Blog Archives

Rangers welcome Talbot and McDavid to MSG to close out homestand

Bobby Bevilacqua

rangers-vs-oilers-12-11

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

The Rangers (7-3-0) will look to sweep their three game homestand tonight when they take on the surprisingly good Edmonton Oilers (7-2-1) for the first time this season.

The Rangers have won the first two games of this homestand by a combined score of 11-1, recording the first shutout of the season Tuesday night against the Blues thanks to Henrik Lundqvist’s 35 save performance.

This is the first matchup between the Rangers and the Oilers this season, and the only one at Madison Square Garden. The teams split the season series last year, with the home team winning each game. The Rangers scored at least four goals in each of the games and a total of nine. Rick Nash led the team with five points (2-3-5) while Mats Zuccarello tallied a pair of goals and assists. Read the rest of this entry

Igor Shestyorkin named KHL goalie of the month

Bobby Bevilacqua

igor shestyorkin.jpg

Igor Shestyorkin was selected by the Rangers 118th overall in the 2014 NHL draft and the 14th goalie taken that year. The Rangers also selected Brandon Halverson with their first pick, which was in the second round.

Halverson is playing well with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL, but it’s Shestyorkin that is the best prospect in the Rangers system.

Yesterday the KHL announced that Skestyorkin, 20, was named the best KHL goalie in the league for the month of October. So far he has played in 18 games with SKA St. Petersburg and has a record of 13-1-2 with a 1.46 GAA and a .943 save percentage. Read the rest of this entry

Kreider back in the lineup against the Blues; AV switches lines for speed, skill

Bobby Bevilacqua

rangers-vs-blues-10-15

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

For the first time in four games, the Rangers (6-3-0) will play with Chris Kreider in the lineup as they take on the St. Louis Blues (5-2-2) tonight at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers are coming off of an impressive victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring six goals and being led by Michael Grabner, who had a hat trick, as well as the rest of the third line in Kevin Hayes and JT Miller, who each had three points. Antti Raanta made 31 saves for his second win of the season.

The Rangers’ offense has been buzzing without Chris Kreider, but now the forward group gets even more dangerous and deep with him back in the lineup tonight. He started out the season red hot, scoring three goals and seven points in each of his first five games. Read the rest of this entry

Grabner’s hat trick leads Rangers to dominating win over Tampa Bay

Bobby Bevilacqua

michael-grabner-goal-celebration-10-30

Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

After a tough loss in Carolina, the Rangers (6-3-0) rebounded extremely well, scoring six goals and dominating Ben Bishop and the Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-0) at Madison Square Garden.

Rick Nash opened the goal scoring in the second period, and from there the floodgates opened. Jimmy Vesey and JT Miller each scored in this period, while Michael Grabner netted the first of his hattrick in the middle period. Antti Raanta finished the game with 31 saves, surrendering a late goal to Steven Stamkos that spoiled the shutout.

Here’s my recap with some thoughts and observations; Read the rest of this entry

Rangers head back home to battle the Lightning; Kreider doubtful

Bobby Bevilacqua

rangers-vs-lightning-5-22

Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

After a brief stop in Carolina that resulted in a 3-2 loss, the Rangers (5-3-0) look to get back to their winning ways when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning (5-3-0) at Madison Square Garden.

In that loss to Carolina, Mats Zuccarello scored both Rangers goals, giving him four this season. Pavel Buchnevich recorded an assist in his first game back from back spasms, and Ryan McDonagh also tallied an assist, on a marvelous stretch pass, to extend his six game point streak. Mika Zibanajad’s assist kept him at a point-per-game pace through eight games (2-6-8).

The Lightning played last night in Newark, falling to the Devils by a score of 3-1. Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 20 shots and the team’s lone goal came from Tyler Johnson. Tampa Bay has had trouble with starting slow, and that happened again when they gave up two goals in the first period to New Jersey. Read the rest of this entry