Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Same Old Rangers, SAME OLD RANGERS!
And boy, oh boy – is there any other team in the league that invents new ways to lose other than these Big Apple assholes these days?
The Blueshirts, still without a regulation win on home ice since November 24th (that’s prior to Thanksgiving for those of you who are still pooping out your corn, cranberries, stuffing and turkey), continued their epic inability to win a game within sixty-minutes at Morgue $quare Garden on Monday night.
In tonight’s latest bout of Rangers’ Misery, then Silly Sully’s Squad went down 4-0 after a first forty-minutes of uninspiring hockey.
Adam Fantilli, on a Columbus 3 x 2 odd-man rush, scored the game’s first goal at the 5:50 mark of the first period.
As it usually goes – then the Blueshirts had the upper-hand at the time – but they could never put the puck behind one of the worst goalies in the league today, Elvis Merzlikins.
(And I’m not even looking this up – but it has to be true: The Rangers have to lead the league in fewest first period SOG totals!)
Following the goal, and where the Rangers, despite the 1-0 score at the time, were out-shooting their opponents 3-2 – and the Blueshirts didn’t register shot number four until thirteen minutes of game clock had expired – which was good for a grand total of four first period SOG in all.
In-between that time and the gold medal Olympic winning head coach, Drury’s Masshole nepo hire, took an undisciplined bench minor penalty – and as Mike Sullivan did at the 14:34 mark.
No less than a minute later, at the 15:32 mark to be specific, and Kirill Marchenko, who had the primary assist on Fantilli’s goal, pushed the Columbus lead to 2-0 after his power-play goal scored.
Come the end of the first period, and with this 2-0 score still in-tact – and the “throngs” of Blueshirt backers at M$G serenaded the team with a chorus of boos.
Speaking of the crowd, then following the game and M$G claimed an audience of 16,790 in-attendance tonight (sold tickets).
It was far less than that – and it was also a self-admitted season-low for the World’s Famous Morgue on 34th & 7th.
For a team that’s set plenty of futility records this season, then you can expect the Rangers to continue their record setting breaking ways in this department too.
For those wondering Part I: They will never set any lows in the gate department – but it would be interesting, when comparing previous losing seasons, and while factoring in inflation as well, to see how bad it really is.
For those wondering Part II: Tonight’s season-low attendance figure also includes the sales of discounted tickets – and where season-ticket subscribers must have been horrified-and-mortified to find out that not only were tickets going on the resale market for as low as $50 – but that the Rangers themselves were also offering $55 get-in prices – and where tickets in the lower bowl (upper rows) were also being slashed to as low as $65.
BUY YOUR SEASON TICKETS FOR THE 2026-27 SEASON TODAY!
Some may claim that tonight’s loss had its turning point during the second period.
Of course, such a statement also disregards the facts that the Rangers gave up two goals early, couldn’t score on their power-play, and of course, what later transpired in the third-and-final frame.
At the 2:14 mark of the second stanza, Boone “OH JOE, BRUCE JOE – TRANSGENDERS JOE!” Jenner tripped Matthew Robertson.
About a minute later – and seemingly – Captain Culture, Miller, the second-worst captain in franchise history (Chris Drury takes top honors here), scored a power-play goal, and in turn, shaved the Blue Jackets’ lead to 2-1.
Not so fast.
Upon replay (clip provided in tonight’s GAME REVIEW segment), and it was revealed that Alexis Lafreniere’s skate had made contact with “The King of Rock & Goal” in Columbus, Merzlikins.
In turn, and the new bench boss in THE OHIO STATE, Rick Bowness, won his video replay review.
No goal.
Bowness would soon be delighted once more – as once returned to the final minute of the Rangers’ power-play – and it was his team that scored, via the short-hander – and as Sean Monahan did at the 3:27 mark.
3-0, and as my buddies over at “The Blueshirt Underground Show” calls them, “The Coats.”
To fast-forward here for a second, then here was Miller’s reaction to all of this bang-bang double-whammy:
“We had a great start, drew a penalty, scored [on the power-play]… it’s funny how the game works sometimes. All of a sudden it’s 3-0 [instead of 2-1] and they’re [the crowd] booing again.”
What a leader.
Partially blaming the fans for not only the team’s struggles tonight – but struggles that began at camp and have never ended since – and now with sixty games under their belts to boot.
Come the 11:54 mark and Mathieu Olivier seemingly put away the sorry sack of Rangers for good – as that’s when he pushed the score to 4-0 – and where as a result – all of that booing only made Miller madder.
As TV sets in New York switched to something else, and as streaming services were turned off too – then both teams returned to the locker room after two periods of play – and where the boos at M$G reached their most fevered pitch.
Leave it to Gabe Perreault, the youngest player on the team today, to take these most vociferous voices of disapproval to heart the most.
Come the start of the third period and Columbus had scored two goals a piece in the two prior periods, while also out-shooting the Rangers in total by a margin of 19-16.
To stress this point – the Blueshirts only had sixteen shots on goal through forty-minutes of action.
By the end of this period?
Not only did they mar and completely ruin Merzlikin’s shutout bid by popping in four pucks behind him – but they also registered seventeen shots on goal too.
Columbus finished with eight – and the Blue Jackets, via their only shot on goal in overtime, shot at a 100% clip in the overtime period too.
Whatever was said, whatever was sniffed, and whether or not the Monstars from “Space Jam” completely zapped everything positive out of Bowness’ club during the second intermission – and what we saw in the first two periods soon became the complete opposite of what we witnessed during the final twenty-minutes.
Just thirty-seconds after puck drop – and Vladislav Gavrikov scored.
4-1 – and where that goal was feeling pretty “A-Rodish” at the time.
Twenty-four seconds after that, the 54-second mark of the frame, and Perreault diced the Columbus lead in half, as his goal made it 4-2.
While there was no way that any Ranger fan at the time was thinking that a complete four-goal comeback was possible; conversely, and that’s why they play the games.
As the Blue Jackets were trying everything in their powers to prevent the surging Blueshirts from making this a game, while also hoping for the clock to melt like ice cream on a hot summer day – and come the 12:52 mark – every Ranger crashed the net on a delayed penalty call drawn by Miller – and they were rewarded too – as a puck glanced off of Big Billy Borgen’s skate and then into the net.
4-3 – and where the smallest crowd at M$G this season definitely took notice too.
Perreault, as Borgen would soon do for him, was credited with the assist, which also meant that the rookie now had a two-point game on the night.
A third point was soon to come – and a second goal for the rookie too.
At the 15:14 mark, the skillful Perreault beat Elvis out of his Pelvis once more, thus tying the score at 4-4.
At the time, this game reminded me of one match from many years back, I believe the 2013-14 season, when the Rangers, down by four goals to Minnesota at the time, pulled off a 5-4 regulation win behind a pair of late goals scored by Mats Zuccarello and Anthony Duclair.
I was at that game – which is why this contest immediately came to my mind.
In that magical 2013-14 season, that win against Minnesota just spoke to the team’s resolve – and to John Cena’s famous quote too – “NEVER GIVE UP!”
And it wasn’t a fluke either.
To show you how bad the Blueshirts have broken me during this centennial campaign, then all I could think after Perreault’s second red-light job was, “they’re pulling a New York Giants! They are going to win a meaningless game and hurt their draft lotto odds!”
As I calmed down a bit, then duh – I was happy for Perreault – and where I forgot about the beer money that I risked on this match too:
At 4-4, and with the fans who didn’t ditch their seats in favor of early trains back home rockin’ – and it felt inevitable – the Rangers would win this.
After all, and Columbus, who were also without their best player, stud defenseman, and the person who should’ve won the Norris Trophy last season too, Zach Werenski (illness), just looked absolutely wiped.
It was as if they ingested fentanyl by the gallons (or however you take it) during the second intermission.
The Blue Jackets, still hoping for a playoff spot this season, weren’t worried about the Rangers’ chances at this year’s draft lottery – but they were worried about the extra point on the line come the overtime.
Perreault had a chance to write his first signature NHL moment – but on his first shift – he then sent a puck wide.
As it often goes whenever you miss the net during the 3 x 3 gimmick time – and the other team usually gets an odd-man rush or breakaway immediately afterwards.
The Blueshirts had a chance to win and as a result – have their best win of the season too – but after missing the net on their first possession – then Columbus didn’t miss on theirs.
At just the 1:04 mark, and once retrieving the puck and going past the soon-to-be traded Trocheck too – and there was Kirill Marchenko to put the game away, 5-4 – and as he did when he was able to fool CZAR IGOR on his right side.
For RANGER FANS (not the players, not the coaches, nor anyone else that relies on this team to win games either) – and this loss took place 64-seconds too late.
The Blueshirts are now the third-worst team in the league – and after entering Monday’s match second-worst overall.
Their 54-points are only better than the 53-point St. Louis Blues and the 43-point Vancouver Canucks.
I’ve said this a few times this season and I’ll say it once more here:
THERE ARE NO BIG NAME FREE AGENTS THIS SUMMER.
There’s no savior out there – that is – perhaps in the case of Gavin McKenna – this year’s projected first-overall pick.
If the Rangers don’t win the draft lotto, then I really don’t see any headway being made in their immediate future.
And if these meaningless points in the standings that the returning CZAR IGOR (1-0-2, 4/6 points in his past three games played) is racking up wipes out their chances at McKenna – then Chris Drury best hope that all of the fake Olympic outrage in Canada forces Toronto (Auston Matthews) and Ottawa (Brady Tkachuk) to deal their best players to the States.
But of course, even if Drury was offered a Matthews for Mika trade and/or a Tkachuk for Lafreniere trade – and he probably wouldn’t do it anyway – as this GM is notorious for holding onto losers for far too long.
Don’t believe me?
Then just ask the “untouchable” likes of Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Vitali Kravtsov, Brennan Othmann – and just like the present 32-year Cup drought – and the list goes on-and-on.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off, another home loss at M$G:
NYR/PHI 2/26 Review: Heaven & Hell! The Same Old “Find-A-New-Way-To-Lose” Rangers Ruin Olympic High; CZAR IGOR & Sam Carrick Steal a Point, Drury Jeers Overwhelm Trocheck Cheers, Meekly Minus Mika Blows Game-Ending Power-Play; Trade The Swedish-Iranian To Toronto For USA’s Auston Matthews, Adam Fox Returns; Doesn’t Rule Out Leaving The Big Apple in the Summer, GET WELL SOON RON DUGUAY; Doogie Fighting Biggest Battle Yet & More
Following the 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers from Thursday night, then come Friday, and the Rangers announced a waiver wire pick up from Seattle, bottom-six forward Tye Kartye.
Why the Blueshirts are trying to stack up on every fourth-line junker in the league is beyond me, but hey what do I know – as everyone knows that Chris Drury is a master at this.
Here’s what the Rangers officially had to say about the move, courtesy of https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-claim-tye-kartye-off-waivers:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has claimed forward Tye Kartye off waivers.
Kartye, 24, appeared in 40 games for the Seattle Kraken this season, tallying eight points (3G-5A) and 98 hits. His 98 hits rank third on Seattle and his 19 giveaways are the fewest among all Kraken skaters who have played in at least 40 games this season. In addition, Kartye ranked fourth among Kraken forwards in shorthanded time-on-ice per game (1.08).
The Kingston, Ontario native has skated in 180 career NHL games across three seasons with Seattle, recording 41 points (20G-21A). Last season, his 175 hits ranked second on the Kraken and since 2023-24, he leads all Kraken skaters with 229 hits. Kartye has appeared in 75 career AHL games across two seasons, all with the Firebirds, registering 61 points (30G-21A). During the 2022-23 season, he ranked third on the Firebirds in goals (28) and points (57), and fourth in power play goals (5) and shots (158). Following that season, he was named the AHL’s Most Outstanding Rookie. He also appeared in 18 games during the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs and notched eight points (6G-2A).
Prior to turning pro, the 5-11, 202-pound forward spent parts of three seasons with the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 191 OHL games, Kartye collected 156 points (74G-82A). During the 2021-22 season, he led the team in goals and ranked second in points.
Kartye was originally signed by Seattle as an undrafted free agent on March 1, 2022.
In my opinion, then the addition of Kartye is another move from the realm of throwing crap at the wall and seeing what sticks.
To accommodate Kartye, who did skate in the Rangers’ 3-2 shootout win against the Penguins on Sunday, then the Rangers returned “The Appendix,” government name Brennan Othmann, to Hartford.
What an organization.
As noted last time in this space, then I wasn’t going to be around on this site on Saturday, when the Rangers hosted the Sidney Crosby-less Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rather than writing, and instead, I preferred drinking and company among friends and family.
My only takeaway from the 3-2 comeback, via the shootout, was that CZAR IGOR, and as previously predicted here, is going to ruin the Rangers’ chances of landing the first-overall pick.
In his first two games back and CZAR IGOR took three of four possible points in the standings.
As far as anything else from the gimmick time win, then I think this screenshot tells it all:
Last time on this site and I said the following:
To be frank (hey, my name is Sean – har-har-har), then, and as noted many times before on this site prior to the Olympic break – and it’s in the Blueshirts’ best interest to lose games.
While we all know what “tanking” is, and how players and coaches will never do as such (they are playing for their jobs, their futures, their reputations, etc); but we can also admit that general managers (and in any sport) will try to tilt the scales whenever they can.
Of course, then that nimrod, Mr. ZOOM ZOOM himself, a one Chris Drury, also entered this season with the real thought that these centennial Rangers were a Stanley Cup contender.
He should’ve been fired for that one notion alone – and as explained in this space about 798678967986 zillion times before.
(Who did he replace Chris Kreider with?)
That said?
Then knowing the deal doesn’t make watching these games any easier either.
Granted, while we all have our own individual approaches and different levels of fandom too, but for this here disgusting diehard fan of this rotten franchise – and not only does the thought of watching these games, but then to write about them afterwards, make me ill – well all of this also feels worse than a full-time job at the zoo where you shovel elephant shit for eight-hours a day.
It’s just a lose-lose situation.
(And a stinky one too!)
If the Rangers play well, then it hurts the future/draft.
If the Rangers play like crap, then it’s just your natural instinct to be pissed-off about it.
When comparing the Blueshirts’ final two games of February, both at home against the teams from Pennsylvania – and sickening enough – and I felt worse about the Rangers’ comeback win against Pittsburgh when compared to their loss against the Flyers.
Again, it’s all about landing the first-overall pick – and not picking up meaningless wins during the final leg of the season.
After all, what was the most meaningless win of them all from last season?
The Rangers’ 9-2 win against the Islanders from April 10th.
How’d that work out for both sides?
Fast-forward to today and Matthew Schaefer is eclipsing records once held by Bobby Orr.
The less said about Alexis Lafreniere, the better.
In some non-Ranger news, but of information that’s important to fans of their alumni, then on Sunday, March 2nd, and it was announced that the L.A. Kings, via general manger Ken Holland, had fired their head coach, Jim Hiller.
The complete story can be found here: https://www.nhl.com/news/jim-hiller-fired-as-coach-of-los-angeles-kings
For Panarin, who helped run David Quinn, Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette out of town in New York – and it only took four games for him to run Hiller out of Hollywood too!
While I’m half-joking here; but what’s truly a fact is that Panarin has now played for three coaches this season (Mike Sullivan, Jim Hiller and now D.J. Smith) following the Kings’ Monday night 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Similar to the likes of Mika Zibanejad, who just refuses to waive his NMC (but it’s not like Drury is forcing his hand either) – then why Panarin chose L.A., outside of it being a friendly city for people who enjoy signing no-disclosure agreements, remains beyond me.
Come Stone Cold Steve Austin Day – 3/16 – then the Rangers/Kings match-up at M$G may not only feature one team with no shot at the playoffs – but two.
Times have sure changed since 2014, wouldn’t you agree?
As an aside, then why Holland decided to fire Hiller now, rather than doing so at the Olympic break (thus giving a new head coach more time to get acclimated with everyone and with his position too), seems foolish.
After the Blueshirts’ “big” win from Saturday, then a day later, Sunday, the team had the day off.
The day off was huge for the likes of J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck – a pair of gold medal Olympians that just had a whirl-wind of a week.
Speaking of Trocheck, then just like his now former flank, Artemi Panarin, now rotting in L.A. – and the Rangers aren’t bubble wrapping him yet ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.
Following Monday’s A.M. skate prior to tonight’s tilt, and Sullivan flat-out said that there were no plans to sit Trocheck, the lone scorer during Saturday’s shootout, just yet.
As far as what Trocheck said, then he was extremely honest about his situation (almost to a fault – and unprecedented too) – as he also knows that he’s one of the best players left available come the deadline.
Trocheck, who does have a limited no trade clause, also confirmed previous rumors out there about him – as a family man – then he wants to stay in the East. He followed up that comment by adding that nearly every Western Conference team are also on his no trade list.
While Minnesota is in the West, that may be the one team away furthest from the Atlantic Ocean that he’d consider – and especially since he also made no bones about it – he wants to go to a team that has a real shot at the Stanley Cup – and especially at Trocheck’s age of 32-years-old.
If anything, then you have to appreciate Trocheck’s candid comments about his situation.
Rather than to clam up about it – and instead – he’s telling you exactly what’s going on.
(He also said that Drury has been fully transparent with him in regards to his present situation/dilemma.)
You have to respect that.
At the very least, then I know that I do.
But why the Rangers are running the risk of a potential injury with him just days from the deadline, and especially with a guy who just played a grueling few weeks in Italy?
Well Chris Drury doesn’t have a ZOOM call scheduled just yet.
He’ll just let the fourth head coach under his employ face the music – the Pizza Man way!
Speaking of Drury’s fourth head coach, then the “biggest” news from his Monday morning chat was the fact that was going to start CZAR IGOR – and a start, where you may of heard by now, that only dims the Rangers’ chances at landing McKenna in June.
As far as anything else worth noting, then the gold medal coach said that Adam Edstrom could return, but that he’s still on the team’s LTIR because Sullivan feels like he has better options – you know – like the golden nephew-in-law, and the future one-and-done Ranger too – Conor Sheary.
Here was Silly Sully’s line-up for the sixtieth game of this wretched-and-rotten 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Miller/Mika/Perreault
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Trocheck/Lafreniere
THIRD LINE: Kartye/Laba/Sheary
FOURTH LINE: Brisson/Carrick/Raddysh
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Schneider/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Robertson/Iorio
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACKUP GOALIE: Quick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Scott Morrow, Urho Vaakanainen and Jonny Brodzinski
LTIR: Adam Edstrom
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
|
| 28 | 5 | 23 | .821 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60:49 | 0 |
|
CBJ
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 33 | 4 | 29 | .879 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61:04 | 0 |
I’m not going to write another 7985679866575798579856-word thing on women’s hockey tonight.
Since I don’t want to repeat myself, then just to give you some reference – I support it, I hope their leagues do well, I hope it introduces young girls to hockey (including my nieces) and of course – HOW ABOUT THOSE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNIN’ USA WOMEN?
Heck, I even attended a New York Riveters game in 2016 too – but where I felt they were also destined to fail.
(And as they did.)
After all, then it’s hard for women sports to succeed when they are played at the same time as the far more successful men’s leagues – which is why the WNBA is played during the NBA off-season.
(Who has the time to watch everything?)
And really, then outside of women’s MMA, tennis and golf (which is promoted by the same people who promote the men) – and no women’s league is successful – and that includes the WNBA that’s lost billions upon billions of dollars in their existence – and which is essentially a tax write-off for the NBA who subsidizes it.
Since we are out of February, and with the NHL now returning Willy O’Ree back to their dusty shelves – then we’re now in the month of March – and where out of the blue – “Women’s Empowerment” is the theme.
(Again, I have nothing against females of any kind – outside of the men pretending to be women – but all of these made-up months and celebrations feels like it’s never-ending.)
(Furthermore? Then who is DISEMPOWERING women? Iran? Not anymore!)
Since tonight’s game was the first match played during Women’s Empowerment Month, and where I believe that the first 10,000 fans who attended tonight’s game also received a free Mika Menstrual Pad too; then the entire pregame show, outside of a few tidbits on the Rangers, was dedicated to the PWHL New York Sirens.
For those who don’t know, then at a recent Sirens’ game and some kid waved an “ABOLISH ICE” flag, while the club also promoted mental illness/gender mutilation/transgender flags too:
Newark, NJ — During a PWHL game between the New York Sirens and the Montreal Victoire, a kid riding the zamboni unfurled a large “abolish ICE” flag as the crowd cheered.
via: njdkatie#goodmorningbadnews #ice #iceout #trump #newark pic.twitter.com/5smjYwVQ93
— good morning, bad news (@GoodMornBadNews) February 28, 2026
As Mike Sullivan would say – “what a bunch of milk drinkers!”
I’ve said this a million times and I’ll say it again; but whenever a sports franchise takes a political side (and where admittedly – I do so here too – as after all – you know that I’m a MAGA guy – but I do try to limit myself from talking about that stuff whenever I can), then you’re bound to alienate half of you audience.
I don’t know if I’m exactly “PRO ICE,” or at least not to the fullest extent of it, but I do support them – and I don’t want to see them abolished either.
Have there been issues?
Yes, but it’s much better option than the alternative.
I do know that I sure as shit don’t support any sort of sex stuff – straight, gay, mental illness or otherwise – being promoted to kids at sports events.
After all, then as noted before on this site, and I’ve taken my niece to her first hockey game this season.
There’s no part of me that wants to explain to a young girl what transgenderism is – and the mental illness attached to it.
I also don’t want to explain what ICE is either.
Perhaps I’m a hypocrite – as I do love all the Rangers’ support for the NYPD – but only the sickest of people hate them – and they are hypocrites too.
After all, then how can you explain how these people enjoy the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award presented every year, while they also scream “EFF THE POLICE” in their next breath?
I will always be PRO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BACK THE BLUE (and the Blueshirts, just not this season, too)!
To make it simple – then unless you’re a criminal or doing anything illegal, then you don’t have to worry about the police.
All of this liberal-infused politics in sports is nauseating – and just ridiculous too.
Heck, I even saw one of these PWHL fans, while supporting transgenderism and abolish ice messages, say how mad they were at Donald Trump for blowing up Iran.
Bring your transgenderism to Iran – and see how that goes for you.
As I leave my soapbox, then as far as anything else worth noting from the pregame show, then it was nice to see Sieve Vagistat not around for Women’s Empowerment night.
Ditto Panarin.
On the call tonight were the returning champions, the hardest working man in sports today, Kenny Albert, and perhaps the man who bleeds blue the most these days, Dave Maloney.
GAME REVIEW TIME – and you know the deal by now.
I’ll try to keep it short and for the full play-by-play, then check out my Tweeter/X feed over at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC/
And as my buddy @PRAXCAST likes to say, “LET’S ROLL!”
FIRST PERIOD
As Zibanejad won the first draw of the match, then Albert informed us that the Blue Jackets were 10-2-1 ever since Rick Bowness took over for Dean Evason in Columbus.
As noted at the time – then why Evason was ever fired in the first place is beyond me.
After all, then was it his fault that his top star was murdered by a drunken driver?
Was it his fault when most of his best players went down with injury?
But these are the concerns for Blue Jacket fans – and not Blueshirt backers.
As noted, the Rangers came out the gate hot – only to quickly falter soon after.
Sheary flubbed a breakaway just 1:50 in.
Mika had two chances, while wide-open and two-feet out, but Merzlikins, again, one of the worst goalies in the league today, stopped both of them.
With not much doing afterwards, then this is when Albert sang the praises of the great Tye Kartye – and where after watching him – then I still stand firm in my belief that Drury is just accumulating fourth-liners and hoping that one of them will stick.
I’m sure that Big Ed, Adam Edstrom, loves this.
Once Mika had another one-on-one chanced denied, then is when Marchenko and Fantilli hooked up for the 1-0, CBJ, goal with 14:10 remaining:
Mo never misses in Manhattan 💥
CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/OWcy7OyQTM
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 3, 2026
It was all CBJ after this – and where the only Rangers’ “highlight” during all of this is when John Giannone was promoting his new META glasses.
Perhaps James Dolan should get a pair himself – and then see why he needs to fire Drury too!
Again – all CBJ – and where the Rangers were in the middle of a 13:00 SOG drought too.
Up next was Sullivan mouthing off at the refs, his bench minor, Perreault serving it and yep, the Marchenko 2-0 PPG too with 4:28 remaining:
MARCHENKO MARCH
Rangers are so bad at MSG pic.twitter.com/ujqtoL4Ak3
— PuckTalkDaily (@PuckTalkDaily) March 3, 2026
As we hit 3:30 remaining, then Columbus had two goals, while the Rangers only had three SOG.
It wasn’t until there was only 2:04 left on the clock when Gavrikov ended the drought – and where Merzlikins made his fourth-and-final save of the period too.
For the rotten cherry on top – and Columbus almost made it 3-0 with just 13-seconds remaining – but CZAR IGOR held on.
2-0, them, through twenty minutes of vapid and tepid action.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-0, them, through 20. 1P Thoughts:
— #NYR are just excruciating to watch
— Started off with an attack, Mika misses two chances, CBJ scores and that’s that.
— SOG 10-4 #CBJ – Rangers had a 13:00 SOG drought there too
— Nothing against the women stuff, but nobody cares…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 3, 2026
SECOND PERIOD
In a game that was without CBJ’s best player, the golden Olympian Zach Werenski, and this slog continued.
Just 65-seconds in and Merzlikins, one more time, one of the worst goalies in the league today, stopped both Perreault and Mika.
He then stopped Cuylle a few seconds later – then Fox too – which meant that no less than two minutes into the frame – and Merzlikins had matched his first period save total.
After this?
Then the turning point, the post-game Miller quote, the disallowed Rangers’ goal and then Columbus taking a 3-0 lead via Monahan’s shorty:
Lafreniere makes contact with his elbow and his left foot while both body parts are in the blue paint.
Offensive players can’t make any contact at all with a goalie in the blue paint, it’s going to get called every time in today’s NHL.pic.twitter.com/9jgulRBM5d https://t.co/Xst7udnN9a
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) March 3, 2026
beat him CLEAN 🔥
CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/JEhy8V9sob
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 3, 2026
That sound you heard at M$G at the time were Ranger fans checking their phones for early train times.
As the Blueshirts’ abortion continued, then Olivier increased the Columbus lead to 4-0 – and where as a result – about only 5,000 fans remained in the stands come the start of the third period:
Ollie can do it all! 🚨
CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/EoFSCXq7xB
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 3, 2026
The Blueshirts were doing nothing and where this 4-0, them, score remained through forty disastrous minutes (but at least they were good for THE TANK).
Here’s what I said at the time:
4-0 #CBJ, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— I understand why Miller and Igor have to stay, but if Mika and Fox don’t want to leave, then what’s wrong with them?
— SOG 19-15, CBJ
— #NYR look like shit – building is Morgue $quare Garden
— Why risk a Trocheck injury? May as well sit…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 3, 2026
THIRD PERIOD
As you thought it was cruel and unusual punishment for this game to continue – and the ice (not ICE) soon tilted.
Just 30-seconds in and this is when Lafreniere set-up Gavrikov for the Rangers’ first goal:
🎥 EDGE VIZ (tracking data): Vladislav Gavrikov scores for the New York Rangers on a shot (19:30 remaining in the the 3rd period).#NYR pic.twitter.com/0lP9oB28eE
— NY Rangers Game Bot (@NYRGameBot) March 3, 2026
4-1.
Right after that and this is when Perreault made things interesting for the first time:
Gabe Perreault with the Rangers’ second goal in 24 seconds and the Blueshirts cut it to 2 pic.twitter.com/ryqNi6XA9v
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2026
Two Blueshirt goals scored at just the 54-second mark – and where Bowness immediately called a timeout as a result.
Out of the timeout and CZAR IGOR made a pair of saves afterwards – but where at the time – and this still felt like a game where the Rangers show up for only twenty minutes – and not the full sixty.
As we hit ten-minutes remaining, we still remained at 4-2 – but where despite how bad this team is – and you still felt like the Rangers’ third goal was coming.
(I also felt like this game would end at 4-3 or 5-4, in favor of Columbus – but albeit – in regulation time.)
Things got very interesting once we got under eight minutes to go.
Merzlikins prevented a Lafreniere tap-in try.
Immediately after that and he prevented Perreault from his second goal.
As this was all going on, then Miller was hit from behind – a Columbus penalty.
The Rangers, now with a 6 x 5 delayed penalty attack, made it count – and as Borgen did with just 7:08 left in regulation time:
Will Borgen cuts it to 1! pic.twitter.com/ANTX57RBgM
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2026
With the score now 4-3, them, then all I could think about was that short-handed goal afforded.
After all, then SPECIAL TEAMS SWING GAMES, and where not only did CBJ have a PPG to their ledger – but the dreaded SHG afforded too.
Down to 4:46 remaining – and Perreault wouldn’t be denied:
GABE PERREAULT AGAIN!
The Rangers have come back from down 4-0 to tie it! pic.twitter.com/hEQrrSk8k1
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 3, 2026
4-4.
And one last time:
This comeback would have been much more appreciated if we weren’t rooting for a #1 pick right now.
Merzlikins, despite giving up four goals in the period, did his best when trying to prevent a fifth goal allowed in this third period.
After stopping Gavrikov, Miller, Mika, Trocheck and Cuylle – and CBJ, while kicking themselves for blowing the lead, let out a major sigh of relief for getting at least one point in the standings come the final horn of the frame.
4-4, through 60. OT was required.
Here’s what I said at the time:
— This would’ve been a great game when the season still mattered.
— CZAR IGOR and of course, the four goal comeback, gets them another unnecessary and unwarranted point in the standings.
— Do we want McKenna or no? I know that players don’t tank, so save me that.
— Perreault and Borgen, your unlikely heroes.
OVERTIME
After Fantilli blocked Perreault’s shot attempt, Marchenko went the other way and then allowed Columbus to breathe again:
COMEBACK CUT SHORT ❌
Kirill Marchenko FINALLY answers for the Blue Jackets and ends it in overtime 🚨 pic.twitter.com/yFHr8UUr4T
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 3, 2026
5-4, Columbus, in overtime, your final.
Again, from a rebuild/retool perspective – then at least it was Perreault who mattered most in this Rangers’ rally and regulation comeback.
Outside of the Miller nonsense, then in his post-game interview, Perreault said, “I feel like every game I’m getting more and more comfortable and more confident.”
Not to take anything away from him – but let’s see him do it again – then again-and-again-and-again – and you get my point.
The biggest post-game quote was uttered out of the mouth of the two-time snubbed potential Olympian, Adam Fox.
Fox, who didn’t rule out leaving New York after the Rangers’ loss to Philly last week, said about his future, “We’re just trying to focus on games, myself included. There’s a lot going on, the deadline and everything. But I think all anyone can do right now is just take it day by day and try to bring a good effort, trying to bring a good attitude and obviously, go from there.”
Elsewhere, and there are reports claiming that Fox is open to the idea of leaving the franchise over the summer – should he not be a fan of Drury’s off-season moves.
That’s how bad the Rangers have broken him – and like they have broken me!
Fox moved heaven-and-earth to come to the only franchise that he’s ever loved – but after five-years of Drury – and he’s thinking about playing elsewhere.
It should be noted and stressed that the birdbrain Blueshirts’ beat gave Fox a second opportunity on Monday night to rectify his open-ended answer from last week in regards to his future – but instead of saying that he wants to stay – he made it clear – he’ll leave if he has to.
Up Next: Off-days and practice days on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the Rangers’ fourth-and-final game of this four-game home stand on Thursday night against Toronto.
Did Monday night mark Vincent Trocheck’s last game as a Ranger?
Magic Eight Ball says “YES” – and it says so in a loud-and-bold fashion too.
As noted in this space before – then I don’t want to see Trocheck go – but I understand why it has to be done too.
I just wish it as Mika, the biggest and saddest face of this failed core, that was told to waive his NMC – but you may have heard me say this once or 7986427878423787842784789623 zillion times before – and all the way back ever since 2022 too.
To be honest, then I was surprised that Trocheck even played tonight – as an injury sustained would’ve been DEFCON-FIVE MILLION for Drury.
Friday is D-Day in Rangerstown, USA – as that’s when the trade deadline will expire.
But it’s not the biggest D-Day in Blueshirts’ Land either – as the 2024 trade deadline, Drury’s biggest failure, was as such in that major miss of a year.
It’s my plan to return on Thursday night after Rangers/Leafs, but if Trocheck, or anyone else of note, is traded between now-and-then, then I’ll return with a few words.
I still hate Drury.
I still hate Sullivan.
I’m not a fan of Miller either.
And you already know how I feel about the likes of Lafreniere and Zibanejad too.
What a time to be a fan of this centennial celebratin’ club – yet I still remain.
Also remaining for you?
Your favorite segment and mine, 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
