Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Well that was, one more time, “wild!”
And who do you want to see the Rangers draft with the 14th-overall pick come June?
Off puck drop tonight, then I’m way belated when writing about Saturday night’s 4-2 victory in Minny.
As mentioned in this space on Thursday night, then I had to work a disgusting double-shift at the real j-o-b on Saturday – and by the time that I got home at 1AM Sunday morning – then I was too shot to write.
(And I may have went out for a few pops and belts after my work shift too!)
That said, than rather to rest & relax on the day of the Sabbath and instead, I just wanted to write a few words about one of the best wins of this failed centennial campaign – as that’s exactly what the 4-2 win in the Land of 10,000 Lakes truly was.
And really, how could I skip a GAME REVIEW and recap of the match after talking about this litmus test game throughout all of last week?
However, then this will be a short one (at least for me – and that’s not easy to say either!), as this blog will be dated by the time you read it.
It’s just my belief that if I’m always there to kick them when they are down, then I should also be consistent and be there to praise them when they’re doing well.
They were more than well on Saturday.
They were excellent – and if you can throw away the word “tank” from your mind – then they also aced their first true litmus test since returning from the Olympic break.
(And yes, great goaltending can also change your mood and tone too!)
Of course, then we’re all wondering where this team was all-year and where the NDA Panarin doubters (or are they “truthers?”) have found the highest buildings in Rangertown, USA when screaming, “THE BREADMAN HELD THEM DOWN!”
These fans will get a chance to say whatever they want to Panarin come Monday, as on Stone Cold Steve Austin Day, March 16th (3:16), and the Blueshirts will host the L.A. Kings – and funny enough – then ever since the trade – and it’s the Rangers trending upwards and the silver-and-black attack descending.
Let’s now get into Saturday’s game.
While some fans, podcasters, reporters, whoever, may all point out that CZAR IGOR carried the Rangers to victory in Minny on Saturday – then I’m not one of these people.
Obviously, CZAR IGOR went way above duty in the victory; but long before his number was called – and as it was 42 times in a forty-minute stretch – then the Rangers already had a 2-0 lead once the first period concluded.
They then had a 4-1 lead too.
What really impressed me about this game the most was the competition on the other end.
If you didn’t know any better, then you would’ve thought that the Rangers were challenging for a playoff berth and how the Wild had sent out a letter stating their intention to retool.
For the fourth consecutive game, hence this current season-high four-game winning streak, and once again and the Rangers gave a complete sixty-minute effort.
There were no slackers.
There wasn’t any laziness.
Everyone broke their holes out there – and that includes the FAT CATS, THE BABY BUCKS, old faces, new faces, forwards, defensemen and of course, the goaltender too.
The Rangers’ special teams, which absolutely fell part just one week ago in New Jersey (0/4 on the power-play, 0/3 on the penalty kill, 0/7 in total), were called upon frequently-and-often on Saturday night.
By the end of the game, the Rangers’ power-play went 1/3 – while their taxed penalty kill went a whopping 6/7.
In total, Sully’s special teams finished with a 70% success rate – and where the Blueshirts were only at even-strength for about two-thirds of the game too.
And they did this all against a true Stanley Cup threat – which again – was my biggest takeaway.
It would’ve been very easy to fold when Minnesota began to pour it on during the two latter periods.
The Blueshirts never buckled.
Sure, the Wild sent a total of 48 shots CZAR IGOR’s way – but it wasn’t because the Rangers were giving up or anything like that.
Instead, and we all know it – Minnesota just has a better roster right now.
And as opposed to most games played this year?
Then not only are the Rangers creating goals by FINALLY going to the net and creating traffic (hence looking for tips, deflections and screens) – but they are getting a ton of “puck luck,” fortunate bounces, to boot.
Once again on Saturday, and for the fourth time since returning from the Olympic break, and the Rangers received a power-play very early.
At the 54-second mark, we had some gold medal winner on gold medal winner violence, as Brock Faber tripped J.T. Miller.
Miller, now back on the team’s first power-play unit (more on this below – as a large portion of the fan base was irate about this development – and because this all meant that Gabe Perreault was now back to the team’s second man-up quintet), didn’t do anything in his first game back while on the man-advantage.
Perreault, and whether you want to call his return to PP2 a “demotion” or not, certainly did something.
At just the 2:41 mark of the game and Perreault found Noah Laba for the 1-0 PPG.
Again, while things got crazy during the final forty-minutes; but as a result of this quick score – and the Rangers would soon go on to wire-to-wire the Wild.
In a first period that the Blueshirts absolutely dominated, so much so that the SOG total was 9-3 with only thirty-seconds remaining (Minny then had a mini-flurry right before the horn in order to boost their number), and it was another hard-working, get-to-the-net, that produced the Rangers’ second goal of the match with a clean five-minutes remaining.
An Adam Fox shot attempt found its way to the emerging Tye Kartye and as the newest Blueshirt was about to shoot, then Fox’s partner, Vladislav Gavrikov, backhanded the puck past Filip Gustavsson for the 2-0 score.
From at least an offensive perspective (and their defense wasn’t shabby either), then this win over the Wild was the best work that we’ve seen out of the Rangers’ top-pair of defense since the break – if not all season (and especially when you consider the competition).
Fox finished tied with a game-high two assists – and with only Gavrikov matching this number (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points).
The only blemish to speak about from the first period was when Kartye was nailed for cross-checking Ryan Hartman at the end of the frame, which in turn, allowed Minnesota to open the second stanza on a two-minute power-play.
The next forty-minutes of action?
Absolutely bonkers.
Put it this way:
The Rangers out-shot the Wild 9-6 in the first period.
The Blueshirts were then out-shot 21-8 in the second and then 21-1 (yes, ONE/1, that’s not a typo), in the third-and-final frame.
In total, the home team out-shot their opponent to a tune of 48-18!
But when it comes to wins and losses, then the only stat that matters are goals scored – and the Rangers would soon score a quick pair – and within 22-seconds too.
Just thirty-five seconds into the second period and Matt Boldy beat CZAR IGOR, via the power-play, to bring Minnesota within one, 2-1.
The Blueshirts didn’t allow any of Minny’s new-found momentum to bother them.
After fighting off a few flurries, the Rangers then pulled off a 1-2 punch themselves.
At the 8:41 mark, Jaroslav Chmelar, who may have earned himself a roster spot for the remainder of the season, scored his second goal of the campaign – and in a similar fashion to his first goal – via a backhander while on a breakaway.
3-1.
Twenty-two seconds later, the 9:03 mark and there was another mad dash at Gustavsson’s net.
On a goal that was so confusing that it took about 7986798679867986 replays to figure out who scored (clip included in the GAME REVIEW segment) and Vincent Trocheck, who we all know was pegged to be wearing green on this pre St. Patrick’s Day date, was credited for the Rangers’ 4-1 score.
I wonder how Bill Guerin felt about that.
And I wonder how the Wild GM felt about Adam Fox out-performing Quinn Hughes too – but then again – the Olympic snub of Fox didn’t do Team USA any harm either.
I don’t know if “turning point” is the right phrase, so we’ll use “the ice tilted” here instead; but down to 1:55 remaining in the period – and with the score remaining at 4-1 – and this is when CZAR IGOR stood on his head.
It was at this point in the match where Gavrikov received a four-minute double-minor high-sticking call – as he knocked out one of Hartman’s teeth.
And how tough is Hartman?
He didn’t care about his missing flipper – as instead – and all that he was worried about was drawing a double-minor – and following a conversation with the officials – he got his wish.
HOCKEY PLAYERS.
TOUGH AS NAILS.
The third period was just bonkers – and also extremely maddening for Minny fans too.
Following the Rangers killing off both Gavrikov penalties, at the end of the second and start of the third, then Minnesota continued to apply pressure better than any tourniquet on the market.
The problem for the Wild was that CZAR IGOR was the three C’s – “cool, calm and collected.”
A Danila Yurov goal, scored at the 7:19 mark of the do-or-die final frame, pushed the score to 4-2.
And for a Wild team that’s looking to contend for a Cup and get home-ice advantage in the playoffs too – then pissing away two-points to the Rangers was not an option.
But the Blueshirts wouldn’t oblige.
After Yurov’s goal, this game got freakin’ nasty.
Check the PENALTIES segment below for all of it, but once at 4-2 and we then had nine different penalties assessed – and a whole bunch of scrums too.
I always call them out when I despise what they do, so I must shower praise when I enjoy what they do.
CZAR IGOR got ran over twice.
On both occasions, then every Ranger immediately jumped-in while defending the honor of their goalie.
And when CZAR IGOR was tripped by Joel Eriksson Ek?
Then Ballerina Boy, Mika Zibanejad, who just did pirouettes during a similar situation last year against the Devils, was the first one to go after Ek.
It’s obviously way too little and way too late for #93, but at least he finally got to this point – and as he did by physically defending his teammates.
As we approached the FOXWOODS FINAL FIVE MARK and beyond – and Minny was all over the net like a fly on shit – but where CZAR IGOR wasn’t taking any of their shit either.
As he replicated his second period performance – twenty saves in twenty-minutes – and the Rangers got out of Tampon Tim Land with a 4-2 victory – and their fourth win in a row.
While this was a team-wide, full sixty-minute effort, win in every which way possible; but this also had to feel nice for Captain Culture too.
After all, and again, we know what the circumstances are, then the Rangers, without Miller in the line-up, were playing their best hockey of the season.
Had the Blueshirts lost on Saturday, then he would’ve been the only variable in the mix – and I’m sure that he would’ve been blamed too – and even more so after the Perreault-to-Laba power-play goal.
Rather than such negativity, and instead – the Rangers flew home happy as Larry on Saturday night.
But they will also be playing golf in one month’s time too.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off, the Rangers’ doubling-up the Jets, 6-3, and as they did last Thursday night:
NYR/WPG 3/12 Review: Post Olympic Rangers Take Out Another Gold Medal Winner; CZAR IGOR Bests Hellebuyck, The Lafreniere vs. Fox Snubs, Baby Buck Blueshirts Shine Again Without Captain Culture; Perreault Scores Game-Winner, NDA Panarin Refuses To Talk About The Sexual Assault Allegations Made Against Him; Another Cream Puff Interview Conducted, Tanking v. Winning, Drury Gets His Little “Lamb,” M$GN, Garden of Dream Fundraiser Hits Record Lows, The Minnesota Subplots & More
The Rangers, who after their win in Winnipeg on Thursday night were now in Minnesota on Friday, enraged a large portion of their fan base when the head coach decided to bump Gabe Perreault from the team’s first power-play unit.
Replacing Perreault from the top quintet was the returning “Captain Culture,” J.T. Miller.
Obviously, Gabe is the future – and has been playing well too.
These are two things that you wouldn’t really associate with the gold medal winner this season.
Following the practice, Sullivan tried to fan the flames a bit – but the fans didn’t want to hear it.
“Well, our power play has had a fair amount of success throughout the last few months and we know we have options on it,” said the bench boss about the change. “JT has been a big part of the success that this power play has enjoyed. I mean, it’s top 10 in the league. The options that we have, I think, are obvious, but when you start talking about left shot, right shots, putting players in positions where we can set them up for success. We have certain combinations that we think help us. Gabe has got some looks there. Nothing’s etched in stone. But we know what our options are.”
As far as this being a demotion for Perreault, Sullivan said that it wasn’t and added, “I don’t think he would look at it as a demotion. Gabe is playing extremely well right now, so we’ll continue to work with him to try to continue to help him grow and develop his game. We’ll put him in situations where we think it sets him up for success.”
It was just “SO RANGERS” for Sullivan to make a change like this with the team actually – and rarely – playing well – and as they have done since the Olympic break (5-1-2, season-high three-game winning streak, entering Saturday night in Minny).
A day later, GAME DAY, and only the extras, Brodzinski, Parssinen, Iorio and Quick, showed up for the optional skate.
Such news confirmed that both Miller and Raddysh would be returning to the line-up.
Here was Silly Sully’s line-up for the sixty-sixth game of this wretched-and-rotten 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Perreault/Mika/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cullye/Trocheck/Miller
THIRD LINE: Kartye/Laba/Sheary
FOURTH LINE: Raddysh/Edstrom/Chmelar
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Robertson/Schneider
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Borgen
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACKUP GOALIE: Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Brodzinski, Parssinen and Iorio
IR: Matt Rempe
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
|
| 48 | 2 | 46 | .958 | 32 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
|
MIN
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 18 | 4 | 14 | .778 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 57:19 | 0 |
As noted, then I had to work a crazy shift at the real gig on Saturday – but I was able to take breaks for most of the game – but I also had to watch it from a small screen – my phone.
For my in-and-out play-by-play of the match, then check out my Tweeter/X feed here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
GAME REVIEW time, and again, just the abridged version.
FIRST PERIOD
The Rangers came into this game 5-2-1 since the break and would soon improve to 6-2-1 – and where it also looked like that they were going to blow someone out again too.
Following the Faber penalty, Maloney told us that the Wild had killed off twenty consecutive power-plays on home ice, while also being flawless during their past dozen tries.
Similar to the puck bounces that the Rangers didn’t get earlier this year, but are getting now – and the Blueshirts are getting the benefit of the ALMIGHTY ANNOUNCER JINX too!
Here’s the Perreault-to-Laba hook-up:
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 14, 2026
1-0, Rangers.
After the quick goal scored, then two players immediately made their presences felt.
Will Cuylle (game-high 3 hits – but where I counted at least 5) and former Blueshirt, Mats Zuccarello.
Whenever Cuylle blasted someone, and as he did early when he hit Kirill Kaprizov, then there was MIGHTY MATS to defend his superstar linemate.
Zuccarello, part of one of the worst trades in franchise history, and an embodiment of “Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger” too, was like Brad Marchand at the height of his RAT powers in this game.
He was nasty. He was getting into people’s faces. He was an agitator. He crashed CZAR IGOR all-game.
And while Zucc made plays – he didn’t finish them – as instead – CZAR IGOR was devouring every puck sent his way.
Come 10:15 remaining, and the Rangers out-shooting the Wild 6-1 at the time, then Big Billy Borgen got boxed for tripping.
Two-seconds into the Wild power-play and CZAR IGOR made his first of a dozen short-handed saves – and as he did on Boldy.
That was the only Minny SOG during these two-minutes.
As Kartye continued to be aggressive and explosive in both ends; then during a TV timeout and Minnesota showcased their own version of “Dancin’ Larry” – and right down to the same song.
I never knew there was a fake Larry in Minny.
Then again, Minnesota sure does love their (Somalian) pirating!
Speaking of Kartye, then it was with 5:00 remaining when he increased his career-high point streak to five consecutive games.
At the time, then it looked like he scored the Rangers’ 2-0 goal, but upon replay, and it was revealed that it was Gavrikov who beat the Swedish netminder.
But, and like other goals scored recently – then this just tells you that everyone is going to the net – and that’s a GREAT thing!
Here’s the backhander:
pic.twitter.com/QHLjyWITPx #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 14, 2026
2-0, Rangers.
It was during the final thirty-seconds when Minnesota boosted their SOG totals – and where CZAR IGOR hexed two Ranger curses too – a late goal allowed – and a goal allowed to a member of the alumni.
CZAR IGOR denied Vladimir Tarasenko, seemingly with now 12 different jerseys in his closet, on a pair of tries.
2-0, Blueshirts, through twenty.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-0, #NYR, through 20. 1P Thoughts:
— That was a one-sided ass kicking – SOG were 9-3 until the last 30 seconds – now 9-7.
— Rangers special teams flawless – 1/1 on the PP, ditto on the PK
— The Baby Buck Blueshirts are dominating – I didn’t expect that. Same for Kartye -…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 14, 2026
SECOND PERIOD
With Kartye in the box, then this is when Boldy scored his 2-1 goal:
Matt Boldy, are you KIDDING me?!
What an insane individual play for his 38th goal of the season. Boldy re-ties Kirill Kaprizov for T2 in the NHL in goals, trailing only Nathan MacKinnon’s 44. #mnwild
— Jack Jablonski (@Jabs_13) March 14, 2026
After looking as flat as a plate of warm piss in the first period, then this is when Minnesota started bringing some pop to the game.
But the Rangers also had some scoring chances within the first seven-minutes too, including a pair of down-low attempts, Raddysh-to-Edstrom and Lafreniere-to-Mika.
As Minnesota was sniffing around for the equalizer, then this is when the Blueshirts popped in two goals within 22-seconds.
Here’s Chmelar (who everyone should be able to pronounce his name by now) putting the Rangers ahead 3-1:
pic.twitter.com/uRGyi4UXwx What a goal #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 14, 2026
And here’s Trocheck’s 4-1 goal:
pic.twitter.com/W6bYi9QSmm #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 14, 2026
One last time – WILD!
Seriously, did anyone expect this score at the time?
I know that Minnesota didn’t – and I don’t think that New York did either!
As it usually goes with the “dreaded three-goal lead” – and Minnesota wasn’t throwing in the towel.
With 7:36 remaining, CZAR IGOR told Zuccarello (game-high six SOG), “NYET NYET” after a pair of saves.
Just to illustrate how heavy CZAR IGOR’s workload became in crunch time, then both teams had sixteen SOG a piece with 6:00 to go – which also means that #31 saw 32 SOG during the final 26-minutes of game time.
It was also at this time where I thought that in a game full of name-brand players and Olympians – and it was Kartye and Laba that stood out the most to me.
Following Kenny & Dave giving us a “THIS IS YOUR LIFE: TYE KARTYE” tribute (but unlike the ones that Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti used to do – and this was informative); then we got down to 1:55 remaining and where the Gavrikov double-minor, and a perfect 2/2 PK afterwards, ensued.
4-1, Rangers, through 40-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
4-1, #NYR, through 40 minutes. Wild start the 3P with 2:05 of PP time. Thoughts:
— I didn’t see this coming at all.
— 20 min away from passing their first true litmus test post-Olympics.
— So far, another full sixty-minute effort in the making.
— The future has shown…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 14, 2026
THIRD PERIOD
Kartye, after the Wild spent the first 1:40 of their power-play in the Rangers’ zone, was able to get a big clear, thus ending the successful penalty kill.
Someone that we don’t talk about often here is U.V. – and obviously – because he’s been scratched more than any other Ranger this season – and where I don’t see him here next year either.
But for this one night – and I noticed him – and I noticed him a lot.
He was trying to get pucks on net (often blocked, but at least he was shooting), he was blocking shots, clearing pucks and was doing everything right.
I mean, and no joke here either – and he was more noticeable in this one game than Quinn Hughes, the second-best d-man in the land today (Cale Makar takes top honors), ever was.
With 12:41 remaining, Yurov scored a one-timer that CZAR IGOR never had a chance on:
Danila Yurov’s 10th of the season pic.twitter.com/H9vXeZ0Uxw
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) March 15, 2026
4-2.
And your final score too.
The last ten-minutes were all gas, no brakes – that is – except for the breaks for the never-ending penalty calls.
Again, check the PENALTY segment for everything as I do have to wrap-up – but yeah – both teams were extremely physical – and while the Wild just continued to unload – but CZAR IGOR wasn’t going to be denied of this win – nor blow a three-goal lead either.
4-2, Rangers, your final from Minny – and where the Blueshirts, at least temporarily, have shed the “Bad & Boring” label that usually precedes them too!
Up Next: A 2014 Stanley Cup rematch, Biggie Smalls v. TuPac, East Coast vs West Coast, the two biggest markets in America today, New York vs. Los Angeles.
And I’d expect Jonathan Quick to get the start too.
I also hope that Panarin gets booed – but he won’t.
I understand that he’s the greatest free agent signing in franchise history, and even if you can forget his NDA stuff too – then let’s also not forget that he wasn’t willing to take a discount in order to stay (and as he could have done several times over last summer and then into camp).
And if anyone on the birdbrain Blueshirts’ beat has balls, then they’ll ask him before the game, “What’s it like knowing that the Rangers have enjoyed their best winning streak of the season without you, while the Kings are struggling ever since your arrival?”
Up Next For Me: Bed – I got another long overtime shift on Monday – but I should hopefully be back with a GAME REVIEW after NY/LA.
Up Next For You: Your favorite 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
