 | 26 | .963 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59:48 | 0 |
Since I was at the real j-o-b on Monday night, and where as always, I saved all of my break time for this game – then I didn’t watch much of the pregame show – and where I felt extremely validated in my decision to refrain – as this was another solo Sieve Vagistat broadcast.
While I missed it, then according to some readers, then at one point, he said something akin to “I like nuts on my face” – and where I wasn’t surprised to hear this either.
More on the hypocritical and worst goalie in franchise history during our post-game segment.
As far as anything else, then it was what you’d expect from everyone else – and on this night – Dave Maloney, Dave Starman, Michelle Gingras, Kenny Albert and John Giannone – this was going to be the Trouba & Kreider Show.
Outside of Maloney saying that Rempe has “a cult-like following,” then the only thing left to add here is that Kreider’s new hair-cut (one that Trouba joked about too), is just as bad as Drury’s trade of the former longest-tenured Ranger.
Since I’m already at word 9,000 as I write this – then just the quick-and-dirty GAME REVIEW tonight.
However, and as always, then if you want my complete commentary from this contest, then check out: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
Let’s roll (easy for me to say)!
FIRST PERIOD
It was noticeable when Coach Q., the bench boss that Drury refused to hire during his past two head coaching searches, started Vatrano, Strome, Kreider and Trouba.
As noted in the past on this site – then it was Stupid Sully who decided to make a healthy scratch out of Matthew Robertson – and as he did when the Rangers were in the d-man’s hometown of Edmonton a few weeks back.
Players remember this stuff.
Players appreciate this stuff.
And I’m sure that Mika is also aware that he was benched for this all-important and must-see match-up – so much so – that the get-in price at M$G was never higher as it was tonight this season.
After Maloney brought up that Trouba has replaced Mika as CK20’s BFF, as the two now live four houses away from one another (and it was the fact that Trouba was already in Anaheim when Kreider agreed to waive his NTC for the Ducks too), then the returning Dostal, who had missed the past dozen games or so due to injury, immediately locked in – and as he did when he stopped the alleged rapist at just the 40-second mark.
If there was anything unexpected tonight, then it was the fact that Kreider didn’t score a goal – much less register a SOG either.
But it wasn’t for a lack of trying either – as he was screening CZAR IGOR whenever he could – and as he did in his first instance, which occurred just 2:02 in.
After Rempe got a big reaction for his first shift back, then at the 5:14 mark, Trouba was (erroneously) boxed for “tripping” Lafreniere.
In reality, this was a good hockey hit – so much so – that even Maloney was protesting the call.
And when Maloney is defending the other team – then you know that some fugazi bullshit had went down!
The best Rangers’ scoring attempt during these first of eight man-up minutes, took place when Dostal’s big toe got a piece of a Lafreniere-to-Cuylle tap-in try.
After that, a pair of return/”Thank You” videos – and where neither were shared in-full on M$GN – and where neither one of them were the same either:
MSG let’s Chris Kreider hear all of their love 🔊 pic.twitter.com/gZiOwDfG7Z
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 16, 2025
Jacob Trouba’s tribute video comes at the next commercial break. #NYR pic.twitter.com/99gi6BGIrs
— Remy Mastey (@MasteyRemy) December 16, 2025
Granted, while CK20 meant more, and will always mean more, than Trouba ever did for the Blueshirts; but yet, the Rangers did what they could for Kreider – while then treating Trouba as if he had a legacy in New York like Gregg McKegg.
What a vain and vapid organization.
After we had some #65 on #65 violence, as Trouba blocked Berard at the 9:50 mark, then Maloney sniffed so hard on the broadcast that I thought he was Don Murdoch.
And perhaps the Blueshirts needed some “booger sugar” in order to wake-up as well.
No score come the first intermission.
Here’s what I said at the time:
Scoreless after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— SOG 10-9, #NYR – and where the Rangers are playing their game – but the Ducks are adapting to this pond too.
— Not very wide-open, kind of nothing going on for IGOR. Conversely, and Dostal has been busy.
— Trouba has been more aggressive…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 16, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
At the 3:22 mark, the Ducks received their first power-play of the game, as Raddysh went off for hooking.
I couldn’t have been the only one – I was expecting a Kreider PPG.
But fortunately for the Blueshirts – and such a perceived scenario never saw the light of day.
Instead, another special teams goal would have to be scored – and it didn’t favor the Rangers either.
The Blueshirts had 22-seconds’ worth of a 5 x 3 power-play, following an Olen Zellweger hook on Cuylle (5:12 mark) and a Sieve Vagistat special – too many men (6:51 mark).
And at the 7:18 mark?
Trouba to Ryan Poehling – and after three saves made – CZAR IGOR couldn’t come up with a fourth without a Rangers’ d-man on the ice:
🚨 LaCombe shorthanded🚨
With only three skaters for us, he gets us on the board! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/YF6bnqPegP
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 16, 2025
1-0, Ducks – and an inexcusable goal to say the least.
This was also LaCombe’s first shorty goal – so in other words – another “opposing” first as allowed by the Rangers.
As noted earlier – and the Blueshirts would tie the game – although under questionable circumstances:
The Rangers tie it up! pic.twitter.com/E9LhRUtOKV
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 16, 2025
1-1.
Originally, this goal was waved off for a Trocheck high-stick.
Upon replay, and it was revealed that Trocheck’s attempted swat never connected – that is – at least not with the puck.
Instead, and Robertson’s off-angle shot went into the net – while in a Vagistat moment – Trocheck’s wood had unintentionally had hit Dostal’s wood.
Good goal.
And the only goal for the Rangers at that.
Down to 2:35 remaining in this now 1-all game, and Soucy high-sticked new Anaheim sensation, Beckett Sennecke.
The Ducks’ power-play, not that great tonight until they scored, were held off here.
1-1 through two-periods – and with a major final twenty-minutes of action for both teams left to be decided.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-1 after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— #NYR out-shooting them 22-18.
— However, the PP is 0-4 – and with a shorty allowed.
— Special Teams Swing Games, the Ducks shorty bolsters their 0-2 PP.
— Robertson’s goal was kinda fluky but they all count.
— Thought this game would be more…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 16, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
As Rempe and Johnston continued to jostle and challenge each other (and as said earlier – where Johnston, in pure hockey tradition and honor, obliged the still-injured Rangers’ request not to throw hands); then this is when Borgen, with 16:09 to go, went off for hooking Leo Carlsson.
Apparently, then if you score with 0.00 remaining on your power-play – then it’s still considered as a man-up goal – and as was the case when Gauthier fooled CZAR IGOR out of his shorts:
🚨 Cutter 🚨
What a snipe for the lead!!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/FW6pW2IxHw
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 16, 2025
2-1, Ducks.
And your game-winner too.
I’ve had enough.
As it was reported by Albert that the Ducks’ last win on M$G ice took place a dozen years ago (November of 2013), then CZAR IGOR was pulled.
Shortly thereafter, and before you could even blink an eye – and Gauthier called game with his 3-1, them, empty-netter.
To only add insult to injury, then with just 2.9 seconds remaining – and Mintykov gave us one last faceoff – but only after he scored the 4-1, and final goal, of this wretched travesty on ice.
The only thing missing tonight?
A live shot of Drury’s face after the loss.
Instead of that – and we got ten-minutes of Sullivan rambling – and as he did following the game:
Sullivan, and as you can tell – was very defensive when asked about benching/punishing Mika.
Again, I had no problem with it, and so much so, that I found Maloney to be making excuses when he blamed M.I.A. Mika for the loss.
What, was #93 going to magically score 786767867986 goals tonight?
Come on man!
You know that he just would’ve cried and sulked!
I’m not going to do it all again here, but for new readers who don’t have the time to browse through my epic archives – then needless to say – and I don’t see eye-to-eye with Sieve Vagistat – who is not only the worst broadcaster in history, but factually, is also the worst goalie in Rangers’ history too!
I found Vagistat’s post-game commentary to be truthful – but extremely hypocritical too.
And if you missed it, then just fast-forward to the final minute of this clip here:
Vagistat, who was furious, irate and went ape-shit at this beer-bellied blogger some ten-years ago when being the first person to suggest that goalies can’t be your biggest cap-hit, nor take up 13.22% of it, decided to say EXACTLY WHAT I SAID – and as I did first dating back to the 2014-15 season.
(Archives of this site, nor social media postings either, don’t lie!)
As you can see here, then the Ramrod’s favorite customer brought up CZAR IGOR’s salary, lamented that he was the highest-paid goalie in the league – and for good measure – then said that CZAR IGOR hadn’t stolen a win for the Blueshirts this season – that is – according to Vagistat’s own made-up chart bullshit!
I agree with Vagistat on this – you can’t make your goalie the highest-paid player in the league.
As noted – then I first said this over ten-years ago!
But where was Vagistat then?
Furiously licking Henrik Lundqvist’s taint – while also besmirching your favorite Blueshirts’ blogger for saying as such!
(And as I’ve always tried to make mention of – I don’t fault Lundqvist for getting his contract – but while that was best for him – it wasn’t what was best for the Rangers – and as time eventually proved.)
But alas, and as always – and I was ahead of everyone else.
(Like D.D.P. – and “SELF-HIGH FIVE!”)
If I disagreed with anything that Vagistat said here on Monday night, then it was in regards to his self-serving made-up charts and graphs nonsense.
CZAR IGOR has stolen wins this season.
As many as he did in his Vezina winning (2021-22) season?
Of course not.
But for the seven-foot peckerhead, a crowd favorite in any bar that has rainbows plastered all over the place, then riddle me this?
How many games has CZAR IGOR lost this season when the Rangers have scored a goal or less?
I’m not even looking this up – but I can come up with seven occasions off the top of my head.
Even the apple of Vagistat’s eye, Lundqvist, once famously said, “Give Me Two Goals And I Got This.”
CZAR IGOR, and like a Powerball winner, would be lucky to get two on most nights.
That all said?
While I’ve been a DAY ONE CZAR IGOR fan (again, blogs don’t lie, as I was singing his praises all the way back to 2017 – and when I was watching his KHL games on a regular basis); but that contract won’t hold up well.
Worse than that?
Then should the GM (hopefully, a Drury successor) one day decide to rebuild?
Then CZAR IGOR is just too good to allow the Rangers to sink to the bottom.
Instead, and a rock-bottom Ranger team will always be middle-of-the-pack – that is – for as long as CZAR IGOR still mans the pipes in Manhattan.
Here’s Kreider after his money-on-the-board win – and where I’m sure that every Duck is eating nice after Monday night too:
Chris Kreider talked about being able to take a lap and salute the fans at MSG
“It’s self-explanatory. It’s hard to put into words what the experience was like. Kind of leaves you speechless, I guess” pic.twitter.com/SDbPilvbiK
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 16, 2025
Chris Kreider said he missed 3/4 of his video tribute because Joel Quenneville was talking about neutral zone play
“What I did see was awesome. Just really grateful for the experience. It was certainly a warm welcome back. That was incredible. Really really really cool moment” pic.twitter.com/Ka7vCWVwPu
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 16, 2025
Chris Kreider on the starting lineup for the Ducks consisting of former Rangers of himself, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano:
“That was a cool move by Coach [Quenneville]. It’s a fun building to play in, even as an opponent” pic.twitter.com/q8IkgBEmHI
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 16, 2025
For Larry Brooks, now in the grave?
We. Miss. Chris.
(RIP.)
Up Next For The Rangers: No rest for the weary, as the Rangers will host the down-and-out, and now Quinn Hughes-less too, Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.
And wouldn’t it be so on brand for the Blueshirts to lose this game?
After all, the Canucks are the worst team in the league (12-17-3, 27-points) – and where the Rangers have previously lost two games in this fashion this season (the Calgary Flames and the now the emerging San Jose Sharks – and whose league-wide ascension began after their 6-5 victory at M$G earlier during this 2025-26 campaign – which also included a Macklin Celebrini hat-trick).
I’m expecting Jonathan Quick to get the nod in net – and a miserable Mika return too (and where his pregame interview should be a gala to witness to boot).
Up Next For Me: I have to ice my fingers after this manifesto – then get some sleep too.
That said?
And I’ll be back tomorrow night, with a Rangers/Nucks GAME REVIEW.
But it should be said, then this game is also a lose-lose situation for Sully’s Squad – and regardless of the result.
A Rangers’ win?
Good, then they did what they were supposed to – get two-points against a decimated-and-dejected Vancouver group.
Lose?
Do I even need to explain it?
Bed time for me, which for you, means your favorite segment, which brings us to…
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
You win almost 69% of the face offs, but lose?! Please put Gavrikov on PP 1. Great write up Sean.
Thanks Pete – but you had to know the Ducks would win!