Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Will this rotten season ever end?
PROGRAMMING NOTE: I HAD A LONG OVERTIME SHIFT AT WORK, I’M TIRED, PERHAPS A BIT BOOZED-UP TOO, SO THEREFORE, I DIDN’T PROOF-READ WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO READ NEXT. THAT SAID? AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU’LL GET THE GIST OF IT ANYWAY – AND WHERE I PUT MUCH MORE EFFORT INTO THIS BLOG THAN THE RANGERS DID AT IBS ON 1/28!
Sadly, and I don’t even think that the Blueshirts have truly hit rock-bottom yet.
Worse than that?
Then we may not even be close to that point either – and with Chris Drury still calling all of the shots – then the Magic Eight Ball says, “the future won’t be bright any time soon” too.
If there was one recurring thought that I had on Wednesday night throughout the Islanders’ throttling of the Rangers, then it was this one:
It’s just a shame that the Rangers have an owner like James Dolan – and not like the boss that the Yankees once had, George Steinbrenner – because if they did – then Chris Drury, and most especially after being embarrassed by the team’s most hated rival three-times this season, would be out on his ass – or perhaps more realistically – back to serving shitty hot oil pizzas at his Colony Grill restaurant. (Holy dashes and Morse Code Batman!)
Another thought, and one that ties-in everything together?
Then in the first game of the Post Panarin Era – and the Blueshirts were more brutal than ever.
That said, then had Artemi Panarin, who has allegedly played his last game with the Rangers, been active for this 5-2 loss – then I don’t think that it would’ve mattered anyway.
Perhaps the Rangers would’ve lost by two goals instead of three goals – but the end result would’ve been just the same – another loss on the record of the head coach that Sidney Crosby carried to two Stanley Cups.
As said before, then for all of Crosby’s achievements in his eventual Hall of Fame career – then the fact that he carried Mike Sullivan to two Stanley Cups may be the biggest accomplishment in his hockey legacy full of supremacy.
By the way, how’s Dan Muse and the Pittsburgh Penguins doing these days without Word Salad Sully behind their bench?
Interesting!
While we’ll get into all of the Panarin stuff during tonight’s NEWS segment; but by now and you already know – the greatest free agent in franchise history – and the Rangers’ most dynamic player since the days of Jaromir Jagr – is all but officially out the door.
(On a quick aside – and to answer some readers and Twitter followers too. I know that many of you guys and gals consider Adam Graves as the greatest free agent signing in franchise history – but #9, who I also adore, was an offer-sheet signing – thus not a true unrestricted free agent signing. If you want to include the parameters of this debate to offer-sheets, then yeah, I agree with you – give me Graves over Panarin every day of the week – and twice on Sundays too!)
Prior to getting into our news segment, then perhaps the dismissal of Panarin could also lead to some Ranger teams like those post Jagr years – rely on the goalie 100% of the time – but then again, those post Jagr teams never had a d-man like Fox either.
(But they did have Ryan McDonagh – and a Captain Mac who should have NEVER been traded too!)
If tonight’s 5-2 loss to the Islanders was any indication, then brace up – as it’s going to be a while before the Rangers are ever contenders again – and where who knows – maybe they’ll snap their previous 54-year Cup drought too.
Ugh.
It felt like the Islanders could do no wrong on Wednesday night, while the Rangers were anything but right.
As is often the case, and despite all of their big-talk bravado when the Blueshirts say that they know that they have to come out swinging at the start of these games, and where such woes even led Sullivan into saying that he needs to rile up his millionaire FAT CATS too – and once again – the Rangers were as exciting as a silent fart in church.
We’ll get into the nonsense that M$GN analyst Brian Boyle said during our GAME REVIEW segment; but for here – then NO – penalties and officiating weren’t the reasons why the Rangers lost at IBS on Wednesday night.
Instead – and you can trace their same-old-losing ways right to the start of this game.
Put it this way:
The Rangers didn’t even record their first shot on goal until there was 7:20 remaining in the first period – and from all people – the usually scratched Urho Vaakanainen – and only playing on Wednesday night because Carson Soucy now plays for the other side.
At one point during this frame and the Nassaumen were out-shooting the Manhattanites 11-1.
A few seconds later?
Then not only was the home team up on the scoreboard, 2-0 – but they also had as many goals as the Rangers had SOG too.
So yeah, a second period, plagued with penalties, wasn’t what did the Rangers in on this night.
And poor Spencer Martin too – and where really – you couldn’t blame him for any of the five goals that the Blueshirts allowed tonight.
Heck, and you know it’s bad when Dave Maloney, always the homer, said during the waning stages of this match, “Martin should sue the Rangers for support!”
Truer words were never spoken.
As I continue to ramble on in my stream-of-consciousness manner; then, and most especially prior to tonight’s third period commencing – and another major thought that I had was this:
“Is this how fans of the New York Jets feel all the time?”
Granted, while my New York Football Giants are no better these days – but hey – at least I saw them win four Super Bowls in my lifetime.
The Rangers have only won four Stanley Cups in a hundred years – and it may take another century before they ever win their elusive fifth championship in franchise history!
Crazier than that?
My paternal grandfather, now gone for over 23-years, saw all four Ranger Stanley Cup wins in his lifetime.
In other words?
He hasn’t missed anything since going to the grave!
Just like the Jets, who last won a championship in 1969 – and many fans of the Rangers today haven’t seen their favorite hockey win a championship in their lifetime.
Fortunately, I’m not in that lot, as I was 12-years-old in 1994 – but now, and soon approaching 44-years-old – and I feel like I’ll never witness one Rangers’ Stanley Cup victory as an adult.
It’s just maddening – and where I’m a complete psychopath for continuing on with this site too!
There’s just no light at the end of the tunnel – that is – unless you count hellfire and brimstone as light!
I know, I know – I’m rambling incoherently – but that’s what this team has done to me!
As noted above – then the Rangers, while offensive to the eyes, and to the sport in general, had no offense to speak of until spotting the Islanders a nice 2-0 lead.
The Isles, who just peppered Martin like a waiter on a pasta dish, finally got the goalie to break at the 14:59 mark of the game, following what else – a 1-0 power-play goal as scored by the orange-and-blue’s newest acquisition – no, not Carson Soucy – but ex-Devil, and another Ranger Killer of many too, Ondrej Palat.
Assisting on the goal was a true first-overall pick, one that’s even surpassing Bobby Orr’s rookie records, defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
For Schaefer, who ever since being selected by the Islanders, has fully embraced the rivalry, so much so, that he’s gone out of his way to shit-talk the Rangers whenever he can (which he should – after all – we’d love it if the roles were reversed), then this was his first point, in what will be many, in this epic war between the two local teams.
The Isles, who prior to this power-play goal (Trocheck had blatantly slashed Simon Holmstrom), had done everything but score; then Patrick Roy’s club wasted no time in finding their second goal – as just 1:11 after Palat’s goal and blammo – there was Simon Holmstrom, who previously drew a penalty as noted, with a tip, on a DeAngelo blast, for the home team 2-0 goal.
This was pretty much it for the Rangers – but, and like always – and they did try to get your hopes up.
At the 17:33 mark, Jonathan Drouin took an undisciplined and unnecessary penalty, and as he did after high-sticking Trocheck.
Come 1:56 left in the period – and the Rangers, who have given up more goals than anyone during the end of a period, flipped the tables – as Mika Zibanejad decreased the Isles’ lead to 2-1 via his franchise leading 118th power-play goal.
But that would really be it for the Blueshirts on this night – sans some fluky nonsense later on.
Granted, while the score through twenty-minutes played only featured a one-goal difference; but in reality – and the Islanders were dominating the Rangers – and in every which way at that too.
Still 2-1 when approaching the half-way mark of the second period/game, then it was at the 9:41 mark when the Rangers took a slew of penalties – and a bunch of infractions that boiled Boyle too.
Sam Carrick, ever so reliable that I’d never say a bad word about him here, blatantly, and clear-as-day, tripped Kyle McLean.
With Big Save Dave Rittich off the ice for the extra attacker, then the Rangers, who just chased baby brother like a bunch of chickens with their heads lopped off, saw Carrick take another penalty during the Isles’ 6 x 5 attack – as he cross checked Barzal from behind – and in what was another crystal-clear infraction too.
In other words, then once the Rangers touched-up, then the Isles would embark on an uninterrupted 5 x 3 two-man power-play.
But that’s not what happened – or at least the two-minute Isles’ power-play part of it.
Once touched-up and Rempe, and let me make this clear, BLATANTLY boarded Marc Gatcomb, which then led to a post-whistle scrum.
The end result?
The Isles were not only going to go on a two-minute 5 x 3 power-play, but they’d then have a 2:00 traditional 5 x 4 power-play in the event that they didn’t score a two man-up goal.
I just checked this: This was the first time this season where a team took three penalties on a single shift – and for the first time in decades too.
If you’re looking for something nice to say about the Rangers here, then yeah – give Spencer Martin – and his goal posts too – some credit – as the Isles were unable to score during their 2:00 5 x 3 power-play.
And you know what I always say about a team that can’t score on a 4:00 power-play, a 5 x 3 or on a five-minute major – if you can’t score in these situations, then you deserve to lose – and just like the Rangers did three times in the past nine days when they were unable to score on lengthy 5 x 3 situations themselves.
While the Islanders didn’t score on their 5 x 3 power-play – they did once returned to 5 x 4.
Just a few seconds shy of the Rangers’ pulling off a penalty kill for the ages, then, and at the 13:12 mark – and there was Barzal for the Isles’ 3-1 goal, the end result of some nifty puck movement that no goalie would ever have a chance to stop, in order to dash the Panarin-less Blueshirts’ hopes-and-dreams of winning this game.
For the Isles?
Then after scoring their first pair of goals within 1:11, they scored another pair here, and in only 47-seconds to boot.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a featured character in my RANGER KILLERS book (linked below), poked in a puck while in front of Martin for the 4-1, see ya Blueshirts, goal.
Nearly two-minutes later (15:42 mark), and in what was a fluky play (but they all count), and Taylor Raddysh (and give him credit – because at least he was giving effort which is much more than you can say about most of these guys), beat Rittich for the game’s 4-2 score.
For the Isles, and where the negative phrase “dreaded three-goal lead” was first attributed to them – they soon regained it.
And for the Rangers?
Then for the team that’s allowed the most opening and end of period goals than any other squad in the league – and they lived up to their reputation once more.
With just 46.6 seconds remaining in this here second stanza – and there was Emil Heineman, aka “THE HINEY MAN,” to stick it up the Rangers’ asses with his 5-2 goal.
Neither team would score in the third-and-final frame – and where that speaks more to the Rangers than to an Islander club that was more than happy to sit back and protect their league.
But since the Blueshirts’ defense was brutal – and the Isles had a few chances anyway – and chances that either Martin robbed or wound up as a gleeful ring of the iron.
For Big Save Dave?
Then he’s now 5-0 lifetime against the Blueshirts – and where this may have been his easiest win yet.
After all, then in the fifty-plus years of this epic rivalry – and the Rangers’ sixteen SOG tonight marks a rivalry low.
It was another slow start for the Rangers, and more “special bus” special teams too.
It was also another night where members of their alumni burnt them too – but hey at least “The Fresh Prince of Duclair,” government name Anthony Duclair, didn’t really factor into the equation.
When’s that parade down the Canyon of Zeroes again?
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – a rare Rangers’ win at M$G:
NYR/BOS 1/26 Review: Robertson Stuns Bruins in OT; Quick’s Saves Makes It Happen, Pasta Boils; McAvoy Incensed, Blueshirts Win at M$G For The Sixth Time This Season; Third Victory This Month, Carson Soucy First Domino To Fall in Drury’s “Retool;” Rare Trade Made with The Islanders (And Why It’s a Win-Win For Everyone), What Ron Stewart Will Always Be Remembered For; RIP Terry Sawchuk, 2026 NHL Draft, Rangers Honor the 1994 Team For the 1,994th Time; Maybe It’s Finally Time to Give Mark Messier a Crack At It, M$GN & More
Following the team’s cold day in hell win from Monday night against the Bruins, then come Tuesday, the team reconvened for practice.
Not much out of the ordinary went down at the skate, outside of Sullivan deciding to once again try out a five-forward power-play after the team’s many failures of late.
(He’d never use it tonight during the Rangers’ two power-plays. That’s some fine culture coaching!)
Elsewhere, then after being tight-lipped about the Carson Soucy trade rumors from Monday afternoon and Sullivan opened up about the confirmed trade from Monday night:
“Souce is a great person. He was a good Ranger. He competed hard. Him and I had a conversation, that’s what we talked about,” said the Blueshirts’ bench boss. “I really enjoyed working with him. He’s a good pro. This is just part of the game and the reality of where we’re at.”
Soucy, now on Long Island, confirmed what I had said after the trade happened – Drury did him a solid:
“Drury did me a favor,” said the now former Ranger when referencing the birth of his third daughter last week. “It’s nice that we’re not having to move houses.”
Once the Rangers’ were through practicing and once Sullivan was done speaking too, then the Islanders, who just acquired Soucy 24-hours prior, then announced another trade with another New York rival, the New Jersey Devils:
#Isles Transaction: The New York Islanders have acquired Ondrej Palat, New Jersey Devils’ own third round pick in 2026, and sixth round pick in 2027 in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 28, 2026
Both Palat and Tsyplakov had been struggling for their respective teams prior to the trade.
In a vacuum, then this looks like a win for the Devils, who got to shed the $6M remaining on Palat’s deal.
However, then with the Eastern Conference wide-open, and with UGH, yes, the Islanders having as good of a shot as anyone this side of the Mississippi – then adding the former two-time Stanley Cup champion to their ranks for a playoff run wasn’t the worst thing in the world either.
And with the salary cap exponentially jumping up next season, then the Isles can absorb Palat’s hit.
(And they could absorb Panarin’s cap-hit too…)
In the case of the KHL import, Tsyplakov, who jumped over from Russia last year with much hype and bally-hoo (I can remember how many Ranger fans were upset that the comrade chose Long Island over Manhattan), he could never really get going under Isles’ head coach Patrick Roy.
While the salary cap, and as it always is, was a factor in this trade, then this was also another pure “hockey” trade too, as it allowed two struggling players to get a restart.
And just as you thought that Wednesday’s night match-up between the Rangers and Islanders would go off without a hitch – then boom – Drury finally allowed the other foot to drop.
Just minutes before pregame warm-ups, and every reporter in the land, and their mothers too, had the following news, including the best reporter of them all, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman:
Artemi Panarin is not playing for the Rangers tonight vs NYI for roster reasons
Is not expected to play before the Olympic freeze, assuming nothing occurs before then
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 28, 2026
While I’ve been campaigning for the Rangers to bubble-wrap Panarin ever since the news dropped that Drury was going to trade him; but it was prior to puck drop on Wednesday night where reality first really hit – Artemi Panarin had played his last game as a Ranger.
On one hand, then this had to happen – you just couldn’t run the risk of losing not only the Blueshirts’ best asset of this year’s trade deadline (via injury – and for a Ranger team that’s been bitten by the injury bug all-season) – but the best (from the realm of most realistic – as Connor McDavid isn’t leaving Edmonton) trade asset in all of the league today too.
On the other hand?
Then we just witnessed the greatest Rangers’ forward since the days of Jagr – but where unlike the Czech – and it does feel like Panarin, and only because of his pending UFA status combined with the Rangers being in the shitter, has to go.
As of this posting – then we have no clue where Panarin is headed – but where it’s been both reported and assumed that he’ll want a full extension wherever he goes – as he doesn’t want to move twice.
With the new CBA going into effect next season, then only the Rangers can offer the alleged sexual assaulter an eight-year deal, via a sign-and-trade.
Elsewhere, then he can only get the league’s new max of seven-years – but where of course – then how many teams are willing to offer a player that turns 35-years-old at the start of the 2026-27 season a max deal?
Many teams have been rumored to be interested in Panarin – but where at this point – there’s no use speculating.
We’ll get the facts soon enough.
It should be mentioned that Panarin could have finished this crappy centennial season with the Rangers – but unlike Mika, Miller and the others – and he did oblige Drury’s request to waive his no movement clause.
In other words?
Then Panarin could’ve told the ZOOM ZOOM piss-poor general manager to “eff off.”
In that scenario, then not only would Panarin become the best free agent available in the summer (and that could still become the case should he not get the extension that he’s seeking), then it also would’ve meant that the Rangers, and like the John Tavares situation previously on Long Island, would’ve got nothing in return for “The Breadman.”
What I’m trying to say here is that Panarin did this franchise a favor on the way out – as while he’ll get a chance to chase for a Stanley Cup – he simply could’ve stayed here – and then let the summer decide his future.
While I’m not a fan of Panarin at a personal level (I’ve explained this all before – he should’ve said something about his NDA before signing it – as otherwise – it just reeks of him being guilty); but obviously, and he gave us so many great moments on the ice.
Albeit, mainly in the regular season.
Similar to Mika – then when the stakes got high – and he was never around come playoff time.
Yeah, yeah, yeah – Panarin had that one overtime goal scored against the Penguins in Game 7 in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs – but really, that’s what you’re going to hang your hat on?
For those who don’t recall, then the Penguins lost starter Tristan Jarry for the bulk of that series, where in turn, they were forced to start not only their second-string goalie, but the now infamous “Spicy Pork and Broccoli” third-stringer, and funny enough, now a member of the Rangers’ alumni today too, Louie Domingue.
Had Panarin, the highest-paid winger in the league, been able to bury pucks against mid goalies – then the Rangers wouldn’t have had to spend seven-games against a first-round opponent that they should’ve trounced.
In turn, the Blueshirts exerted a ton of energy, got no rest and by the time they got to Tampa – they were burnt – a fact which many of the players from that team later admitted.
That said?
Then I’ve always felt like that 2021-22 team, spearheaded by the great Gerard Gallant, was one of the most likable in franchise history – and much like how the 2013-14 team was.
(Heck, I even wrote a four-volume set of books on that 2021-22 squad – as that’s how much I was head-over-heels about them – and to purchase them – well then check the PLUGS segment below!)
Staying with this comparison, then while both the ’14 and ’22 teams didn’t win – you weren’t irate about how their seasons ended – outside of the fact that it was over.
You loved those guys.
You bled, sweat, cheered and cried with those guys.
But come 2014-15, and later, 2023-24 too?
Then you were upset how those seasons ended – and where you knew it afterwards (and not to brag – at least I did – as I said it at the time both on this site and on social media) – then you knew that this was the pinnacle for those respective eras – and there was nothing but bad times ahead.
Case in point?
The now “original” Letter from February of 2018 – and today, “The Letter 2.0” from January of 2026.
The times may have changed – but one constant remained:
No Cups since 1994.
I don’t want to go too deep into Panarin here (easy for me to say) – as I want to wait until his trade is confirmed.
After all, then this is a funky league – and who knows – then maybe Drury holds off.
One thing that I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere else – and where perhaps this is some wishful thinking too?
Then, and perhaps in the final moments leading up to a Drury/Panarin pact, where #10 goes elsewhere – and “The Breadman” has a change of heart – and as a result – is willing to take less money and years in order to stay with the Rangers.
And maybe I’ll win the Powerball too – as while this scenario could happen – this is Panarin’s last chance to make the most money in his career – and especially with so many suitors interested – and with the salary cap going up too.
But if he wants to say?
Then Panarin has made already $100M in his career – so how much more “bread” does he really need?
For now, then to stick to the facts – and Panarin is being bubble-wrapped until a trade is made – and where this deal doesn’t have to happen between now-and-the-Olympics either.
More on Panarin once something happens – as for now – we have our god-awful GAME REVIEW and other segments to get into!
Here was Silly Sully’s line-up for the fifty-fourth game of this rotten 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Miller/Mika/Perreault
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Trocheck/Lafreniere
THIRD LINE: Othmann/Laba/Raddysh
FOURTH LINE: Brodzinski/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Schneider
SECOND PAIR: Robertson/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Morrow
STARTING GOALIE: Martin
BACKUP GOALIE: Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Connor Mackey
IR: CZAR IGOR
LTIR: Connor Sheary, Adam Fox and Adam Edstrom
BUBBLE WRAPPED FOR ROSTER MANAGEMENT PURPOSES: Artemi Panarin
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 36 | 5 | 31 | .861 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
NYI
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 16 | 2 | 14 | .875 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59:22 | 0 |
Since I was at work on Wednesday night, and not at my cozy domicile, then I only caught bits and pieces of the Rangers’ pregame show.
Not that it would’ve mattered anyway – as after all, than what else is there to say?
That said, and it should be noted that M$GN pulled a 180 when talking about Panarin, when compared to how they covered Soucy’s absence some 48-hours ago – as Faust, and the returning champion, Dave Maloney, outright said that Panarin was being withheld from the ice because he was going to be traded.
With Soucy, and all we got was “roster management purposes” – albeit, with a wink-wink too.
Boyle and Giannone, both live on location, handled the pregame show – and where it’s not very often where you see Boyle just do analyst work on the road (he usually calls the game too).
In another lengthy video package to fill time, then M$GN presented us a piece on Vic Hadfield.
Good for Hadfield – but while his banner in the rafters of M$G was lauded and praised – yet not a word about all of the people who deserved it more than him – you know, Frank Boucher, Bill Cook, Bun Cook, et al – but I’ll stop here – as I know that I’ve brought this topic up once or 567567567567567567567567856785678567856785678 zillion times before!
As far as anything else worth mentioning, then Maloney said the two words that aren’t allowed to be uttered on M$GN airwaves – and I’m not talking about four-letter FCC no-no words either!
Rather than that, and the youngest captain in franchise history talked about Jim Ramsay, and how the former Rangers’ trainer of 29-years, once praised Panarin upon the Russian’s Big Apple arrival.
And don’t ask the birdbrain Blueshirts’ beat why Ramsay was fired either – as they will never go against whatever edict the Rangers bring upon them.
After all, then do you think that Wince Mercogliano is going to risk access to free sandwiches?
GAME REVIEW time, and where I’ll try to keep it quick.
That said, then if you do want my complete play-by-play from this wretched mess, then check out my Tweeter/X feed over at: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
Let’s roll, and let’s rapidly roll at that.
After all, then not only do I have work in a few mere hours – but the Rangers are also slated to get swept by the Islanders on Thursday night too!
FIRST PERIOD
Mika won the first draw at the IBS Arena – and then some 36-seconds later – J.T. Miller hit the crossbar.
While Captain Culture didn’t hit the net here; then at least he didn’t miss the net and then send a puck into the Rangers’ end – and like how he always does during Blueshirt power-plays!
Since the Rangers didn’t have a SOG until there was 7:20 remaining – then there wasn’t much to speak about.
However, then down to 14:24 remaining, and “The Appendix,” government name Busted Brennan Othmann, was blown up by a real first-round pick – and as he was by Schaefer – and in a hit so hard that all Othmann could do was check his mouth for his teeth afterwards.
To his credit?
Then Othmann continued to play – so I give him that – and I’ll give him this too:
HOCKEY PLAYER!
With 12:00 remaining, the Isles were out-shooting the Rangers 5-0, and where Maloney brought up how the Isles have shutout these bums twice this season.
Three-minutes later and the Rangers were nary a SOG – WHAT A CULTURE!
After that, and Barzal, Schaefer and Drouin all had chances – but Martin was willing-and-able – and more importantly than that – successful too.
Come 8:27 remaining and Lafreniere slashed Barzal – and right in front of an official too.
Faust called the Islanders’ power-play as “a work in progress.”
The Islanders, and because of course, the Slump Bustin’ Blueshirts were on the other side of this equation, scored two man-up goals tonight.
Furthermore?
Then how would Faust describe the Rangers’ power-play, especially their most recent 0-3 5 x 3 power-play, these days?
The Isles’ power-play ended quickly here, as nine seconds into it, and Horvat went off for interfering with Mika.
This led to a funny moment:
Zibanejad’s stick got FLUNG over the glass, but the Isles fan who caught it wanted NO PART of it so he gave it back 😭 pic.twitter.com/hY51NVWrMl
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 29, 2026
The Isles’ fan who wanted no part of Mika’s wood (I don’t blame him), returned the stick to the Rangers’ trainers – and then got an Islander stick (not sure who) in return.
This was somewhat akin to throwing back an away team’s homerun ball.
Down to 7:20 remaining – and U.V. recording the Rangers’ first SOG.
PLAN THE PARADE!
Down to 6:58 remaining, and with an abbreviated Rangers’ power-play looming – and no such thing was to be had – as this is when Trocheck went off for slashing.
And with just three seconds left on the Rangers’ second penalty kill – and this is when the newest Isle, #81, Ondrej Palat, who has had success against the Rangers over the years, who broke the scoreless tie with his 1-0 PPG.
I was just surprised that it wasn’t Soucy.
Here’s the 1-0, them, goal:
PALAT IN HIS ISLES DEBUT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/RvKPIqRMJ9
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 29, 2026
Come 4:20 time – and Rittich still only had one save to his name.
After that, the DeAngelo-to-Holmstrom 2-0, them, goal:
Simon Holmstrom scores off a beautiful pass from Tony DeAngelo and the Islanders lead extends to 2-0.#Isles are flying early. pic.twitter.com/DYeJbLveW9
— Isles Rumor (@IslesRumor) January 29, 2026
As a result of this goal – and the Isles had now outscored the Rangers 9-0 in six-plus periods played.
Perreault registered the Rangers’ second SOG with 3:10 remaining, but Rittich, perhaps having #94 scouted, after the rookie had previously scored two goals in this fashion against Ottawa two weeks ago, was able to make the stop.
Down to 2:27 remaining – the Drouin penalty – and later – the Mika 2-1 goal:
It’s a power play goal for Mika Zibanejad! pic.twitter.com/BFbGEflZO9
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 29, 2026
The Blueshirts had a chance to tie the game, but with 55-seconds remaining and Othmann couldn’t handle a 2 x 1 pass from Raddysh.
Had he?
Then Othmann probably would’ve shot the puck wide or high anyway.
2-1, through twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-1, Isles, through twenty. 1P Thoughts:
— SOG are 14-5, them, U.V. logged the first #NYR SOG with 7:20 to go.
— Despite the Isles completely controlling this game in every facet – and the Rangers are still in this.
— Rangers’ PP 1-1, PK, 1-2
— Martin really carried the…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 29, 2026
SECOND PERIOD
Prior to puck drop and Giannone was advertising the Rangers’ 1920s Gala/Casino Night – and where get-in prices don’t reflect that era – and where Prohibition Laws aren’t in effect either.
But hey, then for $1,500 – and you can shake Vaakainanen’s hand!
Just don’t bring any peanut butter or jelly for your “Bread” sandwich.
It only took 45-seconds for Martin to come up with another big save – and as set-up by Schaefer.
To their credit, and the Blueshirts’ fourth line had a strong opening shift – and arguably – the best 5 x 5 attack that the Rangers had all game.
Down to 15:20 remaining, and Soucy, one of many to have played for both the Rangers and Islanders, laid out Othmann – and where for the second time in the tilt – and the failed first-round pick was flattened on his ass.
But again – and Othmann never missed a shift – so yeah, it applies;
HOCKEY PLAYERS!
Maloney and Faust, when looking for something positive to say, then brought up how Perreault was playing well for his age.
While that was true, such a statement was also a tad fugazi.
After all, then Schaefer is younger – and Perreault is no Schaefer.
Come 13:48 remaining and we had a mini line brawl.
Robertson had knocked down Casey Cizikas, who I think is the longest-tenured man on L.I. today, and while Double C. was falling down – and Rempe collided into him.
This was all clean – but Rempe, perhaps fearing another unwarranted penalty for being big, plead his case to the officials anyway.
These words would find deaf ears as this period progressed.
After that?
The 9:41 mark and the slew of Ranger penalties, which in turn, led to Barzal’s 3-1 PPG:
Barzal on the power play! #isles pic.twitter.com/c5G8a831mq
— Up The Turnpike (@UpTheTurnpike) January 29, 2026
Martin looked completely dejected after this – and just like any other goalie that’s played in front of this sorry sack of culture creeps.
I’ll probably forget about Spencer Martin’s name once this season is over – but in the moment – and I felt for him.
And as noted earlier – Martin would find himself dejected once more, following JGP’s 4-1, the Rangers suck ass, goal:
Pageau stays hot! #isles pic.twitter.com/d1C3rmPHKR
— Up The Turnpike (@UpTheTurnpike) January 29, 2026
With the blowout on, then all I could ask myself was this:
“Gavin McKenna or Tynan Lawrence?”
Down to 4:18 remaining and this is when Raddysh cashed in his lottery ticket:
Taylor Raddysh gets one back for the Rangers pic.twitter.com/E9osVEsN3h
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 29, 2026
4-2 – and where I wonder if Raddysh would be willing to accept a fourth line role in Tampa – so that way – he could chase a Cup with his brother Darren.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, and Heineman made sure to pop the pin in the Blueshirts’ balloon – and as he did with his 5-2 period-ending goal:
Heineman puts the team total at 5 and restores the 3 goal lead late in the second! #Isles https://t.co/f27NU5C0qm
— WRHU Sports (@WRHUSports) January 29, 2026
5-2, Isles, through 40.
Here’s what I said at the time:
5-2, Isles, through 40, I can’t believe there are still 20 minutes left of this. 2P Thoughts:
— Well, at least #NYR won’t be shutout by the Isles for the third time this season.
— Still being out-scored 12-2 in the series tho.
— I don’t think Panarin would’ve made a…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) January 29, 2026
THIRD PERIOD
Prior to this meaningless twenty-minutes commencing, then this is when Boyle put on his Rangers’ M$GN hat – and went right to work – and by giving us complete bullshit-and-propaganda.
Boyle went on-and-on when blaming the officials for the Rangers’ 5-2 deficit – and directly called out all of the zebras for all of the penalties assessed too.
I know that I was shitty high-school hockey player that barely got time as a third-pair D-man and that Boyle, with 871 NHL games played, is about 6786783768436783678436783678364 zillion times more qualified to have opinions about these games than yours truly too; but c’mon man – you’re blaming the refs for the Rangers’ 5-2 deficit?
All of Boyle’s ranting came off as “SORE LOSER” – and again – propaganda too.
The Carrick penalties were blatant.
And while the Rempe penalty could’ve went uncalled too – but the fact was that he did board the loser Islander.
And as previously noted?
The Rangers barely shot the puck, they looked like shit – and this too – the Isles were already long up on the scoreboard before any of these penalties took place to boot!
Again, I like Boyle, I think he’s great, and blah-blah-blah – but he was dead-wrong in my eyes here.
As he does on the podcast that he does with Ms. Giggles, and as he does on the NHL Network too – then he should’ve said what this was – the Blueshirts looked like shit – and the Islanders were kicking their ass too.
Hell, even me, a diehard Ranger fan (and who can question my fandom when I’m not only watching every game – but then give you 10K words about it afterwards?), and someone who hates the Islanders like cancer – can tell you what this was – and with no excuses or bullshit provided.
And we can skip the rest of this game – and where again – if you want my play-by-play from this scoreless third, then visit: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
I will note, that in total, the Islanders hit Martin’s iron three times, while Miller’s try at the 36-second mark of the first, was the only Rangers’ <DING>.
So yeah – the Islanders could’ve had a much bigger lead – and where the officials didn’t play a part in this decision either.
5-2, Isles, your final – and where they’ll go for their second series sweep of the Rangers since the rebuilding 2017-18 season on Thursday night – and perhaps by the time that you read these words too.
Up Next: Game Four between the Rangers and Islanders, the season finale, at M$G on Thursday (tomorrow) night.
Will Panarin be traded by then?
(And keep in mind, the Pizza Man GM is dealing from a disadvantage – as Panarin has complete control over where he goes. In short, better offers may come from elsewhere, but if NDArtie doesn’t want to go to that team, then no dice.)
My gut feeling about a trade on Thursday is no – as I think that Drury will take his time when trying to find the best trade available.
After all, then after the Rangers getting swept by the Isles, and there are only two more games remaining prior to the Olympic break – and with Panarin being omitted from the fugazi Olympics because of bullshit politics – then Drury won’t have to worry about his best asset getting hurt while in Italy either.
54 games down.
28 games remain – and where this season, and just like any N.Y. Jets’ season, can’t end soon enough.
One thing to watch out for?
When will Trocheck be bubble-wrapped?
The last thing to watch out for?
Wins for the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks – the only four teams that the Rangers are ahead of in the standings.
Tank baby tank.
And plug baby plug, which brings you to our last-and-final segment for the night (or the morning for you), 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
Granted that Panarin disappears in the playoffs, but in the regular season, who will replace his point production? We can’t score now! Sigh!