Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. The slip-and-slide season continues.
The Rangers, following a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory on Saturday afternoon against Philly (complete details below), come Sunday, did what they always do on the second half of a back-to-back – lose – and lose epically at that.
Elsewhere, and there will be plenty of excuses made for the Blueshirts’ latest embarrassing defeat, and where for the fourth time this season (San Jose, Calgary, Vancouver and now Nashville), the Rangers lost to a team with the fewest points in the league at the time of puck drop.
To be fair, and in an effort to give you the full 411, then unlike the Sharks, Flames and Canucks – and the Predators are not dead-last in the league right now – as the Chicago Blackhawks, and only because they’ve played one more game than the Music City team, currently hold that dubious distinction.
But such a fact won’t help matters.
Nor will it ruin Chris Drury’s Christmas either.
Granted, while the Rangers did enter Nashville at a disadvantage, as not only was captain J.T. Miller ruled out (more below), but so were Matt Rempe and Gabe Perreault.
Unlike Miller (injury), then for Rempe and Perreault, they both missed this game due to an illness, that most likely, Artemi Panarin had spread in his role as “Patient Zero.”
(Dave Maloney would later say as much during Sunday’s M$GN broadcast.)
That all said?
Then I didn’t see anyone making any sort of excuses for the Predators when the Rangers doubled them up, to a tune of 6-3 – and as they did back on November 10th (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/111025/ ).
Somewhat ironic when looking back at that rare home win on M$G ice?
The fact that it was Nashville that out-shot the Rangers – and as they did to a tune of 30-18.
Fast-forward to Sunday, 12/21, and the Predators once again out-shot the Rangers, and to an improved margin of 32-17.
Sadly?
And these low shots on goal totals against one of the league’s cellar-dwellers wasn’t their worst of the season, as the Rangers previously finished a game this season with only a dozen shots on goal (Tampa).
As I saw the talking heads on M$GN do, as I saw fans do, and as I saw beat reporters alike also do, then all I heard were meandering excuses for this maddening 2-1 loss.
All of their blah-blah-blah was centered around the Rangers’ injuries, the schedule and anything else that you could conjure up in your imagination.
Not mentioned in any of this was that Nashville, and just like the other thirty teams the Rangers have played, or are still yet to play, this season, are all undergoing the same circumstances.
Heck, and just like the Rangers, and the Predators had played the day before too, in a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Also lost in all of this belly-aching?
The Predators entered this game with their back-up goalie, Justus Annunen.
Annunen, prior to his biggest win of the season on Sunday, was 1-5-1, had a 3.73 GA, and featured a save percentage of .865.
And if it wasn’t for a late Brodzinski goal, then Annunen would have become the eighth goalie to blank the Blueshirts this season.
Impressive!
Despite what the 2-1 decision suggests, then this game was all about Jonathan Quick, who sadly, once again had another all-star start ruined by the team in front of him.
On the night, Quick finished with one goal allowed and a .968 save percentage.
He also made 30 saves, including four stops while shorthanded.
And there were also two big breakaway chances denied to boot, to go along with several of his odd-man rush denials.
In more from the files of “Same Old Rangers,” then the Blueshirts, because of Quick, had ample opportunities to tie what was mainly a one-shot goal game throughout its duration.
While the Blueshirts’ penalty kill finished 2-2 (and you can thank JQ32 for that); conversely, and the power-play once again bombed big-time – and as they did with their 0-3 showing.
In a game without their captain, and the Rangers needed their FAT CATS to show up.
So much for that.
The highest-paid forwards, Zibanejad, Panarin, Lafreniere and Trocheck, all finished with a minus-one next to their names.
Worse than that, and your top-two centers, Mika & Trocheck, combined for zero shots on goal, while your two highest-paid wingers, Lafreniere and Panarin, combined for three SOG (Lafreniere 2, Panarin 1).
And nothing against the cagey and savvy veteran Jonny Brodzinski, but when he’s both your best scorer (1) and highest SOG producer (5), then while that’s good for him – then that’s not good for the team.
If you’re a staunch supporter of the “NEXT MAN UP” philosophy, then it was only Brodzinski, a regular healthy scratch as of late, that embodied it.
Everyone else sans Quick looked like they couldn’t be bothered.
You could see it from the start – this game, and like most jobs are, was a chore for the Blueshirts, and in turn – they wanted to be anywhere else but in Nashville on Sunday night.
In game that featured four home team <DINGS> to the Blueshirts’ two rings off of the iron; and the Rangers, due to Quick, had a chance to at least escape the other Broadway with a point in the standings.
Instead, and this game just screamed “SHUTOUT” all night.
The Predators, now winners in nine of their last thirteen games played (which also speaks to how bad they’ve been this season, since they are still the second-to-worst team in the league), did a great job when limiting the Rangers’ chances.
The Blueshirts, again, 0-3 whenever a man-up, could never set-up their power-play until their third try – and even then – they had no success.
Scoreless throughout the first half of the match, and it wasn’t until the 10:44 mark of the second period when we had our first goal, as Ryan O’Reilly, the subject of many trade rumors as of late, made a spin-o-rama blind drop pass to Filip Forsberg, and where afterwards, Double Eff then made short work of Quick for the 1-0, yellow team, goal.
And there was nothing that Quick could do about this score.
While the goalie was valiant, his own team was venomous to him; but yet, and now under 4:00 remaining in regulation – and this Forsberg goal remained as the only score on the board.
In what felt like complete deja vu from the night before, then, and down to 3:59 on the clock, and once again, and another Rangers’ opponent had airmailed a puck over the glass for a delay of game.
This time, the Rangers’ power-play, and as you already know, couldn’t find the equalizer.
But even so – and this game remained as a one-shot difference.
Quick left his net with 1:35 remaining in regulation and the Rangers hoped that their 6 x 5 empty net attack, which has produced lately, would strike once more.
Rather than that, and instead it was one of their former tormentors in Tampa, Steven Stamkos, who put the game away with his 2-0, yellow, goal with just 47-seconds remaining.
As Ranger fans were turning off their TV’s (or in this new age – iPads and smart phones too), then most likely, a large majority of Blueshirt backers missed Brodzinski, when crashing the net, picking up the 2-1 goal.
Following the score, and Sully used his timeout – and what was said didn’t matter.
For the final thirty-five seconds left on the clock – and Nashville controlled the puck the entire time – and where as a result, Quick couldn’t leave his net for the extra attacker – and more important than that – and the Rangers didn’t win either.
There’s no way that I can consider this to be the worst loss of the season as some people are currently making out this defeat to be.
After all, the Rangers just dropped a 3-0 home loss to the then worst team in the league on Tuesday night, the Vancouver Canucks.
If anything, then this loss was just like any other – SAME OLD RANGERS – as the power-play stunk, the team can’t score, there wasn’t much effort and where not only are they now 0-7 in these second back-to-back matches – but they’ve also been outscored 20-5 in all seven of them too.
Egads.
Among the post-game quotable quotables, the following:
“For me, that’s a situation when I’m talking about managing the game right. You got to be able to win with your B game. If you don’t have your A game. The way you do that is you don’t beat yourself. You force teams to have to make good plays to beat you. You defend hard, you manage the puck, you make them play goal line to goal line. You watch your shift lengths. You change smart. You don’t take offensive zone penalties. I just don’t think we did that in any aspect of it.” – Mike Sullivan, in another one of his word-salad interviews.
“It’s concerning. Everybody does it. Everybody has back-to-backs. It’s tiring, but everybody does it. Someone’s going to come out a winner. They played yesterday, and they just played harder than us. We got to be able to be professional, prepare for the game, and we have to be better. We have to try harder. We have to have more pride in ourselves,” said Vincent Trocheck, who was much more realistic and truthful when talking about this loss – and most certainly after listening to the “Mike & Mika Show.”
Trocheck continued:
“Sucks not having everybody. Obviously, tough spot back-to-back, and then guys are getting sick and guys go down. But, I mean, that doesn’t affect how we play with pride. If there’s anything to take away from today, we didn’t play with pride.
“We just looked fucking dead. Just looked dead.”
At least Trocheck called out the team’s lack of pride – but of course – and he was also a key part of this loss too.
But at least he didn’t say the team played good – and as the Swedish-Iranian failed dee-jay did.
Ugh.
Before rolling more into this loss, then let’s take a quick timeout for some positivity – and talk about a rare Rangers’ home win – and as was the case on Saturday afternoon at M$G in the team’s 5-4 shootout thriller over the Flyers.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off, Thursday night’s 2-1 overtime win in St. Louis:
As usual whenever the Blueshirts have a weekend matinee game, then I marched my ass over to my favorite pub, grabbed a seat and then devoured a Labatt Blue (and about nineteen more after that).
And what’s why also as usual, then there was no Rangers/Flyers 12/20 GAME REVIEW blog posted on this site!
Speaking from a totally selfish perspective here, but I wish that the Rangers had won a 1-0 game against Philly on Saturday – and without all of the drama – as that way, then it would’ve been much easier to give this game the justice that it deserves!
But live and at the bar?
What. A. Game!
After all, then the Blueshirts’ 5-4 shootout win almost covered half of my bar tab:
The Rangers, who as a result of their 5-4 overtime/SO win on Saturday, left M$G as 5-0 whenever Gabe Perreault (1 assist vs Philly) is in the line-up.
Since this game is dated (and especially even more so after this loss to Nashville), then just a few thoughts about it, then I’ll move on.
— CZAR IGOR came up with two robbery saves within the first 3:30 of the match. So for how bad his second period was (and it was bad – and he later admitted it himself), then this game could’ve really got out of hand.
— I thought the new third line, Perreault/Laba/Cuylle, was the best line. At the very least, they were the best trio during the first forty-minutes of the game and until the FAT CATS took over.
— Scott Morrow, now in his new role as the quarterback of power-play one, didn’t look so hot. Not only did he give up two goals, but a Morrow miscue directly led to a 3 x 1 Flyers’ short-handed goal. For whatever reason, and Sullivan won’t go with Gavrikov on his first man-up unit.
— Conversely, and I thought that Matthew Robertson really looked good and where you’re noticing #29 improving on a game-by-game basis.
— In a nice change and role-reversal and it was actually the Rangers who scored an end-of-the-period goal – and as Panarin did with just 36-seconds remaining in the first frame. This was obviously a huge goal and it also salvaged what otherwise had been a snoozefest first twenty-minutes for the FAT CATS.
— In a second period plagued with penalties, then the Flyers scored on their first power-play of the game, as Travis Sanheim tied the game at the 6:42 mark. Just nineteen-seconds later and Owen Tippett gave Philly their first lead of the game with his 2-1 goal.
— Another Flyers’ power-play, earned at the 10:15 mark after Panarin had slashed Denver “I’m Wayne Gretzky Tonight” Barkey, led to a Trevor Zegras 3-1 power-play goal – and just three-seconds into the man-up time.
— Obviously, this can’t happen.
— Fortunately, then Panarin was able to respond, as he scored his second goal of the game at the 12:23 mark, and where for “The Breadman,” this score was his baker’s dozen goal of the season (13).
— Now at 3-2, and just a minute or so after the goal – and Brennan Othmann looked like Jake Paul on Friday night – and as he did after getting smashed to smithereens against Nic Deslauriers:
NIC DESLAURIERS JUST KILLED A MAN pic.twitter.com/FN8G85kmvU
— Nasty Knuckles (@NastyKnuckles) December 20, 2025
— While I’m not high on Othmann at all, then at least this fight got him into the box score. After all, then with another game with no shots on goal or points, then at least this 5:00 timeout let you knew that he was alive – and where kudos to him – he remained alive after this ass beating.
— To fast-forward a bit, then while everyone at the time thought that Othmann would have to be raced to the E.R. (and can you imagine if former first-round bust, Filip Chytil, had been on the receiving end of these right hands?); instead, and later on in the match, and it was J.T. Miller that received the worst injury of them all:
J.T. Miller left for the locker room after this collision with Nick Seelerpic.twitter.com/SKsRSZ1IMN
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 20, 2025
— More on Miller below.
— As a result of the Nic Deslauriers K.O. of B.O., where the Flyer received an extra two-minutes for boarding Othmann, then this allowed the Rangers to go back on the power-play – and where UGH – Rodrigo Abols then scored his 4-2 short-handed goal.
—The Rangers then got another penalty with 3:52 remaining of this pathetic period as Laba was tripped by the man who scored the shorty.
— But of course, then nothing could go right for the Rangers during these twenty-minutes.
— Still down by two goals come the second intermission – and this was shaping up to be another embarrassing loss – and there was just no other way to say it.
— This was bad and at the time, it was another slap to the face for the fans who pay these insane ticket prices in order to attend games at M$G.
— When the third period commenced, then you were just waiting for this wrecked mess to conclude.
— The Rangers, perhaps inspired by the old John Cena quote, “NEVER GIVE UP,” did just that.
— The Blueshirts’ special teams weren’t very good, as they had given up two power-play goals on the Flyers’ first three chances (2/5 overall), then were 0-3 after the Flyers killed off a hooking penalty that Laba drew on Seeler at the 4:16 mark.
— As you were just waiting for this slog to end, then, and surprisingly at that, and Trocheck beat Flyer backstop, Sam Ersson, for the 4-3 goal.
— I have a work buddy who is diehard Flyer fan. Prior to this goal, and to be specific, during the second intermission, and he texted me, “We’re going to blow it. You’ll win. Watch.”
— When Trocheck brought the Blueshirts within one, he wrote, “Told ya. Only a matter of time.”
— That time was with 3:34 away from a Rangers’ loss and a Flyers’ win.
— Thirty-four seconds prior and Rasmus Ristolainen airmailed a puck over the glass.
— The fourth time was a charm for the Rangers’ power-play – as Zibanejad finally scored a man-up goal for the Blueshirts – and the 4-4 equalizer at that.
— This total of eight-goal game remained come the end of regulation.
— Overtime was required – and it wasn’t pretty.
— Just eight-seconds in and Panarin slashed Cam York. Somehow, and you can thank CZAR IGOR too, and the Rangers’ penalty kill survived.
— Following some brief 3 x 3 action, then, and with just 51-seconds remaining and Morrow tripped Zegras.
— In what has to be a first, and the Rangers’ penalty kill went a perfect two-of-two during the five-minute overtime – and where I can’t recall ever seeing a team take two penalties during an overtime period either.
— With CZAR IGOR buckling up after his second period debacle, and the Rangers finding a way to score, then a shootout was required.
— CZAR IGOR went a perfect 2/2 in the gimmick portion, as after denying a Zegras wrist shot, he let out a huge sigh of relief when Konecny hit the crossbar.
— On the Rangers’ end of of things, Panarin beat Ersson backhanded and Trocheck called game with his own wrist shot.
— 2-0 in the shootout, 5-4, your final.
Unlike the 2-1 overtime win against St. Louis – and this game was much more exciting.
Yes, the second period sucked, but this game wasn’t boring either.
Between all of the big hits, goals and special teams, and this game was an entertaining and emotional roller-coaster.
But the Rangers also left M$G with a wounded soldier, and we’ll talk more about Miller on the other side of this.
Also, and now after Sunday?
This win, combined with the Rangers’ overtime win in St. Louis, didn’t give them any momentum at all in Nashville.
Here are all of the highlights from this 5-4 overtime thriller:
Here’s what Sully said after the game:
Here’s what the players had to say after the win, including a CZAR IGOR who admitted that he had a second period to forget:
The Rangers, who flew out to Nashville immediately after beating the Flyers, held an optional skate prior to Sunday evening’s showdown with the Predators.
While the players weren’t available to the media, Sully was.
On the status of J.T. Miller, Sully said, “he’s not on the trip. He’s still being evaluated.”
Officially, then all we know is that Miller isn’t with the Rangers right now and we’re waiting for the team to give us more information.
Elsewhere, and the initial chatter among several reporters is that Miller is hurting big-time, so much so, that this injury sustained may take him out through-and-after the upcoming February Olympic break.
(Following such talk, then these suggested fiery rumors were dampened when it was reported that Miller was now “week-to-week,” and he should be back for the Olympics if selected.
Ironically, if not cruelly too, then the Rangers, who previously lost Adam Fox after a similar play, are hoping to get their 2021 Norris Trophy winner back as soon as next week, when the Blueshirts play guest on Long Island (12/27).
Should Miller miss significant time, then this also means that the Rangers have been without a full roster for more than half of their season.
While every team is battling horrendous injuries, so much so, that we haven’t seen so many injuries, and especially as sustained by big-name players, like this ever before; but for a team that has issues with scoring, then the Rangers really can’t afford this right now.
If you’re looking for a positive about this Miller news, then, and as we all know (and as written in this space before), then he didn’t enter this season at 100% health – hence all of my previous Miller/Kevin Shattenkirk comparisons.
Perhaps this injury allows him to get to 100% health.
And it may have saved him from an Olympic snub too.
Then again, and for as low as Miller’s production has been this season – then it’s also hard to envision both Chris Drury and Mike Sullivan, his general manager and head coach respectively with the Rangers, snubbing him from the American roster, where as you know, where both Drury and Sullivan hold the same titles there as they do in New York.
After all, can the Rangers really afford a Steven Yzerman/MSL situation, formerly in Tampa, and an Olympic snub that directly led to the Martin St. Louis/Ryan Callahan trade from the Spring of 2014?
Sullivan, on Miller’s injury, said the following:
“My thoughts are the same as the way they were the last time [when Miller was out]. He just means so much to this team. He’s the leader of this group in so many ways. I think his game was really building too. His game was really starting to come, especially at the offensive side. He was around the puck so much more. He was more of a threat consistently. I’ve talked to him, I know he was feeling better and better with every game that he played. It seems like this early part of the season, every time he starts to build his game, he gets banged up.
“We’re just going to have to work through that. But, J.T. is not an easy guy to replace. He’s a terrific player, first and foremost, but he impacts this team in so many other ways.”
Like Perreault, then had Miller played on Sunday, then maybe we’re talking about a three-game winning streak.
Coulda. Woulda. Shoulda.
Here was Sully’s line-up for the thirty-eighth game of this 2025-26 season – and due to the injuries and illnesses – the first time the head coach was forced to use a 11F/7D line-up:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Mika/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Trocheck/Sheary
THIRD LINE: Othmann/Laba/Raddysh
FOURTH LINE: Carrick/Brodzinski
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Schneider
SECOND PAIR: Soucy/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Robertson/Morrow
SPARE: Vaakanainen
STARTING GOALIE: Quick
BACK UP GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: None
SICK: Matt Rempe and Gabe Perreault
MOST LIKELY TO BE PLACED ON LTIR: J.T. Miller
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
|
| 31 | 1 | 30 | .968 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59:12 | 0 |
|
NSH
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 17 | 1 | 16 | .941 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
Come 6:30PM, and after watching both the Giants and Jets take it up the ass again, as these two local NFL teams are not only two of the league’s worst this season, but of the past decade too; I turned into my old reliable M$GN3 channel, as both the Knicks and Devils were on the top two M$GN channels.
John Giannone opened the pregame show by telling us all about the Rangers’ miserable record in back-to-back games, while also bringing up the Miller injury too.
Speaking of injuries, then it wasn’t mentioned once by any M$GN broadcaster that Nashville was also missing a big name too, as Jonathan Marchessault wasn’t available tonight.
I brought this up last Thursday after the win over St. Louis, but for whatever reason, and M$GN decided to host a studio broadcast tonight, rather than keeping everything on location.
As noted then, I enjoy the on-the-road broadcasts better, and mainly, because those broadcasts don’t feature Sieve Vagistat at all!
As Giannone went back to the Miller Time talk, he was also the first M$GN/NYR employee to officially say that Miller is “week-to-week” and where his current shoulder injury (as seen in tonight’s blog header photo, he left M$G on Saturday with his right arm in a sling) shouldn’t affect his Olympic bid.
But it will affect the Rangers’ playoff bid – that is – if you’re still of the belief that the Blueshirts have a shot at the post-season.
It was also at this time when Giannone told us that both Perreault and Rempe would miss this match, and where right after, the team’s X account confirmed as such:
UPDATE: Gabe Perreault and Matt Rempe will not play tonight (illness).
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) December 21, 2025
The best pinch-hitter in broadcasting, Alex Faust, had the call today, as poor Kenny Albert had to waste his Sunday watching the Giants. Thankfully, Dave Maloney was also back – and when this game became as slow as molasses, then he made it interesting and entertaining (more below).
In his first poignant pregame remarks of the night, Maloney echoed what I had said on my own Tweeter/X account – the Fat Cats needed to show up tonight.
So much for that.
Speaking of my Tweeter/X account, it’s now time for tonight’s GAME REVIEW, and where I’ll try to limit the pain.
However, then if you do want the complete play-by-play from this latest Rangers’ fiasco, then check out: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
Ugh.
Let’s roll.
FIRST PERIOD
Zibanejad beat Ryan O’Reilly at the dot when winning the game’s first faceoff – and that was pretty much all of the winning that #93 did on this night.
To open, Faust told us that Nashville has scored the fewest 1P goals in the league this year and how they have the worst 1P goal differential too. The announcer’s jinx was now in play.
While Nashville didn’t score in these first twenty-minutes, they also didn’t hurt their league-worst goal differential either.
The third line, and as it often is, was the Rangers’ most consistent and energetic trio of the match.
Right away, and they had a strong attack and where Robertson, who as mentioned, keeps on improving, almost had a rebound goal at the 1:40 mark.
But of course, and almost doesn’t cut it – this isn’t horseshoes – this is hockey.
Justus Annunen (JA for the rest of this), didn’t have much work, but when he was challenged, then he did his job, including at the 4:15 mark when he stopped an all-Russian Rangers’ one-timer – Panarin-to-Gavrikov.
A few seconds later, and Nashville, who like New York, had a case of the yips at time, saw a Bunting-to-Haula backdoor tap-in try just miss.
Lafreniere then hit the iron with 14:20 remaining – and again – this isn’t horseshoes.
Once Lafreniere hit iron instead of net, then this is when Nashville really took over – or at least take over puck/zone possession.
Quick, who wound up with fifteen saves in this period, stopped all of the name-brand Preds, including Stamkos, Forsberg and the returning Roman Josi (who missed the game played at M$G earlier this season).
At one point, and under 11:00 remaining, and Josi, while at the point, looked like he was quarterbacking a Nashville power-play.
In a response, and after another stop by Quick and this is when Faust plugged that Rangers’ 25% off tickets sale – and one that season ticket holders are not exactly elated about either.
Down to 8:50 remaining, Josi crashed into Quick and the Rangers’ goalie stopped both the puck and the player.
However, the play wasn’t whistled dead for goalie interference, and as a result an Othmann blocked shot finally ended this particular Predator attack.
Nashville, due to their pressure, drew the first power-play of the game, as Will Borgen went off for interference following a Rangers’ d-zone draw.
Quick made two saves during this Blueshirts’ PK, and where once concluded, the SOG counter read as Nashville 11, New York 4.
In a scary moment with 5:25 remaining, then upstart Reid Schaefer had a huge gash, dead-center, in the middle of his chin.
M$GN quickly took a timeout and where as a result, we thought a high-sticking infraction had taken place.
Instead, and once returned, it was revealed via replay that Scott Morrow, when playing the puck at the boards, had fell, and as he went down, his left skate caught the Predator in the mush.
This could’ve been catastrophic, as all Schaefer had was the cut on the chin.
And after missing only one shift in order to get repairs?
Schaefer was right back on the ice.
RESPECT.
HOCKEY PLAYERS.
TOUGH AS NAILS.
Down to 3:45 remaining and Quick made three saves in succession, as he stopped Blankenburg from point-blank range, then made a pair of stops on the rebounds are afforded.
The SOG total was now 14-4, in favor of the home team.
Immediately after this and Raddysh and Othmann had a 2 x 1 odd-man rush – but they couldn’t even get a shot off, as Raddysh’s intended pass for Othmann, and like most Ranger shots, went wide.
As Nashville continued to search for the game’s first goal, then Quick made a major poke check to prevent Forsberg from scoring one.
Forsberg wouldn’t leave Nashville without a red lighter though.
Scoreless through 20-minutes. Here’s what I said at the time:
Scoreless after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— NSH out-shooting them 15-6.
— #NYR PK 1-1.
— Not a “boring” or “flat” period, but where you could argue that the Rangers look a bit gassed after yesterday and with all the people out.
— Quick has been lights out.
— One of these days,…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 22, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
After Zibanejad lost the first draw of this frame in Barry Trotzville, TN, then Trocheck, at the 1:20 mark, while wide-open, missed the net.
Right after that, and Sheary and Othmann, on a 2 x 1 against Josi, couldn’t hit the net either, as #78 remains scoreless throughout his first 78 NHL contests.
Opposed to the loss against Vancouver, where an errant collision off an official directly led to a Canuck goal (Robertson), and the Rangers had two meetings of rubber-and-zebra favor them.
After the first friendly bounce, Mika then promptly turned the puck over with 15:15 remaining.
And after that?
It was Brodzinski’s turn to hit iron too (but as noted, while the Rangers hit iron twice, the Preds hit it four times).
As we hit the halfway mark of this game/period without a score, then Nashville was out-shooting New York by a 19-8 margin.
That’s not a recipe for success.
And after Quick recorded his 20th save of the game?
He wouldn’t reach 21 consecutive stops, as this is when Forsberg scored – and where this goal also felt like it would ultimately hold up as the game-winner too:
What a pass from Ryan O’Reilly to feed Filip Forsberg for his 16th goal of the season. 🔥🎯 pic.twitter.com/fbjRvOQCuK
— Nick Kieser🏒 (@KieserNick) December 22, 2025
Down to 7:01 remaining and it looked like Nashville had increased their lead to 2-0, as a Bunting shot looked good in real-time – so much so – that the goal horn blared and the red light went off:
Why boo when the puck flat-out hits the post? Nashville’s goal horn went off after Bunting’s shot here pic.twitter.com/f39XvVxdD9
— Nick Kieser🏒 (@KieserNick) December 22, 2025
As you can tell, then this puck hit the post – and never crossed the goal line.
However, and because of the velocity of this in-and-out shot – and the refs, erroneously at that, blew the whistle for a video review.
Sullivan was steaming about this, as the Rangers had control of the puck when the whistle was blown (and really, let’s face it – then it didn’t mater anyway).
As Sullivan peppered the officials with never-ending f-bombs, then Maloney, and so succinctly, remarked, “Sullivan has some Irish Anger.”
This cracked me up.
I was also amused when a minute later, when Faust & Maloney were talking about how quiet the usual boisterous Nashville Broadway is at night, when Maloney remarked, “the fans probably imbibed earlier today due to the Titans vs Chiefs game” – and where I thought he was 100% accurate in this assessment!
These two Maloney musings also doubled-up as your Ranger highlights from this period – that is – sans the saves that Quick was making.
As Maloney and Faust started talking about how the flu bug had hit the league, then I wondered which ANALytic accounts for such a thing?
Like anything else that’s human-nature related – and not one of them – and Vagistat can piss off too!
Smith cross-checked Trocheck with 5:13 remaining and the Rangers’ first PP featured Panarin, Trocheck, Zibanejad, Cuylle and Morrow.
The end result?
Nashville, while short-handed, almost scored the fourth SH goal against the Rangers during their past six games – but had to settle for a post-job instead – and their third <DING> of the contest too.
The Rangers’ power-play was now 0-1 – and without a SOG too.
Come 1:52 remaining and a frustrated Panarin took another o-zone penalty, and as he did when he hooked Josi.
Nashville wouldn’t score on their power-plays either.
1-0, yellow over blue, through 40.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, NSH, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Looks like #NYR were tailgating at the Titans/KC game today.
— SOG are 26-10, yellow over blue.
— Preds have 8 seconds of PP time to open 3P.
— NYR PP is 0-1, no SOG
— Ding counter, 3-2, home team.
— Despite everything, and it’s a…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 22, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
After the Rangers finished killing off the Nashville power-play, the Laba line came on and created a few chances – but yet again – nothing on net.
By the five-minute mark – and Nashville had hit iron for the fourth time.
Thirty-seconds later and Morrow made a god-awful o-zone turnover – but Quick was there to bail him out.
Down to 14:07 remaining and Othmann drew a penalty, as McCarron had high-sticked him.
All it would take is one power-play goal to change the complete dynamics of this game.
So much for that.
After Morrow flubbed a puck at the blue line again, then I kept on wondering to myself – why isn’t Gavrikov out there?
Sheary, while on PP2, registered the only Rangers’ SOG during these two man-up minutes.
JA (remember him?), made a clean glove save on Schneider with 11:42 remaining – and where this was only his 12th save overall.
After the Rangers’ top line had their best even-strength shift yet; a Panarin turnover ended it – and Quick made sure that Nashville wouldn’t end the Rangers just yet – as he came up with his best save of the game with 10:30 remaining – and as he did when he stoned Forsberg on a breakaway.
Two-minutes later, and Lafreniere, when wide-open and nothing but net in front of him, had a chance to tie – but you know – he shot the puck wide.
As Maloney said that he wasn’t a fan of the Olympics taking away from the NHL season (I’ve said this many times before – and I totally agree with him – plus, give me a Rangers’ Stanley Cup win over an American Olympic medal too); then, and with 3:59 remaining, the Nashville DOG penalty.
0-3 on the power-play.
Stamkos.
2-0.
Brodzinski.
2-1.
Predators own the Rangers, 2-1, your final – and another disgusting loss to a league bottom-feeder – where soon enough – is where the Blueshirts will be too.
Gavin McKenna anyone?
(And if that ever happens, then let’s face it – he’ll be a bust too – that’s just “The Rangers’ Way!”)
The win one, lose one, win two, lose two, Rangers have a murderer’s row of opponents to close out 2025.
The Blueshirts, who are off on Monday (not practicing), will play guest in our nation’s capital next – and as they will on Tuesday.
After that, some rare time off for the X-Mas break – and where the Islanders will be looking to give their big brothers some belated Christmas coal on Saturday, 12/27.
The Rangers will close out the final week of this year on 12/28 in Carolina and will then return to Washington on New Year’s Eve.
After that?
A January 2nd Winter Classic in Miami – and against a Panthers team that may not only have Matthew Tkachuk back at the time – but a two-time Cup champion that’s surging in the standings.
The Rangers may get Fox back as soon as the Islander game, but will it matter?
See you Tuesday night for Caps/Blueshirts.
Until then?
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
