Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. WOW.
Let me emphasize this: WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!
After all, then unless you’re completely full of shit or just mentally ill, then there’s no way that you could have thought that the Rangers would emerge victorious against the Capitals on Tuesday night.
Heck, some of us (or at least I did) had these feelings when ENTERING the game – much less when it was 3-2, bad guys, after two periods of pathetic play.
Alex Ovechkin and his merry crew must’ve felt the same way – and especially when knowing that his Capitals entered tonight’s third period with a 16-0 record whenever leading.
That record now reads as 16-1 and where the Rangers, the one in sixteen – made it an EMPHATIC one – as they completely “CAPSLOCKED” Washington into submission.
Sully’s Squad also personified an age-old sports adage, you know, this one:
“It’s not how you start – it’s how you finish!”
And finish the Rangers most certainly did!
Similar to television and movies, then when it comes to entertainment – and you will always remember the finish, the last scene – and not necessarily the opening stages.
For the first forty-minutes on Tuesday night, and as said above, then it was “SAME OLD RANGERS.”
Heck, it was so bad, that even yours truly, during the second intermission, was already working on a bad photoshop of Chris Drury saying “This Won’t Ruin My Christmas!’
Whether it was fate, the Capitals hitting a rough stretch right now, divine intervention or something else (and perhaps a combination of everything!), then the Rangers, usually heroes on the road but supervillains at home, just busted out of the gate in the third period – and as if they were Secretariat.
And like a lucky stocking, then the Blueshirts had theirs too on Tuesday night – the returning Gabe Perreault – where after this win, and the Rangers improved their record to 6-0 whenever their most recent first-round pick available is in the line-up.
(They’re now 2-0 without Conor Sheary in the line-up to boot. Hmmmm!)
Should you adhere to the Christmas theme, then it was a jubilant and joyful homecoming for the future one-and-done Ranger, Taylor Raddysh – as #14 was easily the first star of the match following his two goal and one assist showing – and his first goals scored since October 30th – his hat trick against the Sharks in a 6-5 overtime loss.
In a first period that was devoid of much offense – as after all, through twenty-minutes, and the SOG counter favored the home team, 6-4 – and the Blueshirts just blew it.
At the 7:49 mark, Caps’ rookie, the All-American Ryan Leonard, high-sticked Jonny Brodzinski – and once the contact between lumber and skin was made – and Jonny Broadway came up with a bloody nose.
In turn, the Rangers received a four-minute uninterrupted power-play – and where the Capitals’ PK, via two dangerous odd-man rushes, had the best scoring opportunities during this time.
Four-minutes later and all the Blueshirts had to show for it was one lousy SOG.
As the D.C. club started to build some momentum after their big-time kill; then it was of all people, Mr. Raddysh, that silenced the hometown crowd – and as if they were a bunch of vegetables themselves.
At the 14:57 mark, Jonny Brodzinski, who if you recall, finished with team highs in goals (1) and SOG (5) in the disgusting loss to Nashville on Sunday, found Raddysh for the clean-cut, 1-0 good guys, one-timer.
This crucial score was also the Rangers’ third SOG of the match – and in a harbinger of what was to come – a brutal stat line, full of coal, for Caps’ backstop, Logan Thompson.
While the home team was far superior than the road team in the first period; it were the Rangers that were better than the Caps where it mattered most – the scoreboard.
Washington would soon rectify that.
Just 23-seconds into the second stanza and boom – long-time rearguard, John Carlson, beat CZAR IGOR for the 1-1 equalizer.
As the game progressed, the Rangers’ penalty kill was successful in their first attempt – but not so successful on their second.
In what was a controversial goal at the time, then come the 8:40 mark – and CZAR IGOR had seemingly made the save of his life, one for the ages too – or so we thought.
Dylan Strome, wide-open and nothing but net to shoot at during a rebound attempt, saw the Russian make the best BESSIE save that you’ll ever see (clip included below) – but it was also too good to be true.
Upon video review that wasn’t available to us at the time, nor the M$GN crew either (but Toronto had it) and it was ruled that CZAR IGOR’s glove had brought the puck into the net.
2-1, Caps, after this questionable power-play goal – but one that soon became legit in the eyes of Blueshirt backers after we finally saw what Toronto saw – albeit, some fifteen-minutes later.
As the impeccable Alex Faust so poignantly and defiantly asked, “what took so long – and why can’t we see what the league sees in real-time too?”
Up next featured both teams trading responses.
Will Cuylle, at the 11:14 mark, and now on the Rangers’ third power-play of the contest, tied the game once more following his crashing of the net.
2-2.
No less than a minute later, and 57-seconds to be exact – and there was Alex Protas pounding home the second rebound goal that CZAR IGOR afforded on this night.
3-2, home team – but the last goal that they’d ever score too.
The Rangers, extremely fortunate to get out of the second period down by only one goal, didn’t really inspire their fans or hopes during the first several minutes of the third-and-final frame.
But come the 8:10 mark?
A Christmas miracle.
Raddysh, who played in D.C. last year, re-tied the game, this time at 3-3 – and where really – then at the time – and this felt like an “excuse me goal” – and one that the Caps would get right back too.
NDArtemi Panarin, perhaps inspired by the effort of a bottom-six winger, decided to show up.
Just 68-seconds after Raddysh’s score and the alleged sexual assaulter had seemingly put the Rangers ahead, 4-3.
While the goal stood after Panarin’s shot; it was then revealed that Alexis Lafreniere, once again, and like nearly everyone else, who looked like dog shit until he didn’t, had got a piece of the puck.
Rather than a Panarin goal, instead, it was Lafreniere’s second goal during his past twenty games played.
WATCH OUT HART TROPHY VOTERS!
This was also Lafreniere’s 100th career goal – and it only took him five-and-a-half seasons to get there.
For a comparison, then check out the scoring numbers that the likes of Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard have recorded – and if you really want a good laugh, then compare Lafreniere’s stats to Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Nate MacKinnon too – you know, other players, that like Lafreniere, that were also former first-overall picks.
Big-mouth Trocheck, who cried about pride after that no-show loss in Nashville, hadn’t really done anything in the game.
But like the rest of the FAT CATS, then the big-buck Blueshirts, who were all carried by the bottom-sixers and YOUTS until the five-goal third period explosion – and Trocheck soon found his way to the scoring department.
Off an o-zone faceoff and Trocheck beat Thompson for the 5-3, Rangers, goal at the 13:43 mark.
The Caps, who previously had a pair of one-goal leads, were now down by a deuce.
Just a hair away from 4:00 remaining and Thompson went to the bench for the extra attacker.
It was Panarin, with 2:16 left on the clock, that put the game away for good – and where Zibanejad and Lafreniere almost blew it by being too cute with their passing.
But I guess when you’re up by two late – then you can do stuff like this.
Then again, and as I speak out both sides of my mouth here – and the Rangers are in no position to joke around with anyone, nor play with their food either.
Now up 6-3 and there was one more score to be had.
A furious and dejected Thompson returned to the game – and just 25-seconds once back in his net – and there was Trocheck once more.
7-3, good guys.
7-3, your final.
Just a few parting remarks to close out this intro – then all of the details from the contest in our GAME REVIEW segment below.
All over the place, and no matter the beat reporter, and heck, even M$GN did this too – and all I saw was high praise for Lafreniere, Panarin and Trocheck.
After all, then Trocheck (2-1-3), Panarin (1-1-2) and Lafreniere (1-1-2) posted some gaudy scoring totals.
But make no mistakes about it – it were the bottom-six and young players that carried this team tonight.
While CZAR IGOR was fine enough, but he also wasn’t the sole reason why the Rangers were in this game – and as is often the case.
Instead, it was Taylor Raddysh. It was Jonny Brodzinski. It was Noah Laba. It was Gabe Perreault.
These players broke their holes all game-long – and were the spark – and not the aftermath like the FAT CATS.
It was also Sam Carrick – and when it comes to the fourth line center – then he’s now being tasked to not only give the Blueshirts’ a boost via his pop-and-grit (he was involved in several post-whistle scrums in this match) – but to also carry two projects in Brennan Othmann and Matt Rempe.
Put it this way:
The Rangers scored seven goals tonight, their competition three.
Everyone besides the line of Othmann/Carrick/Rempe finished with a +1 or better next to their names in the box score.
For Carrick, he finished as an Even-Steven zero – but look what he has to work with.
For Rempe and Othmann, then both members of the Wolf Pack alum finished with Ranger game-lows of minus-one – and the only players to finish with a negative rating.
Othmann, as noted in this space before, just doesn’t seem to have the makings of a varsity athlete.
He’s played what, a hundred games now, and he still can’t score a goal or register an assist.
(I know the number is closer to 40 than 100, so excuse me for exaggerating for effect!)
And when compared to the likes of both Laba and Perreault – and Othmann looks light-years behind both of them – and two players that are both younger than Otter too.
In the case of REMPESTEIN, then it’s what I said before – he’s not 100%, and as a result – then he should’ve never been brought back in the first place.
In previous Rempe seasons, then it was the league, and sometimes that idiot Peter Laviolette too, that neutered him.
His own injury, where he’s still recovering from a broken thumb (he not only publicly admitted to this himself, but he also confessed to Anaheim’s Ross Johnston that he couldn’t fight him because his thumb wasn’t healed yet), is neutering him.
In his four or so games played since returning – and Rempe hasn’t been effective at all.
And when you’re over seven-feet tall on skates and barely noticeable – then that’s a problem.
When it comes to Rempe vs Othmann, then at least Rempe has the injury excuse – and somewhat of a successful previous, yet short, history too.
Othmann brings nothing, and where more and more, he’s looking like another Lias Andersson, Vitali Kravtsov, and you get my point.
As far as the win itself, then of course, you had to love it.
But it didn’t really change anything.
This is still a win one, lose one, win two, lose two team – and where for every win, no matter how big or how small, then immediately afterwards – and there’s a crushing loss that follows.
I know this may go against the Blueshirts’ grain, but I think this victory was more about Washington’s implosion, particularly Thompson’s, rather than anything else.
As noted before and as I’ll remind you again here – then I can’t find myself getting high after any win this season – and especially after seeing these bums lose to the likes of Nashville, San Jose, Calgary, Chicago, Vancouver and so on and so forth.
Prove me wrong.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off, the Rangers’ pathetic Sunday night effort in Nashville:
After losing to another of the league’s worst teams on Sunday, then come Monday, and because of the weekend back-to-back, and the Rangers were off.
However, while the team didn’t practice, the organization still made moves.
As expected, and J.T. Miller, due to his “week-to-week” status, was officially placed on the injured reserve.
In turn, then Brett Berard, demoted just last week, was recalled to the varsity squad.
Come Tuesday morning and now in D.C., and the team held an A.M. skate.
There wasn’t much to the practice outside of both Matt Rempe and Gabe Perreault, sick after Patient Zero Panarin infected them in Nashville, were back.
Also continuing to make his comeback is Adam Fox, as he looks to hopefully return on 12/27 on Long Island.
Speaking of Adam, then there has been no update on the other Ranger that shares his first name, Adam Edstrom, as the big Swede continues to have his second consecutive season marred by injuries.
As far as anything else, then it was interesting, that just two days before Christmas, and Sullivan finally made a healthy scratch out of the golden nephew-in-law, Conor Sheary.
As noted before, then had Sheary, who joined the team on a PTO, spent the bulk of his time in the bottom-six, then you wouldn’t really mind him on the roster.
Instead, and he’s primarily played top-six minutes.
While this move was long overdue; it was the timing of it that made it comical.
That Christmas dinner should be fun too – assuming that Sheary is even invited to Sully’s soiree.
Here was Sully’s line-up for the thirty-ninth game of this 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Mika/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Trocheck/Perreault
THIRD LINE: Brodzinski/Laba/Raddysh
FOURTH LINE: Othmann/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Schneider
SECOND PAIR: Soucy/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Robertson/Morrow
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Brett Berard, Conor Sheary and Urho Vaaakainanen
IR: J.T. Miller
LTIR: Adam Edstrom and Adam Fox
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 32 | 3 | 29 | .906 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
WSH
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 20 | 6 | 14 | .700 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58:17 | 0 |
I thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s broadcast.
After all, it was another on location broadcast, which means no SIEVE VAGISTAT.
And due to his TNT duties – then it also meant no Kenny Albert either.
I saw some fans complain about Albert’s regular absences during the game on social media.
While most of these people also understood that Albert’s NFL commitments are soon coming to an end; then they weren’t happy about Albert working for TNT instead of M$GN when the Rangers were in action.
Like anything else associated with the Rangers – and Albert is a business man – so you can’t knock him for taking the bigger paycheck and exposure.
Plus, Faust remains as the best pinch-hitter in broadcasting, so I have no issue whenever Albert has to be somewhere else.
As the two teams hit the ice for warm-ups, then the Rangers’ announced the following:
UPDATE: David Quinn will not be behind the bench tonight (illness).
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) December 23, 2025
According to Sullivan’s post-game interview, then DQ, like Rempe and Perreault before him, and like the patient zero himself, NDA Panarin – and DQ is fighting the flu right now.
DQ will be back after Christmas – and the power-play can’t wait!
As I was thinking to myself, “when am I going to start making some headway on this year’s Mid-Season Report Card?” then Faust told us that Carson Soucy presently has the best plus/minus rating on the team.
Wow.
And kudos to Soucy too, as tonight marked his 400th career game – a hell of an accomplishment.
I don’t know what’s more maddening these days – locking your keys in your car or listening to another one of Crybaby Mika’s daily chats with the media.
Enough talking. Do the walking. Hell – SPRINT!
M$GN then ran a piece on Alex Ovechkin and how he was the greatest goal scorer of all-time – you know – as every other broadcast in the league always praises the opponent.
And somewhere, then Larry Brooks, from the afterlife, was screaming “PUTINISTA!”
As Giannone told us that Ovi hadn’t scored in his past eight games – then you knew it – tonight would be the night.
The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future weren’t having it – and instead – sprinkled their magic dust on Raddysh instead!
Another rarity from the almighty “announcer’s jinx” files?
When Giannone told us that the Caps had given up five goals three-times during the past week.
Once I heard that – and then I was expecting a Logan Thompson shutout.
Thankfully, I was proven wrong!
After a bunch of in-house pre-tapes, we finally got to puck drop.
GAME REVIEW time, and where as always, I’m just going to hit what I haven’t already said.
However, then if you do so desire my live play-by-play commentary from this contest, then check out my Tweeter/X feed here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
FIRST PERIOD
Just 30-seconds into this game, and Lafreniere, hockey’s version of a cuckhold, went right to the net, had plenty of it to shoot at – and instead – hit the crossbar:
#NYR Alexis Lafreniere makes a move like this every other game and can’t buy a goal.
Moments ago against the #AllCaps , another dazzling deke that doesn’t go ⤵️⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Jc8BvFZ1ce
— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) December 24, 2025
This could’ve been Lafreniere’s 100th goal – and a doozy it would’ve been.
Instead, and he “settled” for a fortunate deflection on a puck that was most likely going in regardless.
At the 6:30 mark and the SOG counter was Caps 3, NYR 0.
So yeah, not much doing.
Down to 12:11 remaining, the four-minute minor the Brodzinski drew – and about three Mika no-timers that went nowhere soon ensued.
Vladislav Gavrikov was the d-man who prevented a Mongo McMichael shorty – and where shortly thereafter – Brodzinski recorded the Rangers’ first SOG.
And after all that?
An 0-2 power-play.
And as I always say, then if you can’t score on a double-minor or a five-minute major power-play, then you deserve to lose.
And perhaps the Rangers deserved to lose, or at least after two periods of play – but they were determined to avenge themselves – so the positive outcome desired did transpire.
After Lafreniere flubbed an easy give-and-go play with Panarin just seven-minutes remaining; then, and nearly two-minutes later, and after a long Washington attack in the New York zone too – and BLAMMO – the Brodzinski-to-Raddysh one-timer:
#NYR Taylor Raddysh scored in his return to WSH. 1-0.
Across the royal road. Great play to take open ice by Schneider. First goal in 23 games for 14. pic.twitter.com/6rSXXdcGyV
— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) December 24, 2025
1-0, good guys – and give Brodzinski all the credit in the world.
He was recently healthy scratched, through no fault of his own, and since returning, he’s been a house of fire.
He’s also been fully embracing the “NEXT MAN UP” philosophy too.
After Panarin and Lafreniere loused up again, this time when #10 made a god-awful pass attempt to #13 while on a 3 x 2 odd-man rush with 3:40 remaining, then Thompson made his third save of the period when he stopped Gavrikov with 66-ticks left on the clock.
1-0, Rangers, after twenty-minutes of “action.”
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-0, #nyr, after 20. 1p thoughts:
— 0-2 on a four minute PP. Inexcusable.
—- Leave it to the fourth line to carry the team offensively. Hell of a pass from Jonny Broadway to Taylor Raddysh.
—- DC crowd sounds deathly quiet.
—- SOG 6-4, Caps, so not much offense from two teams…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 24, 2025
SECOND PERIOD
These middle minutes were no better than the first twenty-minutes that had preceded it – and where come the end of it – the Caps outscored the Blueshirts 3-1.
But again – and you already know what I’m getting at!
After Faust, and for some reason, said that the Rangers had a good road first period (and how could that be the case with an 0-2 power-play, 4 SOG and an unlikely Raddysh goal?), and this is when the Mike Milbury shoe incident was first brought up.
Before Maloney could finish educating his junior of nearly forty-years, then blammo – Carlson – and where you can’t make this up either – as the Rangers had surrendered a goal in just 23-seconds after puck drop:
#ALLCAPS 1-1. JOHN CARLSON PUTS THE CAPS ON THE BOARD. RYAN LEONARD GETS A POINT IN HIS FIRST GAME BACK FROM INJURY pic.twitter.com/oVG0EN9P44
— Capitals Replays 🍁 (@capsreplays) December 24, 2025
1-1.
As said often here, then when Raddysh and Brodzinski are your most noticeable players; while that’s good for them, then that’s not good for the Rangers either.
This was also the case at the 2:45 mark, as these two continued to press for offense.
As Faust and Maloney paid their homage to Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti, as both M$GN broadcasters fawned over Carlson in the way that Rosen & Micheletti once did over Jack Hughes; then, and at the 3:57 mark, Robertson, when beat by Leonard, was forced to slash him.
This wound up being a two-minute Washington power-play, but in my eyes, then this should’ve been a penalty shot for Leonard – as he had a clear-cut breakaway until Robertson had slashed him from behind.
Ovi, whose one-timer shot looked as if the Monstars from “Space Jam” had given him Zibanejad’s wretched-and-cursed stick, missed the net three times.
To close this Rangers’ penalty kill and CZAR IGOR absolutely robbed Justin Sourdif.
1-1 on the PK.
At the 8:29 mark of the period and the SOG total was now 8-1, Caps.
They’d get a chance to challenge Igor again, as it was also at this time when Soucy blatantly interfered/held/tackled Nic Dowd.
In real-time, then this is how I covered what took place next:
“Igor makes his second monstrous robbery save of the game, pure Bessie on a Strome rebound, Caps are stunned by that and so am I lol!
“Refs are gonna take a look at this, they think Igor’s glove may have been behind the goal line.
“The call on the ice should stand – no conclusive evidence. But the refs disagree with me. Strome’s goal is good, so 2-1 them, after a PPG. Igor isn’t happy about that and now talking to Sutherland about it. What a shame as that was a hell of a play regardless.
“I don’t know what replay the league has, but based on what we’re seeing, you can’t tell if the puck fully crossed the goal line or not.”
Here’s the goal:
Igor Shesterkin ROBS Dylan Strome.
Strome can’t believe it. pic.twitter.com/idjsa9auk5
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) December 24, 2025
It wasn’t until the end of the period where M$GN finally had the replay/camera angle that Toronto had – and give credit to Faust too – as he was calling this the whole way – while also admonishing the league for their delay as well:
End result – 2-1, Caps – and where come the halfway mark of the game/period – and Washington was out-shooting New York, 17-7 overall, and 11-2 in the period.
Same Old Rangers.
Or so we thought.
Another “so we thought?”
When Will Cuylle, just 20-seconds into the Rangers’ third power-play (McMichael for tripping Trocheck), responded with his 3-2 goal:
I’d really like to see #NYR Will Cuylle get to the net front more.
He can replicate the net front presence of a Chris Kreider , which is sorely missed.
Think how many extra scores he registers a season with PP time, more net/mouth, inside hashes looks. pic.twitter.com/uS27Bac5FZ
— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) December 24, 2025
This was the Rangers’ eighth SOG – which also meant that they were shooting at an eye-popping 25% – and just like their new discounted ticket sale that the season ticket holders abhor!
But of course, and Protas soon responded himself – and man oh man, did I jinx it too:
🚨#ALLCAPS GOAL: PROTAS TAKES THE LEAD BACK🚨 pic.twitter.com/N3NH6IpfKp
— Capitals Replays (@CapitalsReplays) December 24, 2025
Just thirty-seconds prior to this 3-2, Caps, goal and I tweeted the following:
The twitter jinx – 30 seconds later, Othmann helps give up a goal and Sully is talking to him about it. https://t.co/uK0wmueAVP
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 24, 2025
But seriously, and to paraphrase/honor the late Larry Brooks:
DID. YOU. SEE. OTTER?
Down to 5:20 remaining and we saw Othmann – as he went offside to end a potential Rangers’ odd-man rush.
He then went to the bench and started screaming expletives at the Caps – but we never found out who these four-letter words were directly addressed to.
After not much doing and Faust & Maloney started talking about the Milbury incident again – and where Faust was really relying on the former captain to give him the complete story.
Should you want the full story, then check out my “RANGERS KILLER” book, which is linked below.
It’s perfect X-Mas reading – I swear!
3-2 through two periods – and where it just felt automatic that Washington would win – and especially after we were told how the Caps were 16-0 whenever entering a third period with a lead.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3-2, them, through 40.
— Kudos to the NHL for giving us their review about the Strome PPG about 15-minutes later.
— Either way, and #NYR look like shit.
— Another Xmas Eve Eve loss to the Caps won’t ruin Chris Drury’s Christmas.
— Othmann is not a varsity athlete. Fat…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 24, 2025
THIRD PERIOD
As Mika lost the first draw of the frame from Donald Trump’s second home city, then all I could think was, “only twenty-minutes away from another loss” – and – “at least it will only take me a half-hour to write about it.”
So much for all of that – and all for the better too! (And where I’m now in my second hour of writing as well!)
After the two goalies traded saves, then Ovechkin, at the 2:23 mark, absolutely crushed Soucy with a hit into the corner boards. As Ovi was going to the bench, he then saw the fragile Othmann and gave him a friendly tap in an attempt to throw him off his game.
This was assessed as a crosscheck by Ovi – and where long-time fans know that we see this stuff all the time – and where it’s hockey tradition too. (No one did this more than Gordie Howe, now the the third-best goal scorer in NHL history.)
Ovi, who barely made contact with Othmann, went to the box – and where #78 should’ve joined “The Great Eight” there too – as he dove to the ice.
Good for Othmann for getting the call, but he looked like a WWE wrestler selling a move.
This was a total Lebron flop.
Come the end of the power-play?
Only McMichael registered a SOG.
The Rangers finished the match as 1-4 on the man-advantage – so that wasn’t good – and it was SAME OLD RANGERS too.
But the new look Blueshirts were set to arrive.
Let’s fast-forward to the scoring, and again, check my Tweeter feed for the complete play-by-play.
Here’s Raddysh’s second of the game, seventh-overall and his first game with a goal to his name since his hatty against San Jose:
Raddysh gets his second. 3-3 #NYR #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/zoVPRCoYg0
— Capitals Replays (@CapitalsReplays) December 24, 2025
Laba made one play in his end, crashed the net in the other, and as a result, received a secondary assist on this much needed 3-3 goal.
After that, the Panarin long-distance shot that Lafreniere sneaked in on:
The puck is going in the net.#NYR Artemi Panarin scores from downtown for the 4-3 lead.
Two goals in 1:08 for the Rangers. Rare air. pic.twitter.com/hptCCghj9c
— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) December 24, 2025
4-3, good guys – and hey – a game-winner for Lafreniere too.
This goal was also the Rangers’ 16th SOG – so they were maintaining their elite 25% shooting percentage.
Down to 6:21 remaining and the Rangers got a break when on a Washington odd-man rush – and McMichael, very noticeable throughout the match, made one pass too many – and one that went for a turnover here.
Here’s Trocheck’s savvy o-zone draw goal:
Really cerebral play off the draw from #NYR Jonny Brodzinski. Battle. Utilizing his shot, a strength.
Trocheck wins this draw clean which sets the play in motion.
Character period of hockey for the Rangers. pic.twitter.com/3AItRh0dXc
— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) December 24, 2025
5-3, good guys – and whether it was by hook or by crook – and the Blueshirts had completely decimated the first forty-minutes of this game.
Up next saw Thompson go to the bench – and where prior to Panarin’s empty-netter – Laba, with a two-goal lead mind you, stepped right on up into an Ovi blast.
HOCKEY PLAYERS.
TOUGH AS NAILS.
There aren’t many Rangers that I’m currently rah-rah about (after all – then who would your Steven McDonald winner be right now? Me? Then I’m going with Jonathan Quick.) – but Laba is one of the few.
After Panarin’s 6-3 empty-netter, then his former center (for now), put some pride on his 7-3, FU, we’re making a statement, goal:
Trocheck makes it 7 #NYR #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/dU4k9wjPZI
— Capitals Replays (@CapitalsReplays) December 24, 2025
Just a casual five-goal third period for the Rangers, you know, the usual!
As far as anything else, then, and with only 29-seconds remaining in a four-goal difference, and Laba was boxed for tripping Matt Roy.
CZAR IGOR made one more save here, as he finished with a .906 save percentage – while his counterpart, Thompson, finished with a .700 save percentage – which also meant that the Rangers finished this game by shooting an ungodly and unheard of 30%!
There’s no way that I can consider this game as the best win of the season – and all because of the first forty-minutes.
(What I’m trying to say here that this wasn’t a complete sixty-minute effort.)
But was this third period the best twenty-minutes that the banged-up Blueshirts have played this season?
Then, and to quote my good pal Dancin’ Larry Goodman:
“HELL YES!”
On Mr. DQ, Sully said about his all-American pal:
“Quinny’s feeling a little bit better. He’s had a tough couple of days with this flu bug that seems to be going through the team. He’s been trying to fight through it, but today was a tough one for him. But he’s feeling better.”
I’ve always liked DQ, so here’s to a quick recovery and a Merry Xmas to him and his family
Elsewhere and the Rangers shared this “FUN FACT” on their social media channels:
“Tonight was the first time since Feb. 22, 1972, at Montreal, that the Rangers trailed heading into the third period and ended up winning by four or more goals.”
If you recall, then it was that year, 1972, where the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final.
The less said about the victor of that series, the better!
The Blueshirts pulled off a Christmas miracle in Washington – but will the good vibes continue?
(I say no – but I do hope to be proven incorrect!)
I’ve brought up the killer schedule during my past two writings to you, so no need to do so once again here.
UP NEXT FOR ALL OF US: Merry X-Mas and all of that other happy horseshit.
UP NEXT FOR THE RANGERS: A league-wide three-day break – and kudos to the NHL for allowing their players to rest and enjoy the holidays at home – and unlike the other sports.
NEXT GAME FOR THE RANGERS: 12/27 at IBS against the Isles – and a match that may feature the potential return of Adam Fox too.
I may not be back on Saturday night, as I’m 50/50 about going to the game or just going to my local watering hole.
If not, then I’ll 100% return on Sunday – as that’s when I plan on presenting to you this year’s annual Mid-Season Report Card blog.
After all, then what else am I going to do on Sunday? Watch the Giants and Jets? I THINK NOT!
I hate the “Happy Holidays” expression, as it’s just too liberal and limp-wristed for me; so for everyone reading these words – enjoy whatever you celebrate, enjoy your families, have some drinks and forget about hockey for the next 72-hours too.
Such a cleansing will do wonders for your mental health!
And should you need some last-second presents for the loved ones in your life?
Then what a great segue-way to our final segment, you know…
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
“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
Outstanding write up! Merry Christmas!
Thanks Pete and the same to your family.
Shesty needs to use a Black glove as Wedgewood does. The same play was called a no-goal for Utah against Colorado yesterday. Wedgewood even credited the dark gear for that call in his postgame interview.
Thanks for another great write-up, Sean.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Merry X-Mas – and I like your idea too.