Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Another expected loss.
What, did you really believe in these 2025-26 Blueshirts to have any momentum at all following their 5-1 molly-whopping of the Florida Panthers at last Friday night’s Winter Classic?
Rather than using such a big victory to propel themselves out of the cellar, and instead – and the Rangers reverted right back to their same old meandering selves – and where this time – it hurt.
Literally.
I’ll have the clip and everything else about the play that led to CZAR IGOR’s exit during Monday night’s match at M$G in our GAME REVIEW segment; but for now, then all we know for certain is the obvious – CZAR is “day-to-day with a lower-body injury!”
All Blueshirts’ bench boss Mike Sullivan had to say, following the loss, about the injury was, “He’s an important part of this team. Hopefully, it’s not too serious. They’re [the doctors] going to do more tests.”
Elsewhere, then you also had both licensed medical professionals, and people who pretend to be doctors too, all on social media suspecting that CZAR IGOR had either tore his groin or his ACL and/or MCL.
Of course, then none of these people, the trained and untrained alike, talked or worked on CZAR IGOR either.
But as human beings, and especially those who follow sports as religiously as most of us do, then we know that non-contact injuries are usually the worst type of an affliction (outside of a concussion) that an athlete can endure.
Heck, just look at the New York Giants and all of their injuries sustained this season (Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo – and both of the non-contact variety).
On the play itself, then at the thirteen-minute mark of the first period – and it looked like J.J. Peterka had collided into CZAR IGOR – or at least that seemed to be the case in real-time.
Upon multiple replays – then at best – and it looked like Peterka had just grazed CZAR IGOR.
Rather than a full-on and head-on collision, and instead, and CZAR IGOR’s knee buckled under his own body weight when both trying to make a save and avoid contact.
Immediately after CZAR IGOR crumpled to the ice, and the recently turned thirty-year-old was screaming in agony – while also repeatedly slamming his blocker on the ice.
Such a reaction is one that we’ve seen an endless amount of times in sports.
Athletes know when something is wrong.
Granted, while we’ve see CZAR IGOR display some showmanship and theatrics when looking for calls in the past (then only to pop-up as if nothing had happened once the official has rendered his call) – but this wasn’t it.
Once the trainer hit the ice – then CZAR IGOR needed to be assisted off of it – and where it was clear as day – he couldn’t put any weight on his left leg.
As much as CZAR IGOR knew that something was wrong – and so did the fans.
In turn, M$G, not very lively these days to begin with, became Morgue $quare Garden.
Perhaps the Blueshirts will get a break, and whatever injury that CZAR IGOR sustained will be temporary, and where afterwards, he’ll be back in no time.
But if not?
Then, and despite how well Jonathan Quick has been playing this season, and where you could even argue that he’s the best back-up in all of the league today – and if this 2025-26 centennial campaign wasn’t already over for the Blueshirt pretenders – then you can kiss this season goodbye.
As James Dolan said on Monday, “everyone needs patience.”
It’s only been 32-years.
And we’ve (or at least some fans, like my buddy Stan Fischler), waited 54-years prior to this current championship drought.
Perhaps the Rangers can now also get rid of their silly motivational slogans such as “No Quit in New York,” “No B.S.” and “Believe” – and then replace these war-rallying calls with “PATIENCE!”
Heck, Slash and Axl Rose seem to appear all over the place these days – so why not can “The Who’s” “Baba O’Riley” and replace it with a little “Guns N’ Roses?”
And for the Blueshirts?
Then not even a “Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven’s Door” can save them now.
And it isn’t “Paradise City” in New York these days either.
After all, then have you seen the standings after the latest debacle in Rangerstown, USA?
If not, then take a peek – and make sure to check the Games Played statistic too:
Truth be told, and as said in this space following the Winter Classic win – and not only was I expecting the Rangers to lose to the struggling Utah Mormons on Monday night – but I was expecting them to be shutout too!
I was half-way right.
And heck, then if it weren’t for two power-play goals, then the Rangers would have been shutout – as once again – and no red lamps on home ice while at even-strength – aka – the usual!
The former Arizona Coyotes, currently on a lengthy road-trip, had played on Saturday night in a 4-1 loss to the Devils.
Conversely, and the Rangers had the weekend off.
Such facts, combined with the Blueshirts being at home – then in theory (and we know how that goes) – and you would’ve thought that Sully’s Squad would be the fresher team, and as a result, have some pop-and-grit to their game.
So much for that!
The majority of this match, if not all of it whenever at even-strength, was dominated by the Mammoth.
I don’t know if the Rangers were fatigued, slow, inept or just didn’t give a shit – but whatever the case – and Utah came to play.
And the Blueshirts did not.
In what felt like a touch of deja vu – and the Rangers had only challenged Utah goalie, Karel Vejmelka, three times come 3:00 remaining in the first period.
However, and mainly due to their goaltending, both CZAR IGOR (who finished the game as a flawless 9/9) and Jonathan Quick (3/3 in the first frame) – and the Blueshirts were able to escape into the first intermission with a tied score of nil-nil.
Quick, who if you recall back to 11/22 when these teams last met, and specifically, when he was barrelled over by Michael Carcone (and if you don’t remember, then check out this link: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/112225/ ) – and where as a result – JQ32 was forced to miss the next two-weeks of the season due to an injury.
We almost had a repeat episode of that at just the 2:00 mark of the second stanza – but where this time – Daniil But played the role of Carcone.
The Rangers, who did absolutely nothing after the CZAR IGOR injury (yeah, Peterka didn’t really run him over – but that was tough to determine in real-time – plus – it’s always easier to do something first, then apologize later), once again watched their goalie get the wrong side of it – and in a response – did nothing – again!
That is, until the future Hall of Fame goalie went after “The But Head” himself.
Once Quick retaliated, then the Rangers followed suit – but even then – and it was nothing but holding and tugging – and not full-blown right-hands and major league haymakers.
As Utah continued to challenge Quick and his crease – and there was no response at all.
No big hits, no gloves dropped, no four-letter words, and just like their even-strength scoring on this night – NOTHING!
Once again, and that’s a bad look on a day where your team owner was blaming the previous coach for both a lack of culture and losing attitude.
As the game progressed, then, and at the 7:33 mark, the Rangers received the first power-play of the contest, as Dylan Guenther tripped Adam Fox.
No less than a minute later (the 8:29 mark to be specific), and Alexis Lafreniere broke the ice with his 1-0, no-doubt-about-it, tap-in, power-play goal.
Guenther, who put his team on the penalty kill, soon made up for it some four-minutes later (12:38), as while on a breakaway, Quick stopped the first try, but the Ute then scored on the Mammoth-sized rebound afforded – and with nary a Ranger in-sight in order to grab the rebound themselves.
1-1 – and the first lead that the Rangers had blown.
The Blueshirts, who again, couldn’t do anything whenever at five-vs-five, got a big break at the 15:31 mark – as both Alexander Kerfoot and Brandon Tanev took penalties.
The end result?
A Rangers’ two-minute 5 x 3 power-play – and Vincent Trocheck’s 2-1, man-up goal too – as #16, from dead-center and two-feet out, deflected a shot sent his way by NDA Panarin past Vejmelka.
Following the goal and the Blueshirts had 55-seconds worth of a traditional 5 x 4 power-play attack – but saw their 100% power-play success rate drop to 66.7% (2/3).
But they did enter the third period with not only a 2-1 lead – but seemingly with the ice tilted in their favor too.
And as always – that would soon change come the final frame.
At the 6:15 mark of the do-or-die third period – and Michael Carcone, who injured Quick last time around, scored on a breakaway goal – and a score that not only tied the game at 2-2 – but on a play that only strengthened your questioning of Drury and his fandom of Finnish defenseman, Urho V.
And when Dave Maloney is going on-and-on about how much Vaakainanen blew his assignment, and for lazy play too – then you know it’s bad.
But hey, at least Matthew Robertson doesn’t have to worry about being made a healthy scratch on Thursday night (when the Rangers host the Sabres) by the head coach that was carried by Sidney Crosby!
Despite everything – the terrible even-strength game, goalies getting run over, getting out-played, etc – and come 3:14 left in regulation, and with this 2-2 score still in-tact too – and the Rangers got one last reprieve.
It was at this moment when Sean Durzi was boxed for hooking Mika Zibanejad.
The Rangers’ special teams, who would’ve been made out as heroes had they won tonight (2/3 on the power-play at the time, and 1/1 on the penalty kill too); failed in crunch time – and as the Blueshirts very often tend to do.
Conversely, and Vejmelka saved his best for last, as he came up with two big stops – and come two-minutes later – the 2-all score was preserved.
And that’s the way these two bottom-of-the-barrel squads finished come the end of regulation – which meant that five-minutes of 3×3 gimmick time were required – although Utah wouldn’t need all of it.
After Zibanejad won the opening faceoff of overtime, then Panarin made a boneheaded play, Utah recovered – and once the Mammoth entered the Rangers’ zone – and you knew it was time to hit the exits.
At just the 1:06 mark, Durzi, and like Guenther prior to him, made-up for taking a penalty earlier in the game – and then won it – and as he did after neatly beating JQ32 when being all alone – and as left solo by the likes of Zibanejad and Panarin.
3-2, Mormons, in overtime, your final.
There’s nothing positive about just a point gained in the standings – and not even if the Rangers were good this season.
Not only did the Blueshirts piss away another win, multiple goal leads, and everything else imaginable tonight too – but they also allowed their franchise goalie to take a brutal injury.
They also haven’t won a regulation game on home ice since Thanksgiving time to boot (11/24, a 3-2 win over the sucky St. Louis Blues).
Yeah, it was a non-contact injury as sustained by #31 on this here date of January 5th – but if the puck wasn’t in the Rangers’ end all game – and as it always is – then CZAR IGOR would’ve never been put in this position in the first place.
But don’t worry, Chris Drury’s job is safe.
WHEW!
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the most memorable win of the season at that – the 2026 Winter Classic:
The Rangers, following their big win outdoors on Friday night, had off on Saturday.
While the Blueshirts were idle; the majority of the league was not.
As a result, then all of the good vibes from Miami were somewhat dampened, as nearly every team that the Rangers are chasing in the standings won their games – and in some cases – won three-point games (overtime) too. (Check the STANDINGS segment above for more.)
Come Sunday, the team reconvened for practice, where following it, the bench boss, Mike Sullivan, said that both J.T. Miller and Noah Laba are skating on their own.
There were two noticeable changes at Sunday’s A.M. skate, as out were Brett Berard and Matthew Robertson, and in were Anton Blidh and Urho Vaakanainen.
When it comes to the 12th forward spot, then I didn’t think it was really a big deal.
But I was surprised to see the defenseman switch, as Robertson has been improving on a game-by-game basis.
However, then I suspect that due to Robertson’s penchant for penalties – and U.V. being a bit publicly miffed after being bypassed by the Finnish national team (“I don’t play enough”), that Sully decided to throw his non-Olympic Scandinavian blue-liner a bone.
Following the practice, Sully, on the state of his forwards, basically said he wanted as many players who can win faceoffs as possible (and especially with Miller and Laba out), hence the Berard for Blidh switch.
A day later, Monday morning, and only the expected healthy scratches for this game, Berard and Robertson, practiced.
So did Quick.
Here was Sully’s line-up for the forty-fourth game of this 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Mika/Cuylle
SECOND LINE: Perreault/Trocheck/Lafreniere
THIRD LINE: Brodzinski/Dowling/Raddysh
FOURTH LINE: Blidh/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Soucy/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Vaakainanen/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Brett Berard and Matthew Robertson
IR: J.T. Miller and Noah Laba
LTIR: Conor Sheary and Adam Edstrom
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
|
| 9 | 0 | 9 | 1.000 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13:00 | 0 |
| 17 | 3 | 14 | .824 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 47:51 | 2 |
|
UTAH
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 24 | 2 | 22 | .917 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61:06 | 0 |
On Monday afternoon at the 5PM hour, and team owner James Dolan appeared on a radio show that’s hosted by a convicted felon, the now three-time WFAN employee, Craig “Nobody Cares About Hockey, Boomer” Carton.
As you’d expect, then the Rangers didn’t really factor much during the interview – but they were briefly brought up.
Here’s the clip that’s making the rounds in Rangerstown, USA:
James Dolan tells @craigcartonlive that he still believes in Chris Drury to make the Rangers’ personnel decisions:
“He and Mike Sullivan are installing a new culture into that club. That does not happen overnight.” pic.twitter.com/21u5jw5EiQ
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 5, 2026
As you can see from the clip above, then Dolan continued to preach “patience,” while also saying that “culture doesn’t happen overnight.”
Again – and I think the word “culture” has lost all meaning whenever talking about sports today.
And if “culture” is the issue, then why is the guy who has fired three different head coaches under his watch during the past four-years, while retaining the biggest locker room issue from the past few seasons (Mika Zibanejad), Chris Drury, still allowed to call the shots?
Not only did Dolan shower heavy praise upon his piss-poor executive – but he also blamed Laviolette for last season’s malaise too!
What, Drury had nothing to do with that?
Obviously, and this did shock me too, what bothered me the most was the word “patience.”
Dolan isn’t a spring chicken anymore.
He’s now seventy-years-old, and now, and in over sixty combined seasons between the Knicks and the Rangers – and he’s never won a championship.
For a guy who is uber-competitive, then why is he accepting this?
I guess the reason lies in Las Vegas – the home of his multiple-billion-dollar generating Sphere.
I’ve always pegged Dolan as a guy that doesn’t want to go to the grave as not only a loser – but as one of the biggest losers in all of sports.
Again, 60+ years of ownership – and nothing to show for it.
Even the Golden Knights have a ring. Ditto the Toronto Raptors!
Carton, who never pressed Dolan about all of the losing, didn’t bring up Panarin’s confirmed NDA and alleged sexual assault either.
Apparently, that culture is fine – and just as it was when Isiah Thomas ran the Knicks.
Tonight was the Rangers’ annual “Hockey Fights Cancer” night.
In short, then most of the pregame show surrounded stories about Ranger fans and employees that are battling or who have successfully won their battles against cancer.
We all know people who have had cancer – and perhaps some of you reading these words have or had it too.
I wish everyone well.
If there was any major takeaway from the pregame show, then while we already knew that both John Giannone and Dave Maloney have had cancer and beat it; then it was also revealed that both Taylor Raddysh’s dad and Matt Rempe’s mom have it too.
Again, best wishes to them and may they reach the other side of this unscathed – and stronger too.
Ditto my uncle – who is currently fighting cancer via chemotherapy as I write these words to you.
With that all said, it’s now time for tonight’s GAME REVIEW – and I’ll try to limit the pain too.
In other words, then if you want my complete play-by-play, then check out my Tweeter/X feed here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
Let’s roll.
FIRST PERIOD
As CZAR IGOR and Karel Vejmelka took their place in nets, then it was nice to see both Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney on the call – and where I believe Albert is now with the Rangers for the long-run – as his NFL commitments are now soon complete.
For whatever reason, and some Ranger fans thought it was fun to heckle a cancer survivor during the National Anthem.
I know it’s tradition to belt out “LET’S GO RANGERS” multiple times throughout the Anthem – but it’s just not for me.
To open the game, Panarin missed and hit the backboard, Mika was a foot shy of a rebound, then, and now in the other end, and CZAR IGOR stopped Peterka – and as he did at just the 47-second mark.
A minute or so later and Rempe, who still isn’t 100%, gave Kevin Stenlund the first of his team-high seven hits – but when Utah wanted to drop gloves with Rempe – and #73 declined, as once again, he made mention of his still-recovering broken thumb.
These days, and only Sam Carrick is willing to go toe-to-toe with anyone.
As Maloney told us that J.T. Miller may return as soon as Thursday night (vs. Buffalo), then it wasn’t until the 7:15 mark when the Rangers recorded their first SOG.
Utah had five at the time.
Come 9:30 remaining and the Rangers had three shots on goal, while CZAR IGOR made his sixth save of the match, this time on Guenther.
A minute later and Rempe laid-out John Marino, but Utah recovered the puck – and CZAR IGOR made another save as a result.
At the time, and it just felt like Utah would pop one in – but it never came to be.
Then, and with 7:00 remaining – the Igor injury:
#NYR Igor Shesterkin takes minimal contact from #TusksUp JJ Peters’s and hits the deck
Im assuming it’s the knee that gets caught under him. pic.twitter.com/aaXattXx8t
— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) January 6, 2026
Igor Shesterkin is helped to the locker room with 7:00 remaining in the first period. pic.twitter.com/fAR332PYCb
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 6, 2026
As far as anything else that I haven’t said about this CZAR IGOR injury, then, and if you want the Rangers to tank – then should this injury be long-term – and that will help you reach your goal.
While I’ve been rooting for a #1 pick in 2026 all-season (as I don’t see this team as a playoff contender); but of course, and this isn’t the way that I want to see it happen either – as who knows – this injury could have long-term and lingering effects.
When CZAR IGOR left the ice, then you could actually feel the wind leave the sails inside of M$G.
But, and as noted earlier, then the fact that no Ranger responded after this perceived Peterka offense spoke loud volumes too.
As Vejmelka made his best save of the game with 2:45 to go, a glove on a Cuylle shot from point-blank range; then, and for whatever reason, former Ranger, and a former Maloney teammate too, Mike McEwen was brought up.
Maloney congratulated McEwen for his two Stanley Cup wins – you know – as won with the Islanders.
Ugh.
And gross too.
Quick’s first save once coming into this game ice cold?
A breakaway save on the man who seemingly ruined CZAR IGOR’s night – Peterka.
Vejmelka then matched the save with under ten-seconds to go, as he denied a Gavrikov all-alone backhander.
Scoreless through 20.
Here were my first period thoughts at the time:
— The only thing that matters is Igor’s injury. Upon replay, there may have not even been real contact and as all fans know – non-contact injuries are the worst.
— #NYR with another low-energy, “high-culture” (as Jim Dolan would say) game.
— No Special Teams work from either side.
At just the 1:20 mark, Quick made his second tough save of the game, as he denied Guenther. Right after that, and Vejmelka denied Schneider on a tough shot too.
After that?
The “But Head” play – and Quick becoming the “Rangers’ First Responder” too:
#TusksUp But and #NYR Quick both assessed minor penalties.
4 on 4. pic.twitter.com/eGRtAWet3k
— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) January 6, 2026
It was nice to see the Brodzinski line and third pair react after this – but of course – they only did so when Quick found himself surrounded by five Mormons – and not in a Rodney Dangerfield “My Five Wives” type of a way!
I thought that Maloney was also going to run down to the ice at this time – as he was furious with Quick getting a penalty for reacting to a penalty that wasn’t initially called- But Head’s goaltender’s interference infraction.
Just thirty-seconds into the now foreplay portion of the game – and indoors Mika was back – as Vejmelka denied his breakaway with a pad save.
After a Gavrikov-to-Lafreniere attempt was picked off, the foreplay concluded and the five-play resumed.
As it just felt that we needed a Carrick fight in order to wake these guys up; then, and with 14:00 to go, Vejmelka denied the fourth backhander sent his way, and this time from #50, Big Willy Cuylle.
After that, the Guenther penalty and the Lafreniere goal:
Alexis Lafreniere scores a PPG, his ninth of the season to open the game
The #NYR zipped the puck around on this play. pic.twitter.com/24QhgbsL4S
— Matthew P. Mugno (@mugnoma) January 6, 2026
1-0, home team.
Approaching the half-way mark of the game/period and Vejmelka, from his belly, absolutely robbed third line center, J. Dowling – and had the Hartford alum scored- then it would’ve been two quick Ranger goals – and a rare even-strength score too.
But alas, and you know the rest.
Down to 7:22 remaining – Guenther’s two chances – and the first Utah goal of the game to boot:
Dylan F. Guenther 🦣
pic.twitter.com/SWj0jmAMq8— Sean Walker (@ActuallyDSW) January 6, 2026
1-1.
Utah, who despite two good looks at Quick, hadn’t challenged him that much prior to this goal, then started to rev up a bit.
Guenther, perhaps feeling that it was a good idea to challenge a back-up in net, then shot three pucks in succession, during two separate shifts following his goal – but never hit the net on this here trio of attempts.
Thankfully, all of these tries were no good, which then allowed the Rangers to go on their 5 x 3 power-play with a tied 1-1 score.
After a Panarin bomb and quick shot were denied, then Lafreniere shot a puck out of play.
Once winning the faceoff that ensued – then this is when Trocheck was rewarded for screening the goalie – and via his 2-1 goal:
Vincent Trocheck scores on the redirect! pic.twitter.com/Qs2trPL8W7
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 6, 2026
Now up by a goal – and Trocheck almost made it 3-1 – but on his potential second power-play goal scored within just 20-seconds – and Vejmelka made his best save yet – as he absolutely robbed #16 from point-blank range.
The Rangers’ power-play was now 2/3 – but they did the get the goal they had to get – the 2:00 5 x 3 power-play goal.
After all, then I always say that you deserve to lose if you can’t score during this particular-and-fortunate situation.
While I can’t say that the Rangers deserved to win either (for failing to protect their goalies); but at least they were up 2-1 as the second intermission commenced.
Here were my thoughts from the time:
— SOG, 22-21, in favor of NYR
— Guenther got his, but really, then after the Quick/But-head incident – and it was all Rangers
— PP 2/3 – and they scored the goal they needed – the 5 x 3 PPG.
— FAT CATS have shined these last five periods.
THIRD PERIOD
As the Rangers opened the period just twenty-minutes away from a rare two-game winning streak – and Quick had to stop Clayton Keller on a Utah 3 x 2 odd-man rush.
Seemingly determined to give the game away; then, and just 1:52 in, and Vaakanainen was boxed for hooking Carcone.
This Rangers’ PK, and as it was against Florida, was lights-out – as not only did they successfully kill off these two-minutes – but they didn’t allow a SOG either.
But, and as you already know – and you need to show up at 5 x 5 too.
Quick, who fought valiantly, then denied Tanev on breakaway with a left skate save at just the 4:18 mark.
The Rangers, hellbent on blowing their second lead of the game, did such a thing at the 6:15 mark, as after Quick denied Carcone on his first breakaway, the new Ranger Killer then scored on his second opportunity – and on a play that should have U.V. punted to Hartford tomorrow:
🗣️ Michael Carcone!
2-2 in New York City. pic.twitter.com/20WWvlAxf2
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 6, 2026
As I said after the Trouba trade last year, in the summer, at the start of the season, during the campaign and even as most recently during my annual Mid-Season Report Card – then why is U.V. still here?
What function does he serve?
What does he do well?
What is his strength?
How does he better the Blueshirts?
And this – 2-2.
Guenther, who was previously laid out by Gavrikov during Utah’s one-and-done power-play (a clean hit behind Quick), never returned to the game.
No matter, as once we hit ten-minutes remaining – and the Rangers were still looking for their first SOG of the period.
The Blueshirts, who finished this period with only three shots on goal, recorded two of them during the Durzi penalty.
But as you know – and the Rangers’ power-play finished 2/4 – and not 3/4 – and as was needed.
Durzi almost won the game in regulation, but come 50-seconds remaining – and Quick poke-checked the Ute in order to prevent a one-on-one opportunity.
2-2 after sixty-minutes.
Overtime pay was required.
Here’s what I said at the time:
— I thought they’d get that PPG.
— Quick has been stellar in relief.
— Watch out for Keller.
OVERTIME
Blah.
Here’s your walk-off winner:
SEAN DURZI ENDS IT IN OT FOR UTAH 🦣🚨 pic.twitter.com/CVdIQ0eoBs
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 6, 2026
3-2, Mormons.
3-2, Mammoth, your final.
3-2, Utah, the Rangers are effed.
Up Next For The Rangers: Worrying about CZAR IGOR’s future.
I’m not sure if the Blueshirts are taking off on Tuesday or Wednesday, but if it’s the former, then we won’t know much about CZAR IGOR’s injury until then – which would also mean 24-hours of non-stop worry.
After that, a home game on Thursday against the Sabres – who over the weekend – just had their ten-game winning streak snapped.
Yes, a TEN-GAME winning streak!
I’d mess my pants if the Rangers could ever string three in a row!
Up Next For This Site: I’ll return once we get CZAR IGOR injury news – but only if it’s the worst-case scenario – as that’s when we’ll really have to look at buy-or-sell – and where previous to this – then I was already in the camp of the latter.
Up Next For Me: Bed! I got an overtime shift at work tomorrow – and sadly – I also have to attend the funeral of my friend’s mother. (She was 91-years-old – she had a great life – and while it’s obviously sad – at least she went out loved.)
Up Next For You: Your favorite segment, which of course, 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
Drury will ignore the point percentage (and games in hand), they’re ‘only’ 3 points out from a wildcard spot, so he’ll treat the team as if it’s a true contender until it’s too late to adjust.
My guess? It will take another 15-20 games or so for Drury to really call it done, if he does at all, regardless of what happens with Igor.
He’s got the full support of Dolan as he actively drives the team into the ground, why wouldn’t he keep trying to push harder and harder to get in?
Woe betide they somehow manage to actually get into the play-offs (with a suitably quick exit). Drury will splash as much cash as he can spare on another aging vet to “compete”, while also giving Panarin his demanded (undeserved) pay day. Embrace the tank!