Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Well, at least you’ll remember this unnecessary (anti-tank) win for the rest of your Rangers’ fandom!
And what a 94th birthday present for my dear friend, “The Maven,” Stan Fischler, too!
We’ve got a lot to get into, including some thoughts from over the weekend (the win over Florida), a spiel on the painstaking process when trying to get help from Twitter/X, the Frank Boucher Trophy voting process and about a million other things too – but of course – then we must open tonight’s tome with a fight that will be burnt into your Blueshirts’ brain for the rest of your natural existence:
IGOR SHESTERKIN GOALIE FIGHT VS. JACOB MARKSTROM pic.twitter.com/xiKuEauieb
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 1, 2026
At the 9:05 mark of the third period – and in a game that the Rangers were leading 4-1 at the time (and what wound up becoming the final score too) – and the Devils’ Paul Cotter bowled over CZAR IGOR.
What a bad decision by Mr. Cotter.
As mentioned many times over the years – and CZAR IGOR has been intentionally run over a lot throughout his career – and where both sadly & very often – and the Rangers don’t respond.
Not on Tuesday night – not one iota at all!
Following Cotter’s collision with CZAR IGOR, then every Ranger on the ice grabbed a Devil while behind their goalie’s net – then only to find #31 right alongside there with them.
Talk about a difference from a year ago – a complete and positive 180 at that – and when Mika Zibanejad was doing his ballerina act following a similar situation – and where I’ve brought up this game about 7986798678679868 times since it happened.
(For more, then check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/4525/ )
To his credit, and where you must praise his response despite his soon-to-be public embarrassment in front of 17,422 Garden spectators (M$G didn’t sell out again) – and Jacob Markstrom wasn’t going to allow a 6 x 5 fight to go down on his watch.
An already unmasked Markstrom, after watching CZAR IGOR enter the fray, raced down the ice – and once there – and again to his credit – kindly and politely waited as #31 removed his mask.
In a way, and this was like one of those duels that you’d see out of an old Western movie (perhaps even featuring a white-hatted John Wayne) – time-honored tradition and respect.
And isn’t that what fighting in the NHL is all about too?
OLD TIME HOCKEY AND TRADITION!
While the NHL, and the sport of hockey in general, first made its name in Canada, then only to expand into the United States; but it was both a Swedish and a Russian that respectfully paid homage to such North American time-honored traditions.
Like two respectful Japanese Samurais – and Markstrom & Shesterkin fought a clean fight – and where by the end of it – Markstrom had his clock cleaned for him too.
There are about a zillion different ways for an athlete in professional sports to be embarrassed – and whether it’s a butt fumble (Mark Sanchez), a fly ball going off your head for a home run (Jose Canseco), or any other example that you can conjure up.
However, there may not be anything in sports that will strip your manhood away more than challenging someone to a fight – and then only to get your ass kicked immediately afterwards.
Just ask Tommy Salo – and where just to say it – then while CZAR IGOR’s rapid Russian rights were a spectacle to be seen – but then in no way, shape or form was this one-sided ass-kicking as brutal as the beating that Dan Cloutier once delivered to “Salo Swallows.”
Heck, CZAR IGOR didn’t even challenge the Devils’ bench afterwards – and as Cloutier once did to the Islanders.
(C’mon IGOR! I kid, I kid!)
As we all thought that CZAR IGOR would score his first NHL goal long before having his first NHL fight – and where the idea of the Rangers’ franchise goalie ever dropping the gloves seemed ludicrous too – and the former Vezina Trophy winner showed us that not only can he save pucks – but save face to boot!
As we know, then this has been a long lost season for the Rangers – and for some time now.
In a crappy centennial campaign where nothing has gone right – then CZAR IGOR’s right hands produced the loudest crowd reaction at Morgue $quare Garden this season.
And if the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award wasn’t presented prior to puck drop on Tuesday night?
Then CZAR IGOR may as very well beat out Zibanejad for the honor.
(And who knows? After this display of fisticuffs, then perhaps CZAR IGOR will now overcome Zibanejad for the Frank Boucher Trophy – more on this below.)
There haven’t been that many memorable moments for the Rangers this season – if any at all.
But CZAR IGOR’s dominating performance in his first fight (and most likely only – as you can’t run the risk of him ever getting injured in this way) was not only a memorable moment for Sully’s Squad this season – but in all of franchise history too.
How do I know this?
Easy.
I’ve been talking about Dan Cloutier for nearly thirty years now!
“I believe he’s the best goalie in the world – and he’s not a bad fighter either,” Sullivan remarked after the game.
When asked if he was worried about a potential injury, Sullivan shot such a notion down and then added, “I didn’t know he had it in him! I thought it was great!”
Captain Culture, J.T. Miller, who was on the ice with CZAR IGOR at the time (both Miller and Vladislav Gavrikov immediately raced to their goalie in order to congratulate him), said the following after the 4-1 win:
“I’m trying not to swear, but that was awesome. I know he’s a fierce competitor, a leader for our team, but that was — that was awesome. For everything that’s going on here and this year in this arena, for that to happen, that was the most pumped up I’ve been all season. I’m so happy for him. It’s a great, great moment.”
Say what you want to say about the chronically injured Miller this season – but the fact that he even admitted that this was the most pumped up that both the team and the building were this year?
Well that just spoke volumes to me.
It was also the truth.
The man of the hour?
CZAR IGOR, jokingly, said that he thought that his first fight would be against his BFF – Isles’ goalie and fellow countryman – Ilya Sorokin.
“I’ll wait for him,” added the giddy goalie.
CZAR IGOR also explained his knowledge of the sweet science too:
Igor Shesterkin was asked how he learned how to fight
“I just want to say thanks to my boxing coach. I just had a couple of lessons, nothing crazy” 😂 pic.twitter.com/Eo5eIpdWMr
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 1, 2026
Oh yeah – there was also a hockey game played tonight too!
Let me stress this point before continuing:
I LOVED THIS FIGHT.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!
However, the 4-1 win?
Then not so much – and you already know the reason why – I’m a charter member of TEAM TANK.
As the Rangers were cruisin’-and-bruisin’ themselves to victory; then during the rare times when I could take my mind off of CZAR IGOR’s KO – and all I could think of was the following:
There will be a time, approximately 3-4 years from now, when everyone is lamenting about another Rangers’ first-round (bust) pick – and most likely anywhere from 6th-to-8th-overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
And at the same time?
Gavin McKenna will be lighting it up elsewhere.
And yep – that date that I’ve mentioned about a trillion times before on this site – 4/10/2025 – didn’t escape my mind either – you know – the day when the Rangers handed the Islanders Matthew Schaefer into their little laps.
If we can now move on from the tank discussion (even if it’s only me talking about it here!); then on Tuesday night, and as previously explained, will go down as the most memorable game from this god-awful centennial campaign.
And the Rangers won a 4-1 game against an arch-rival too.
Crazier than that?
Then frequent “Ranger Killer,” Jack Hughes, who scored three-points a piece during the Devils’ previous back-to-back 6-3 victories against Blueshirts, went scoreless tonight.
Equally as insane?
Then you can thank Alexis Lafreniere for that – so much so – that I thought Lafreniere was watching Jan “The Shadow” Erixon footage prior to this game.
Suffice to say – and Lafreniere was all over Captain USA like a fly on shit – or Drury on a bad trade.
Of course, Hughes had his chances (CZAR IGOR denied his quartet of SOG), but every elite player will always create offense.
Lafreniere just did a hell of a job in limiting Hughes’ offense – and the Devils too.
To open up the festivities, and with the Rangers trying to avoid being swept by both of their biggest foes this season (0-4 against the Isles, 0-2 against the Devils), then they didn’t register a SOG until the 8:14 mark – but to be fair – then the Newark team only had five SOG at the time too.
And the Blueshirts made their first shot on goal count too.
It was at this time when the golden nephew-in-law, Conor Sheary, deflected a puck sent his way from linemate Tye Kartye for the 1-0 goal.
The goal was Sheary’s sixth of the season – and his fifth since returning from injury.
And yep – let’s just say it and get out of the way once more:
You just know that Drury is going to give Sheary a max seven-year deal for a player that has no business on this retooling/rebuilding roster.
I’m not going to get into all of it again – but yeah – Sheary is a great role/depth player – but only exclusive to a playoff/Cup contender.
But that won’t stop Drury from trying to appease his nepotism coach hire, Mike Sullivan.
Sheary’s 1-0 goal pretty much doomed the Devils for the rest of the night – as after this score – and it was all Rangers.
Like Stella, and the Blueshirts had their “groove back.”
Sheary, already with this goal to his ledger, then drew the first penalty of the game, as Dougie Hamilton high-sticked him at the 12:25 mark of this here and same first period.
A perfectly executed play, Fox-to-Lafreniere-to-Miller, for the 2-0 power-play tap-in goal, was scored at the 13:39 mark.
A Gabe Perreault tripping penalty on Hamilton at the 45-second mark of the second period led to the first-and-only Devils score of the game – and where it only took five-seconds for Connor Brown to score the 2-1 goal while on the red-and-black man-up attack.
In game where offenses were stifled at times, but where the rhythm was there too; then Markstrom gave up a juicy rebound to Braden Schneider, where immediately afterwards, Jaroslav Chmelar put back the rebound for the Rangers’ 3-1 goal at the 11:12 mark.
Very quickly and not only is Chmelar impressing everyone – but everyone can now pronounce his last name without struggle too!
Still at 3-1, home team, when entering the third period, then the Rangers scored another perfectly executed goal – this time from Perreault to Zibanejad.
4-1, Blueshirts, and at the 3:49 mark.
In a game where shots on goal were at a premium (the Rangers out-shot the Devils 7-5 in the first period, the two teams tied for 13 SOG a piece in the second period, and where the visitors then out-shot the home team by a paltry 5-2 difference), then it was at the 9:05 mark when all of the fireworks went down – and where CZAR IGOR just added another highlight reel, to a whole lot of them, at the time.
Similar to a 1980s Hulk Hogan – then CZAR IGOR just continued to “HULK UP” as the game continued – as he made the bulk of his five flashy saves after the win on his fight card was recorded.
As the final horn was blared – Rangers 4, Devils 1 – and where with New Jersey also somewhat tanking (but mainly due to injuries sustained this season) – then let’s not hope that we have draft deja vu this year.
After all, then do you want to see McKenna playing with Hughes next season?
Since I don’t know where else to work this in; then at this time I’d like to wish Stan Fischler a Happy 94th birthday – as “The Maven” celebrated his 94th trip around the sun on March 31st, 2026.
94-years-old!
There are so many things that I’ve learned from Fischler over the years, so many things that he’s shared with me too – but if there’s anything about him that impresses me the most – then it’s the fact that despite his young age – and while living in war-time Israel too – and it’s the nonagenarian that pumps out the most Rangers’ content on a daily basis today!
But for my good buddy Stan?
Then he’s only seen two more Ranger Stanley Cup victories than I’ve seen – and despite our fifty-year age difference!
Hopefully, we can celebrate one more together in the near future.
And yeah – and for the 7986789679867986798679867986th time at that – then if the Brooklyn-born Fischler was Canadian – then he’d be in the Toronto Hockey Hall of Fame ages ago.
The biggest miscarriage in all of hockey today is that “The Maven” hasn’t been featured in the hallowed halls in Ontario.
But we all know that – and shame on Commissioner Gary Bettman for not forcing the secret cloak-and-dagger HOF committee in making this rightful induction already!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STAN!
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!
And soon enough?
I’ll be asking him to write another foreword to another one of my books – and hopefully this summer!
Here’s what Fischler had to say on Twitter/X to other fellow well-wishers:
ENORMOUS THANKS TO ALL THE WELL-WISHERS ON MY 94TH BIRTHDAY. YOU AND HOCKEY AND THE FUN OF WRITING ABOUT IT IS WHAT KEEPS ME FEELING
49. BUT I MUST CONFESS, I DO MISS THE NY
AMERICANS AND THE CURTIS BAY COAST GUARD
CUTTERS WHOSE TEAM GRACED OLD MSG 1942-44.— Stan Fischler (@StanFischler) March 31, 2026
A subject dear to both “Young Maven” and “Younger Maven” alike?
Getting the Rangers to hang a banner for #7, Frank Boucher, in their illustrious rafters.
But since the Blueshirts have already blown this opportunity, not only this season, but a thousand times before, then all we can do is wait – and just like how we are also waiting for a fifth championship in franchise history!
The reason for this segue-way?
It’s time to open up the voting for the 74th annual Frank Boucher Trophy winner – and where previous to tonight – then I thought that Zibanead would win in a landslide (and because Sam Carrick is no longer here).
After tonight, then like a Democract – and I’m trying to fix the vote.
In other words?
Then vote for CZAR IGOR!
(And to be clear – while I run this award – I’m only one vote – and just like everyone else. All I do is tally all votes received.)
Here’s everything that you need to know about the Frank Boucher Trophy – and how to vote on the 2026 winner too:
It’s that time of the year again – voting for the 74th annual Frank Boucher Trophy winner is now open.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Frank Boucher Trophy, then I’m going to share an excerpt with you from my first book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden,” at this time.
(If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, then you can buy it here: Amazon.com ).
In 1952, the official fan club of the New York Rangers (when fan clubs had more power and influence than they do today), created the “Frank Boucher Fan Club Trophy,” which was a trophy that honored the most popular Ranger every year.
At the time, Frank Boucher, then the club’s general manager; “The Original Ranger” was also the longest-tenured employee of the franchise, having previously won two Stanley Cups (1928 and 1933) as a player, and another, his third, as the team’s head coach (1940).
The trophy would last until 2010, upon the dissolution of the fan club due to the age of the internet.
In 2020, I decided to bring back the Frank Boucher Fan Trophy, with permission from both Boucher’s granddaughter, Frankie Baird and one of the presidents from the former fan club.
To fill-in the missing years (2011-2020), I went back and analyzed each season in order to determine who would’ve won the trophy had the fan club still been around and/or had voting been available.
During the pandemic-plagued 2020-21 season, I came up with my own winner, Adam Fox.
Beginning with the 2021-22 season, and now an annual tradition on this site – I’ve opened voting for the trophy, where every site reader has a say – and the right thing to do.
After all, both the history and the spirit of the award/trophy is rooted with the fans, which means that every Blueshirt backer should have their voice heard – rather than one person’s voice speaking the loudest.
Keep in mind, this trophy is pretty much the Rangers’ equivalent of a high-school class presidency race – as it’s a pure popularity contest.
As I did when filling in the missing years, here’s the criteria that I use whenever I put my vote in -and criteria that I suggested to all readers/voters in 2024 too:
— Fan reaction
— Jersey sales
— Worth of a player’s autograph
— Community service/charity work
— Bond with fans
— The featured face of Rangers marketing/advertising
—- Player ability/amount of times featured as one of the “three stars of the game.”
Here are all of the winners of this prestigious trophy, including when the fan club used to determine the winner, “the missing years,” and how this site’s readership have voted too:
1951–52 Don Raleigh
1952–53 Wally Hergesheimer
1953–54 Johnny Bower
1954–55 Edgar Laprade
1955–56 Gump Worsley
1956–57 Andy Bathgate
1957–58 Andy Bathgate
1958–59 Andy Bathgate
1959–60 Dean Prentice
1960–61 Gump Worsley
1961–62 Andy Bathgate
1962–63 Gump Worsley
1963–64 Rod Gilbert
1964–65 Harry Howell
1965–66 Harry Howell
1966–67 Harry Howell
1967–68 Rod Gilbert
1968–69 Eddie Giacomin
1969–70 Walt Tkaczuk
1970–71 Dave Balon
1971–72 Jean Ratelle
1972–73 Jean Ratelle
1973–74 Brad Park
1974–75 Rod Gilbert
1975–76 Rod Gilbert
1976–77 Rod Gilbert
1977–78 Pat Hickey
1978–79 Phil Esposito
1979–80 Phil Esposito
1980–81 Ed Johnstone
1981–82 Nick Fotiu
1982–83 Mark Pavelich
1983–84 Barry Beck and Nick Fotiu
1984–85 Anders Hedberg and Mike Rogers
1985–86 John Vanbiesbrouck
1986–87 Walt Poddubny
1987–88 Walt Poddubny
1988–89 Guy Lafleur
1989–90 Brian Mullen
1990–91 Mike Richter
1991–92 Mark Messier
1992–93 Mike Gartner
1993–94 Adam Graves
1994–95 Mark Messier
1995–96 Mark Messier
1996–97 Mark Messier
1997–98 Wayne Gretzky
1998–99 Mike Richter
1999–00 Mike Richter
2000–01 Brian Leetch
2001–02 Mike Richter
2002–03 Mike Dunham
2003–04 Eric Lindros
2005–06 Jaromir Jagr
2006–07 Henrik Lundqvist
2007–08 Sean Avery
2008–09 Blair Betts
2009–10 Henrik Lundqvist
2010-11 Henrik Lundqvist
2011-12 Henrik Lundqvist
2012-13 Henrik Lundqvist
2012-13 Henrik Lundqvist
2013-14 Henrik Lundqvist
2014-15 Mats Zuccarello
2015-16 Mats Zuccarello
2016-17 Mats Zuccarello
2017-18 Mats Zuccarello & Henrik Lundqvist
2018-19 Mika Zibanejad
2019-20 Artemi Panarin (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/4220/ )
2020-21 Adam Fox (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/5421/ )
2021-22 Igor Shesterkin & Chris Kreider (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/fb22/ )
2022-23 Igor Shesterkin (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/fbt23/ )
2023-24 Artemi Panarin (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/fb24/ )
2024-25 Matt Rempe (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/fb25/ )
As you can see, then there have been fourteen players to have won the Frank Boucher Trophy more than once, including Worsley, Bathgate, Gilbert, Howell, Ratelle, Esposito, Fotiu, Poddubny, Richter, Messier, Lundqvist, Zuccarello, Shesterkin and Panarin.
Lundqvist, with eight wins, has won this trophy more than anyone else. Gilbert has won the trophy five times, while Bathgate, Messier, Richter and Zuccarello have each won the hardware four times.
After receiving an average of 2,000 votes per-year since making the voting for this trophy to include online voters, then last year I only received 304 votes – and where yep, you guessed it – the bad Blueshirts’ putrid season was a reason for the low turnout.
I don’t imagine this year garnering much more interest than last season – and especially even more so since we don’t really have that many fan favorites anymore.
As previously predicted in this space, then I believe that Mika Zibanejad, and by default, will take the trophy home this year in landslide.
Simply put, then between the trades of NDA Panarin and Sam Carrick; the lengthy injuries sustained by Adam Fox and CZAR IGOR, then only Zibanejad is the only viable candidate.
That said, and you don’t have to agree with me, as we all have an equal vote.
To place your vote for this year’s Frank Boucher Trophy winner, then you can write in your vote in the comment section below, by emailing me or contacting me on social media.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Baby Blueshirts’ shining bright against the Blackhawks:
NYR/CHI 3/27 Review: Baby Buck Blueshirts Set Many “Firsts;” Rangers Get Their First Win in Seven Games Too, Windy City Wins “The Toilet Tank Bowl;” But The Big Apple McKenna Dream Ain’t Dead Yet, Sykora, Garand (Better Start Chanting His Name!) & Fortescue Have Nights That They’ll Never Forget; Perhaps Brodzinski’s Last Highlight Reel Game As Well – And Maybe The End For Jonathan Quick & Adam Edstrom Too, Consider The Competition, M$GN & More
As noted on Friday night after Blackhawks/Blueshirts, then I wasn’t going to be around on Sunday to recap Panthers/Rangers.
Sadder than that?
Then I wasn’t even able to talk about the game in real-time on Twitter either – but more about that in just a second!
As far as Sully’s Squad’s 3-1 win over the AHL roster (plus Matt Tkachuk) that Florida fielded went, then all it did was remind me of the New York Giants again – as just like BIG BLUE – and the Blueshirts are saving their best for last against bad teams – while also playing themselves out of the best draft pick possible.
Scoreless through the first forty-minutes – and in what was a pretty boring game – then Adam Sykora, at the 5:10 mark of the final frame, kicked off the scoring.
At the time, this meant that Sykora was just one assist away from a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, as previously, he had a quick fight with Luke Kunin with just 25-seconds remaining in the first period.
A Conor Sheary (who else?) short-handed goal, scored at the 11:14 mark of the third period, gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead – and a goal that ultimately became the game-winner.
Down by two, and Cats’ bench boss, Paul Maurice, opted to pull his goalie with 5:00 to go.
Adam Fox sealed the deal with his 3-0 empty netter with just 3:58 remaining.
CZAR IGOR, who had a 26-save shutout at the time, couldn’t make it 27 consecutive saves.
Just 41-seconds away from a flawless shutout victory – CZAR IGOR had his NYET NYET broken up by Mackie Samoskevich – a 3-1 goal – and the final score too.
If anything, then this game was a chore to watch – but at least I had fun watching it at the bar with friends and family.
Personally, then it also worked out for me that this game was so tedious and devoid of life – as after all – then my Twitter/X account, @NYCTHEMIC, was hacked earlier on Sunday morning.
For those of you who are as addicted to Elon Musk’s app as I am, then here’s some free and friendly advice:
Not only does Twitter/X exclusively rely on AI to run their support system – but there is no number that you can call, nor any human to assist you either.
What happened to me was that some Chinaman hacked my account and then changed the email address attached to it.
I then received both a text and an email, from Twitter/X, telling me that I must change my password.
Once I did, then I was told to log back in.
Every time, and Twitter/X, who again, has both my email address and phone number, asked me to use a code generated by an authenticator app – and where prior to yesterday – then I had no clue what an authenticator app even was – nor how I had this featured turned on my account.
Long-story short?
I had to spam, and I mean spam, the hell out of the Twitter/X AI support system, just to get a response.
On my 7967967896786778967896th try, and after a zillion rejections too, and finally – I got through to some Twitter/X bot that allowed me back into my account – but where I only had ten-minutes to do so.
Fortunately, I caught the email from them in the time allotted – because if not – then no more Twitter/X for me – and maybe that wouldn’t have been a bad thing either!
End of the day?
I was lucky to get my Twitter/X account back – and I also had the perfect game for it to be taken away from me too!
To clean up and catch up on the rest of the news that I missed; then on Saturday, at Rangers’ practice, and Laba made his return.
In order to accommodate his return to the line-up – and Juuso Parssinen was sent down to Hartford.
As a result, the Blueshirts now had seven rookies in their line-up (Garand included).
For those wondering, then the franchise record for most rookies (not including their inaugural season) in a line-up was back on May 8th, 2021, when they had nine – Igor Shesterkin, Tim Gettinger, Vitali Kravtsov, Alexis Lafreniere, Justin Richards, Zac Jones, Morgan Barron, K’Andre Miller and Tarmo Reunanen.
After Sunday’s victory at M$G, then come Monday, and the team had the day off.
On Tuesday morning, the team held a light skate – and where afterwards – then the biggest news was what Sullivan said about his mentor, his colleague and in a role-reversal, his assistant too (Team USA) – former Rangers’ head coach, now in Las Vegas, John Tortorella:
Mike Sullivan on John Tortorella being head coach of the Golden Knights
“I think he’s an excellent coach. One of the things he excels at is crisis management” pic.twitter.com/fQ0YXkIPiC
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) March 31, 2026
Torts, as a result of the Golden Knights’ 4-2 victory over the Canucks on Monday, now has wins with the Lightning, Rangers, Canucks, Blue Jackets and Flyers as an NHL bench boss.
Good luck to Torts – and I’ll be rooting for him come the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After all, then it’s not like that I can root for the Rangers this Spring!
Here was Silly Sully’s line-up for the seventy-fifth game of this wretched-and-rotten 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Perreault/Mika/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Kartye/Miller/Sheary
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Trocheck/Sykora
FOURTH LINE: Brodzinski/Laba/Chmelar
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Fortescue/Schneider
THIRD PAIR: Robertson/Borgen
STARTING GOALIE: Garand
BACKUP GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Iorio, Raddysh, Vaakainanen, Quick and 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
|
| 23 | 1 | 22 | .957 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 7 |
|
NJD
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 22 | 4 | 18 | .818 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 7 |
I am to assume that Henrik Lundqvist, “THE KING OF COMMENTARY,” is on vacation – or much like the Rangers this season – has completely checked out.
And I don’t blame him if the latter is the case either!
In other words, then this was another brutal and consecutive broadcast featuring a solo Sieve Vagistat.
We miss you Brian Boyle! Please come back!
This was somewhat fitting however, as after all, then Vagistat has become the biggest asshole in all of Devil Land – as the worst goalie in Rangers’ history has been wrong about them at every turn – and time-and-time again at that too.
Since I don’t watch Vagistat broadcasts, then I thought it was odd, at 7PM, when the Rangers rushed and pushed-up the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award presentation to tonight.
After all, then I thought that they’d wait until their home finale – April 8th against Buffalo – and where Sam Carrick (who is now reported to have broken his arm in the Sabres’ 4-3 win against the Islanders at the same time this Rangers/Devils game was being played) could receive it.
Of course, then that was just wishful thinking on my part.
In what was easily the weakest field of candidates to choose from during the past 38-years – and Zibanejad was named the face of this embarrassing mess.
For whatever reason, and Dave Maloney would not stop praising Mika to the moon.
I mean really?
Was Maloney proud that Mika quit on the team last season, begged for another coach to be fired, had Sullivan coddle him over in Sweden during the summer and all in order to “rekindle his interest” (Maloney’s words) in a job that he gets paid $8.5M annually to do?
What a warrior!
What “EXTRA EFFORT!”
It was also kind of shameful that Maloney, and Kenny Albert too, didn’t bring up how Carrick would’ve most likely won this award had he still been around.
Here’s how the Rangers covered the face of this mess, courtesy of https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/mika-zibanejad-named-winner-of-2025-26-steven-mcdonald-extra-effort-award:
The New York Rangers announced today that forward Mika Zibanejad has been named the winner of the 2025-26 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, presented by Northwell.
The Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.” The award, which has been given annually since the 1987-88 season, bears the name of devoted Blueshirt fan and New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986, and passed away on Jan. 10, 2017.
Zibanejad, 32, has notched 32 goals and 37 assists for 69 points in 73 games for New York this season. He leads all Rangers this season in goals, power play goals (15) and points, and is one of four skaters in the NHL this season with 30-plus goals, 30-plus assists and 15-plus power play goals. His 15 power play goals rank fifth in the NHL and his 31 power play points are tied for ninth. Zibanejad broke the franchise record for the most power play goals this season (123), becoming the first active player to lead an Original Six franchise in power play goals. On Mar. 23, he skated in his 1,000th career NHL game and became the 22nd Swedish born NHL player to reach the milestone.
Across 15 seasons between the Rangers and the Ottawa Senators, he has collected 346 goals and 463 assists for 809 points. He is the fourth Rangers skater in team history to have recorded nine 20-goal seasons with the Rangers and among all Rangers skaters in franchise history, ranks third in power play points (244), fourth in goals (282) and seventh in points (658).
The Stockholm, Sweden native has now won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort award for the third time in his career and is only the fourth Rangers skater to have won the award at least three times. He was originally named the winner in back-to-back seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20) and became the sixth Ranger to have won the award in at least two consecutive seasons.
Some ungodly 8,000 words later – and it’s GAME REVIEW time!
You know my usual spiel – which includes how if you want my complete play-by-play, then check out my Tweeter/X feed over at: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
This too: this was the CZAR IGOR show – and where this game will only be remembered for his fight – and not anything else!
And with a 12-hour work-day ahead of me?
Then let’s finally roll!
FIRST PERIOD
As noted above, then not much really went down for the first eight-minutes or so.
At the 4:13 mark, Schneider seemingly had the Rangers’ first SOG (the Devils had two SOG at the time), but for whatever reason, and the the league stat people took the SOG away.
At the 6:48 mark, Zibanejad and Hughes, one a failed Olympian, the other golden, traded brutal turnovers.
Lafreniere forced the Hughes turnover, while Mika forced a pass to Lafreniere for his turnover.
Maloney, who has been prone to this at times, was in M$G propaganda mode tonight.
With the Rangers still without a SOG at the 7:00 mark, then Maloney was wondering if the fates of the Devils management team – GM Tom Fitzgerald and HC Sheldon Keefe – were in question.
Not a peep about Chris Drury – nor the routine “FIRE DRURY!” chants either.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 31, 2026
Sheary almost scored again at the half-way mark of the period – but he just missed the net after a good pass from Miller.
It was also reported at this time that Dolan’s benefit concert from 3/28, on behalf of the NYPD, raised $500,000 – and a cost that Dolan took upon himself.
We say a lot of bad things about the championship-less owner – so we must praise him for the good work that he did here.
Congrats Jimmy – and I’ll even look you in the eyes and say it too!
Down to 9:13 remaining, and where after giving up a goal to Sheary – then Markstrom was able to stop Mika once – then Perreault twice.
Markstom was able to deny this trio of great chances – but couldn’t stop Sheary?
As Devil fans said, then he deserved to get his ass kicked by CZAR IGOR!
Come 8:00 remaining and it was blatantly obvious (and in a good way) – Sullivan tasked Lafreniere to shadow Hughes all game.
It worked.
Up next?
The Hamilton penalty followed by this pretty-as-a-picture Miller 2-0, good guys, power-play goal:
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 31, 2026
Like his fight against CZAR IGOR – and Markstrom never had a chance on this scoring play.
Down to 6-7 seconds remaining – and Fox & Brodzinski almost hooked up for the 3-0 goal – thus a potential “dreaded three-goal lead.”
Jesper Bratt, no hero tonight, missed the net with seven-seconds remaining in the period.
Two-zip, home team, through twenty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-0, #NYR, through 20. 1P Thoughts:-
— Rangers were being out-shot 5:00 for eight minutes there, Sheary gets the deflection goal and then they were off to the races.
— SOG 7-5, Blueshirts.
— Jack Hughes must be playing through an aneurysm – hasn’t been a factor at all.
—…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 31, 2026
We stay cooking brownies every night. #NJDevils | @Mikes_Amazing pic.twitter.com/gSs9t2OSck
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 1, 2026
Right after the goal scored and Unibrow Timo Meier had a breakaway – but Schneider got back right in the nick of the time – and not only denied the scoring chance – but did so without taking a penalty to boot.
Excellent defense.
Maloney’s remarks?
Some after-dark stuff:
“Very nice use of the hands, they were right down the shaft.”
KINKY!
It felt like the game was opening up a bit from this point (and as the period high 13 SOG each would suggest), as Markstom soon denied Kartye and Sheary.
The Devils then had an abundance of chances, including CZAR IGOR making a kick save on Hischier which was then followed by a Simon Nemec ring of the iron.
Drew Fortescue (+1, no SOG, game-high 3 blocked shots), was able to recover the puck during this frantic play – and then set-up the clear.
On Fortescue, then I thought he played well.
While not offensively noticeable – but that’s not a bad thing either.
It means that he was a stud in his own end – a reliable rearguard at that.
Brenden Dillon hooked Brodzinski at the 6:58 mark – an end result of Fortescue’s clear.
The Devils’ PK bested the Blueshirts here – as they had two scoring chances during this.
Hischier, who almost got to Igor, fell down on that phantom wire that Lias Andersson once tripped over.
After that?
Nick Bjugstad had a breakaway – and while he got too excited and over-skated – CZAR IGOR still made the pad save anyway:
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 1, 2026
The Rangers’ power-play was now 1/2.
In real-time, I wrote the following on my recovered Twitter/X account:
“Lots of space and scoring chances now, something is going to pop off soon, 9:12 to go.”
Just 24-seconds after such a wise opinion?
Chmelar’s 3-1 rebound goal – and where it was equally as elating to see his fellow Wolf Packer/countryman, Sykora, going bat-shit with excitement when celebrating the score:
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 1, 2026
Knowing everything that you know today, then is it fair to say that the Chmelar/Sykora BFF bromance could exceed the one that Zibanejad and Kreider once had – and the one that Trocheck and Miller have today?
And while spit-ballin’ on Sykora (his most defensive-oriented game yet); but if Trocheck is going to be traded during the summer (this seems to be the most probable scenario after the drama at this year’s trade deadline) – then wouldn’t it behoove the Blueshirts best if Sykora was skating with Captain Culture right now – and not Trocheck – as Miller is a lock to be here next season?
Just some food for thought.
Down to 4:00 remaining and Hughes skated by four Rangers – only to be stopped by CZAR IGOR after his individual effort.
Some ninety-seconds later – and CZAR IGOR robbed Hughes from point-blank range.
3-1, home team, through forty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
3-1, #NYR, through 40. 2P Thoughts:
— Lafreniere has done a great job of shutting Hughes down. Jack is wearing him out a bit now (hence Igor’s four saves), but it’s not like 86 is ripping them up either.
— Rangers now have 3 goals in all 3 games against the Devils this season…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 1, 2026
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 1, 2026
Come 14:47 remaining, back-to-back Ranger penalties, as Cuylle was boxed for tripping, while Miller, with 17-seconds remaining on the Cuylle penalty, was sent to the sin bin for a cross check.
The end result?
A 2/3 Rangers’ PK.
And after that?
The moment that we’ll never forget – and here are more clips from CZAR IGOR’s PUNCHOUT:
WE GOT A GOALIE FIGHT AT MSG BETWEEN #NYR AND THE #NJDEVILS!
IGOR VS MARKSTROM! pic.twitter.com/Fg9Rtvg8Oi
— Lydia Pirner (@LPirner) April 1, 2026
A RANGERS-DEVILS GOALIE FIGHT 💥
IGOR SHESTERKIN AND JACOB MARKSTRÖM GO AT IT 🥊 pic.twitter.com/vExYtOZeNC
— SleeperNHL (@SleeperNHL) April 1, 2026
The Garden hadn’t been this loud in years!
And one more time – I expected CZAR IGOR’s first goal before his first fight too!
The Rangers, as a result of Cotter’s initial goalie interference penalty, got a power-play out of this.
They wouldn’t score here – but it didn’t matter.
And I don’t think that they could’ve scored here had they tried either (as they were more concerned about protecting the three-goal lead) – as no joke – and every player, whether on the ice or on the bench – were still laughing and smiling about the balding Blueshirts’ backstop fight victory!
I just hope that CZAR IGOR decides to trade dukes with Chris Drury next!
The Devils never recovered after watching their goalie getting his hiney kicked.
4-1, Rangers, your final.
For you card geeks, did I pull anything good? Gotta figure the Gretzky is worth something. #nyr pic.twitter.com/opKtcTfumL
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 28, 2026
I’ll post a #nyr centennial unboxing on the site over the week, but for now , I have three new items to wipe my ass with – but the @DUDEwipes remains most preferred! pic.twitter.com/VixkSvjmFc
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 28, 2026
One more month, the third of this year, is now behind us.
Up next is April – the fourth month of the year – and when the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will commence too.
For the Rangers, then the next biggest date on their calendar is May 5th – the day when the NHL will conduct their annual draft lottery.
The Rangers will continue their homestand on Saturday with a 12:30PM matinee against another team looking to reach the playoffs – the Detroit Red Wings.
On the day when Peeps and Cadbury Eggs reign supreme – and the Blueshirts will most likely play in front of a small crowd again – and this time when they host the Washington Capitals – which could perhaps double-up as Alex Ovechkin’s last game at M$G.
A game against the Rangers’ 2018 WINTER CLASSIC RIVALS, the Sabres, will be contended on April 8th at M$G – the final home game of the season.
To conclude the crappy centennial campaign, then the Rangers will finish their final three games on the road – 4/11 in Dallas, 4/13 in Florida and then the finale, 4/15 in Tampa.
Some 10,000 words later (and where I was actively trying to limit my word-count to boot?)
Your favorite segment and mine, you know…
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
I’m glad the Rangers stood up for Shesty. I’m glad Shesty won the fight. And I’m glad he didn’t get hurt. Shesterkinn is my vote for the Frank Boucher award, and he was my first choice for the Extra Effort award, with Mika second.
Thanks Pete, vote recorded!
What a thrilling read! The passion for the Rangers really jumps off the page—love the energy in recapping that Devils game. CZAR IGOR getting run over yet again is infuriating, but seeing the whole team step up this time was so satisfying. Mika’s “ballerina act” comparison had me laughing—brutal but fair! Do you think this newfound toughness will carry through the rest of the season, or was it just a one-time fire? Also, Twitter-X’s “painstaking process” sounds like its own kind of battle—would love to hear more about that ordeal. And hey, no sellout at MSG? What’s up with that? The fans need to step up too!
Gotta throw my Frank Boucher vote in for Laba. Not as flashy as the others, but for a rookie he has really smashed it this season.