New York Rangers

NHL game suspensions start Rangers’ Christmas break early

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With the NHL suspending cross-border travel, the Rangers will have ten days off before their next game on Dec. 27.

The New York Rangers’ Christmas vacation is starting earlier than anticipated.

In the wake of the ongoing health crisis, the NHL has postponed all games involving travel between the United States and Canada through Dec. 27. The Rangers’ Wednesday tilt against the Montreal Canadiens was among the dozen games affected by the suspension.

As a result, the Rangers (19-7-4) are next scheduled to play on Dec. 27 against the Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET, MSG). New York ends its pre-Christmas slate in third place in the Metropolitan Division, a point behind both the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals.

Rising COVID-19 cases across the league have caused some teams to pause their proceedings until after the scheduled end of the holiday break on Dec. 27. With the added dozen brought upon by the border deal, 39 games on the regular season docket will now require rescheduling. The Rangers’ Nov. 28 game against the New York Islanders, brought upon by excess cases with the opponent, has already been moved to March 17.

The NHL and its players’ association released a joint statement on Sunday that vowed to play as many games as possible prior to the Christmas break. Both sides appear dedicated to avoiding a league-wide pause, though players’ participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing is in major doubt.

“Though there has been a recent increase in positive COVID test results among Players, coaches and hockey staff, there have been a low number of positive cases that have resulted in concerning symptoms or serious illness,” a joint statement between from the NHL and NHLPA reads. “Therefore, the NHLPA’s and NHL’s medical experts have determined that, with virtually all Players and Club hockey staff fully vaccinated, the need to temporarily shut down individual teams should continue to be made on a case-by-case basis. The effects of recently introduced enhanced prevention and detection measures will be evaluated daily.”

As for the Olympics, which were set to feature NHL players for the first time since the 2014 Games in Sochi, the statement declares that the league and the NHLPA are “actively discussing” the matter of participation. The league’s February schedule features a three-week break to allow for players’ participation in the Beijing Games, but that period of inactive could now be used for rescheduled games.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Igor Shesterkin off IR, Patrik Nemeth in COVID protocol

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The Rangers inched closer to welcoming back their star goaltender but have lost a defenseman to health and safety protocols.

The New York Rangers announced on Saturday that star goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been removed from injured reserve, sending Keith Kinkaid back to AHL Hartford. Additionally, defenseman Patrik Nemeth was placed in COVID protocols.

Shesterkin has not played since leaving Dec. 3’s win over San Jose with a non-contact lower-body injury. His efforts spurred the Rangers’ hot start that currently has them amongst the Metropolitan Division’s elite. Shesterkin had begun traveling with the team on its recent road trip but now returns to the active roster with this move.

Despite missing the last eight games, Shesterkin (13-3-2, 2.05 GAA) continues to pace the NHL’s qualifying goaltenders in save percentage at .937. The Rangers (19-7-4) have performed respectably in his absence, having gone 4-3-1 with the services of Kinkaid, Alexandar Georgiev, and Adam Huska. Georgiev has taken over the primary duties, going 3-2-1 with a .935 save percentage in the seven games since Shesterkin’s injury.

Nemeth, in the midst of his first season with the Rangers after eight prior seasons with Dallas, Colorado, and Detroit, has been placed in COVID protocols, the team’s first entrant in the NHL’s recent uptick in cases amidst the Omicron variant. He has partaken in all 30 games this season, earning two assists on the third defensive pairing.

It should be noted that the Arizona Coyotes, the Rangers’ Wednesday opponent, placed three players on their own COVID list, including Jay Beagle, Lawson Crouse, and Alex Galchenyuk.

For the time being, the Rangers are currently scheduled to take on the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night (7 p.m. ET, MSG). It will be their final game before five scheduled days off for the league’s annual Christmas break.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Rangers drop 2nd consecutive game with 4-2 loss to Colorado

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The New York Rangers were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Tuesday night, their second loss in a row.

The New York Rangers are a good hockey club, yet they were no match for the complete game the Colorado Avalanche put on display Tuesday night in their 4-2 win.

Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin scored two goals and Nazim Kadri recorded three assists in the victory. The Avalanche has beaten the Rangers two times in the last six days.

Ryan Strome and Julien Gauthier scored for the Blueshirts with Alexandar Georgiev making 27 saves in the loss.  The Rangers have now lost their last three out of four games following their seven-game winning streak.

Adam Fox played a massive 27:22 with 30 shifts. Jacob Trouba was second in ice time with 23:29.

Strome found some positive things coming from the loss.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for growth,” Strome told Mollie Walker of the New York Post. “When things are going well, sometimes you get a little bit complacent, and sometimes it’s a little bit of a reality check. Although it’s a loss, I think that the effort was there. Teams that are good go through adversity no matter where it is in the season, and maybe we’re facing a little bit of it now before Christmas.”

Recap Rangers Scoring

Ryan Strome scored to cut the Avalanche lead in half at 10:31 of the 2nd period with his sixth goal of the year.

In the third period, with the Rangers down by a score of 3-1, Gauthier scored his second of the season, with Geogiev pulled for an extra attacker.

Post Game Notes

Adam Fox reached the 25-assist mark and 30-point mark when he got the helper on Ryan Strome’s second-period goal. Fox’s 25 assists are the second in the NHL behind Connor McDavid (29) and lead all NHL defensemen. Fox joins Brian Leetch as the only defenseman in team history to reach the feat. Leetch did it in 1990-91, 1991-92, and 2000-01. With 30 points, Fox required the fewest games (28) to reach the mark among Rangers defensemen since Brian Leetch (24 GP in 2000-01).

Ryan Strome scored his sixth goal of the season and fourth in his last nine games. Strome has five points (3G-2A) in his last seven games and 16 points (5G-11A) in his last 18 games.

Artemi Panarin notched his team-leading 33rd point of the season with an assist, his 24th of the year. Panarin has recorded 10 points (3G-7A) in his last six games and has points in seven of his last nine games (5G-9A), four of them being multi-point games.

Julien Gauthier scored his first goal since November 16.

The Rangers visit the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night with a 9 p.m. Eastern time faceoff.

New York Rangers Vs. Nashville Predators Gameday Preview 12/12/2021

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ryan strome, rangers

The first-place New York Rangers are back on the ice today versus the tough as nails Nashville Predators. The Rangers are looking to continue their winning ways after defeating the Sabres on Friday night. The victory came because of a called-back goal due to offsides. The Rangers have been on a tear for the last month winning 12 of their last 14 games.

Bounce back wins and beating teams that they should beat has become a calling card for this year’s Rangers team. They haven’t lost more than 1 game in a row since their Western Canadian trip in early November. During that trip, they lost 3 games in a row. Since then, they have only lost 2 total games. One against the the Toronto Maple Leafs, and one against the Colorado Avalanche.

It looks like Alexander Georgiev will start in goal for the second straight game after posting the win against Buffalo. Igor Shesterkin has been on the ice practicing this week, but is not ready yet according to New York Rangers Head Coach Gerard Gallant.

What To Watch For

– Ryan Strome and Nils Lundkvist have been taking it easy due to some suspected non-covid related illness that may be going around. They are expected to be in the lineup.

– Tonight, Chris Kreider will become the 22nd Ranger in team history to play in at least 600 regular-season games for the Rangers.

– The Nashville Predators currently lead the league in fighting majors. So look for things to be very physical tonight. Tonight will be a good test to see how the Rangers’ team toughness has changed them.

– Adam Fox has the second-most assists in the NHL and leads all defensemen with 24A and 29 Pts.

New York Rangers: Adam Huska to make first career start vs. Colorado

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Like Igor Shesterkin before him, Adam Huska will make his first start for the Rangers against the Colorado Avalanche.

It’s deja blue all over again.

New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant announced that goaltender Adam Huska will make his first career NHL start on Wednesday night when his Blueshirts battle the Colorado Avalanche (7 p.m. ET, MSG 2/NHL Network). Huska will face Colorado nearly two full calendar years to the day that regular Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin made first appeared, with his first start also coming against visitors from Denver at Madison Square Garden in January 2020.

In video released by SNY, Gallant mentioned that the Rangers’ condensed schedule put Huska in net. The Rangers (17-4-3) will play seven games over the next 14 days, starting with Wednesday’s visit from the Avalanche. It’s the latter half of a back-to-back after a 6-2 victory in Chicago on Tuesday.

Huska was called up from AHL Hartford earlier this week as the Rangers continue to work through Shesterkin’s non-contact lower-body injury sustained last Friday against San Jose. Alexandar Georgiev has taken over as the Rangers’ starter with Shesterkin out, earning wins in each of the past two contests.

“The kid’s getting his first chance,” Gallant said. “We’re looking forward to it. He’s excited, we’re excited.”

Huska, 24, joined the Rangers as a seventh-round pick (184th overall) in the 2015 draft. The Slovakia native has shared Hartford’s goaltending duties with NHL veteran Keith Kinkaid and has earned a 2.20 goals against average to go with a .924 save percentage and 2-3-1 record. He also appeared in two preseason games earlier this fall, stopping 18 of 22 shots.

The AHL hasn’t been Huska’s first exposure to Hartford hockey as he previously served as the University of Connecticut’s goaltender for three seasons.

Huska’s official NHL debut will be a trial by fire: though they’ve struggled to string wins together after a torrid November, Colorado (13-7-2) boasts one of the most explosive offenses in the NHL. The Avalanche have scored 92 goals this season, tied with Washington for the NHL’s second-best tally entering Wednesday night. Cale Makar leads the team with 11 goals, which also top all NHL defensemen, while Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen have 10 each.

Entering the final stanza of a five-game eastern swing, Colorado is coming off a 7-5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night. The Avalanche put up 50 shots on net and saw all but four skaters earn at least one point.

Huska will wear No. 32, last worn by fellow backup goaltender Antti Raanta (2016-17).

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Rangers’ Jacob Trouba will not face any supplemental discipline (Report)

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The New York Rangers will have defenseman Jacob Trouba in the lineup tonight now that the NHL has decided not to impose any suspensions following his hit on Jujhar Khaira Tuesday night.

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba will not face any discipline after his hard, but clean hit on Chicago Blackhawks Jujhar Khaira per the Athletics’ Arthur Staple.

The incident occurred with just. under 14 minutes remaining in the second period of the Ranger’s 6-2 victory over the Blackhawks.

Khaira was skating with his head down when Trouba connected with a massive body check. He led with his shoulder and though he appeared to glance his head prior to hitting Khaira to the right of his chest, the check looked clean.

The on-ice officials viewed the hit clean as did the NHL per Staple. Trouba was visibly shaken when he returned to the bench, but completed playing the game.

Khaira was transported to the hospital and thankfully was released on Wednesday.

The Rangers will try to extend their seven-game winning streak when they host the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday night.

Main takeaways as New York Rangers tally 7th straight victory in win over Blackhawks

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New York Rangers, Artemi Panarin

The New York Rangers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 for their 7th victory in a row on Tuesday night. The game was highlighted by not only Artemi Panarin scoring his 500th point of his career but also by a booming hit by Jacob Trouba that sent Juuhar Khaira to the hospital on a stretcher.

The Rangers got out to an early lead 1:01 into the 1st period on a Jacob Trouba bomb from the right circle. The feed from Artemi Panarin was his 500th point in just 497 games. Becoming just the 49th player in NHL history to accomplish this feat. Panarin capped off the night with another assist and 2 more goals, including an empty netter and the 1st star of the game.

In a scarier moment, at 13:50 into the 2nd period, Juuhar Khaira accepted a pass from behind him while exiting the defensive zone. His head was down while he was trying to find the puck, and Jacob Trouba stepped up and laid a huge hit on him. No penalty was called because it looked like the initial point of contact was Khaira’s chest. The only reason his head/chin was hit was because his head was down. Not because Trouba was headhunting.

 

This game was indicative of what has become Rangers hockey. They do not give an inch, all four lines forecheck, and they stick up for each other. This was apparent after a very questionable hit from behind on Dryden Hunt by Ryan Carpenter. Ryan Strome came screaming in and dropped the gloves, and started throwing punches in a true show of camaraderie. What happened last year after the Tom Wilson incident will not happen again with this current team. Bet on it.

Rangers Game Notes

– Alexander Georgiev stood tall in net tonight. Saving 24 of 26 shots for a .923 save percentage for the Rangers. It took his record this year to 4-1-1 with a .876 SV%. His playing well in goal the last 2 ½ games has been a huge boost for this team with Igor Shesterkin out. Igor is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury he sustained on Friday night against the Sharks.

– Chris Kreider scored a Power play goal for his 17th goal of the season. This was also his 10th power-play goal of the season so far. Is this the year he finally scores 30?

– This win marked the 7th win in a row for the Rangers and the 11th win in the last 12 games.

– Mika Zibanejad is now on a 13 game scoreless streak. Although he does have 10 apples in that timespan

– Jacob Trouba had the 1st “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” by a defenseman since Brian Leetch in1988

Postponed Rangers-Islanders game moved to St. Patrick’s Day

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The NHL has made March 17 a holiday in more ways than one, as the Islanders and Rangers will do battle at MSG.

New York hockey fans will be more than happy to add a little blue to their St. Patrick’s Day proceedings.

The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday that Nov. 28’s postponed game between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers will now be staged on Mar. 17 at Madison Square Garden. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET with coverage likely carried on the networks of MSG.

That postponed weekend matchup was one of two Islander games delayed by a COVID-19 induced pause, the other being a Nov. 30 visit to Philadelphia. The latter contest against the Flyers has yet to be rescheduled.

Despite its move, the Mar. 17 contest still be the second iteration of this season’s in-state hockey rivalry and the first at MSG. Two further matchups are scheduled for April. The Rangers took away the first meeting on Nov. 24 by a 4-1 final at the first get-together at the Islanders’ new Belmont-based home of UBS Arena. En route to their second consecutive NHL semifinal appearance, the Islanders won six of the eight meetings placed on last year’s division rival-heavy schedule, which included a 3-1-0 mark in Manhattan.

News of the shift came shortly before each team earned big wins in Tuesday night action. The Rangers (17-4-3)  stretched their winning streak to seven with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks while the Islanders (6-10-5) stopped an 11-game winless skid in Ottawa, topping the Senators 5-3. A return to UBS Arena awaits the Islanders on Thursday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG+) while the Blueshirts immediately return to action on Wednesday at home against Colorado (7 p.m. ET, MSG 2/NHL Network).

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Rangers Vs. Chicago Blackhawks Gameday Preview 12/7/2021

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rangers, nhl

On the tails of a comeback victory in front of a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd on Saturday night, the New York Rangers play the second game of a home and home series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Rangers are looking to continue their recent winning ways, having won 6 straight, and 10 of their last 11. With 10 of those victories being won by one goal. The Rangers have figured out how to keep a late lead after struggling with it earlier in the season. Their 6-game win streak is the longest streak for the Rangers since a 6-game stretch in 2017.

New York Rangers Game Day Notes

– Adam Fox is expected to be in the lineup tonight after he took a maintenance day yesterday and didn’t practice. He has a six-game assist streak going in which he has notched eight assists.

– Artemi Panarin is looking to become the 49th player in NHL history to score 500 points in 457 games or less. This feat is even more impressive, considering Panarin was never even drafted.

– Alexander Georgiev is in net again tonight for the Rangers after an impressive showing against the Blackhawks on Saturday night.

– Marc-Andre Fleury is making his 900th NHL appearance tonight. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner is currently sitting at 499 career wins. His next win will give him 500 victories, joining an elite group of just two other goalies to achieve at least 500 victories. Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy.

Rangers call up G Adam Huska to back up Alexandar Georgiev

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The New York Rangers call up goaltender Adam Huska from the AHL Hartford Wolfpack Saturday afternoon per the AHL transaction page.

The New York Rangers will have Adam Huska backing up Alexandar Georgiev when the Blueshirts host the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday night at the Garden.

Huska 24-years-old has appeared in six games for the Hartford Wolf Pack with a 2-3-1 record. he has recorded a 2.20 GAA along with a .924 save percentage serving as the back to Keith Kinkaid.

Kinkaid would most likely be the goalie called up, but per Rangers beat writer Vince Mercogliano he is currently in Covid Protocol in the AHL and is unable to be recalled. The Wolf Pack have been dealing with a Covid situation since Dec. 1  that has resulted in their games being canceled through this weekend.

MRI on Saturday

Shesterkin was scheduled to have an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of his injury.

Head coach Gerard Gallant told the media following last night’s win that Jim Ramsay, told him the right-leg injury seems minor. He definitely seems like he’s feeling some relief.

Shetserkin and Geogeiev combined for the 1-0 shutout over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night with Shestrkin earing his 13th win of the season. It was the team’s second combined shutout win in team history. The other combined shutout win was in 2016 when Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta shared a 2-0 victory.

 

Barron sent to AHL

Morgan Barron was sent back done to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday morning.