Happy New Year to Boneheads worldwide! Enjoy your night and get home safe!
Was it as bad as the score makes it look? Not really, though it was still not very good. The Rangers lost two players to injury in the second period, Laba (UBI) and Sheary (LBI). Laba was drilled by Terrible Tom Wilson, not sure who got Sheary. Laba learned a valuable lesson the hard way – keep your head up and always know where Wilson is – pretty much what other teams had to do with Trouba when he was a NYR.
Beauvillier (8) opened the scoring for WAS at 12:27 of the first but the Rangers were able to counter late in the period when Trocheck (9) scored at 19:20. The second period belonged to the Caps and Wilson. At 7:33, Wilson (20) put them up 2-1 and Sourdif (4) extended the lead at 11:12. Fox (4) would cut it to 3-2 on the PP at 15:17 with a booming shot from the very high slot.
The third started with the Rangers killing off the last minute or so of a late second period penalty which seemed to give them a bit of a lift. Though they pushed, there were far to many shots completely missing the net, from up close, from far away and from in between. Eventually this caught up with them when Protas (15) scored at 13:34 with a tip-in putting the Caps up 4-2 and taking most of what life the Rangers had. Wilson (21) would add another at 16:37 to make it 5-2 WAS. Schneider (2) would cut it to 5-3 at 18:16 but that was it for the Rangers. Sourdif (5) would start the NYE cele with an ENG at 19:11.
So 2025 ended much like the rest of the year – competitive for portions of the game but in the end, not good enough. Perhaps 2026 will bring a different result!
Game summary below:
The Rangers will continue on the road with a nationally televised tilt against conference rivals the Florida Panthers on Friday, 2 January at 20:00 EST. The game is on “neutral” ice at LoanDepot Park, Miami. Expect Florida Man to be in attendance! Telecast on networks you must pay for: TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, TVAS. Rangers should have exciting odds as the dog.
106 responses to “Rangers 3, Caps 6”
Corporal C: re your 16:51, perhaps we’ll get lucky and the move Drury makes is falling on his sword?
GGMM likes Fox so perhaps a bit blinded but I do not think Fox is held in as high esteem around the league as she (and many NYR fans) believe. Nobody doubts his skill on the PP but for the defensive side not so much. If the NYR actually got offense from their top six Fox would be 2nd pair and PP1.
Maybe I’m just paying closer attention but seems to me this season has seen a huge jump in injuries
Injury Update: Frank Vatrano will be out approximately six weeks due to a shoulder fracture suffered Dec. 27 at Los Angeles.
With team Canada announcing their team for the Olympics, here’s a sobering stat:
Of all players drafted first overall since 1985, only 2 have never represented their country at senior level.
#NYR Alexis Lafrenière (2020) and Alexandre Daigle (1993).
Sobering
Am I the only one rooting against the US Olympic hockey team due to the Fox snub?
I mean it’s self-defeating and just plain fuggin stupid.
I’m not concerned about Fox not being on team USA
He was pretty bad last years tourney
Fox got burnt on McDavids winning goal I’m sure USA Mgmt took note of that ..SLOW FOOT SPEED not a good match for Canada’s Go Go Gadget Offense
Also pretty sure Sully Quinn and Drury campaigned for Fox but Guerin wasn’t impressed w his 4 Nations performance..same with Kreider
Has anyone from any team ever cleaned Wilson’s clock? I mean, really leveled him? Probably not. He could be torturing the Rangers for another 8-10 years.
Our Head Coach: “We had some good looks…” Where have we heard THAT B4?
Good thing we got big # 73 up here to jack-up Wilson. LOL.
How is Fox supposed to feel about his coach not wanting him on the team? There’s no way in hell that he doesn’t have the influence to put him on that team. He didn’t want him either. Fugg Sully
Coos, we’ve only got just over half of that.
#39
Fox was having a great season before he was injured, then he came back and picked right up where he left off offensively.
Molly folly poplolly
Holly golly dolly
I hope (and pray as I’m deeply devout) that Gunther von Bass Ale, a German d man, Knocks Wilson into the 2038 Olympics. Then Gearhart Luftwaffe skates over the fallen wilson and chops his arms off
I can see why Frenchy was not chosen for oh Canada’s Olympic team……but how on earth did Otter not make it?
Good news: Laughy added to the Canadiens figure skating team
They missed Sheary in the 3rd period
The Ranger solution to the Wilson problem is to acquire him 5 years from now….when he will be a gentle sterile version of himself. It will only cost the Rangers a 1st rounder and two prospects…one of whom will then be the next Ranger tormentor.
We are now 13th out of 16 teams in the Eastern Conference but we own the worst winning % out of 16 teams…the 3 teams below us have 3, 4 and 3 games in hand….only a matter if time before we are dead last. Wake.the F up Drury
When’s Sully going to spit it out instead of vaguely implying and dancing all season around the issue: Way too few guys willing to go to the net and after being told dozens of times, over and over. Scaredy-Cats. How much more obvious can it get? Let’s get a Coach in here instead of a politician. And he can take Dreary with him. And Dolan while they’re at it.
Happy 250th birthday America and happy new year ranger fans
Well my wife and I had a busy day yesterday. I missed the “some good looks game” and don’t plan on wasting a second watching the replay. We’ll be fine once JT is back lol!
I’m not going to list all the issues I have with this Cotton Candy Clown Show you have all heard them more than enough times. I am not a fan of tanking and they may not have to. They just have to be in the mix for Gavin Mckenna. Although I don’t know who the top center is but that may be the better pick. “Sell Tank” is my chant! You all know I’m right!
Oh yeah “Happy New Year.”
Happy New Year to all youse boneheads and don’t let the Rangers performance ruin it for you. Drury won’t.
In the 19th century, Americans called swimming pools “tanks” and thus “go into the tank” was synonymous with “to dive.” As far back as the 1920s, the phrase go into the tank became associated with intentionally losing a boxing match by diving onto the canvas and pretending you’ve been knocked out
Its not a real tank until they move some guys and replace them with AHL kids
Sayonara
If Drury wakes up – one or more draft picks go out the door
Mortgaging the future even more
The Avs, with 67 points in 39 games, are now on pace for 141 points
Will be great disappointment if they don’t win it all
Beezle
Trade them Igor and they will.
Drury is dumber than an armadillo crossing the street.
At least the Derbils are in free fall as well.
Jets, Flames and Kings are all dance partners
What will Bread actually fetch in trade market? Time to find out now.
Look for the young players (RWs!!) on third lines w TOI blocked above them in lineup due to contracts and/or performance.
Sabres on a roll. Rangers in a hole. Secretariat fathered foals. Smokin bowls. Birthmarks and moles. BBQ coals. Otter no goals. Germans and poles. Savin souls.
BOYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
E3
Well done just like our little boys in blue!
Meeka has really responded since being benched in the Huggy Twin game
So the Rangers sent down Othman and have recalled three stiffs. Berard, Blihd and Dowling. The Putty Tats was be shaking in their boots.
Othmann had to go down due to potential bonuses hitting cap
Not a joke some bonuses can be easy to obtain and have to be assumed until no longer possible
They brought up 3 guys due to injuries and sickness which temporarily forced the Othmann send down
Rather see chemlar again
Dowling is a center -assume he will play
So do GM’s break out laughing when the see Drury is calling?
Brodude can play center as well
New York Wolfpack
Anyone else not give a sh-t about tomorrow’s winter classic? I’ve NEVER been so apathetic about a Rangers season. I turned the game off in the 2nd yesterday, and completely forgot they were even playing. They can’t even rebuild the right way if they wanted to (which they won’t bc JD and the nut shots won’t let them).
If you want them to squeak into the playoffs, you’re missing the big picture- This team will not make it out of the first round, and if by some miracle Igor stood on his head and stole them a series, he won’t do it for all 4.
Down to the studs, please (but they won’t)
Totally agree….we just dropped to 14th in Eastern Conference with Ottawa’s win over Craps. We will be in 15th if Tronna gets a single point tonight. Only Blue Jackets would be below us and they have 3 games in hand.
This team is flawed..the organization is broken..the ownership is asleep amd.the GM is incompetent…other than that we’re in good shape.
Correction if Tronna wins tonight they take 14th place
New York Rangers 3 stars of the week
#3 Michelle Gingras
#2 Michelle Gingras
#1 Michelle Gingras
Agree Craig weather. Very dissapointed.
Some sort of ocd in me has me watching all the games to completion. Suffering is what rangers fans do best
Figure suffering through this makes me appreciate the good times (conference final and finals runs) even more
Not sure how long it’s gonna take to fix. No end in sight currently
Though. Look at Buffalo the past few weeks. Fire GM seems to have had some sort of effect
Dead last in the conference in pt% doesn’t make me nervous anybody is trading potential lottery pick for deadline help… however, dead last in goals scored does make me nervous about some other possible management behaviors
These were the years Kaako and Laffy were supposed to take the reigns and lead the next wave
😂 👋 😣
https://x.com/Peter_Baugh/status/2006825972247765432
Practice line up
Dowling 3rd line center
https://x.com/Peter_Baugh/status/2006821167659889022
Laba week to week
Wyatt Johnston 20g 25a
Brennan Othmann 0g 0a
Drury master drafter
Utah kicked the extra point over isles
Alex – what is the “bonus” that Othmann would get? It is certainly not for scoring or games played – he had more of both last season. Also, per puckpedia:
While performance bonuses eventually count against the salary cap, they do not use up space during a season unless a team’s potential bonuses exceed 7.5% of the Salary Cap.
His 450K bonus does not even get paid all at once. First hurdle gets 212.50K
E3, please go take all of Otter’s belts and ties away from him
GGMM seems to be having a meltdown that Fox was not selected. She does report that Vaaka9n is a reserve for Finland
Beezle
Not sure on what the bonus structure is for Othmann or any others who could push Rangers over limit
Below from Vince
https://x.com/vzmercogliano/status/2006760935512486041
Beezle
Lazarus is melting too re Fox
Molly with the praccy lines
Coos how about gifting GGMM some binocs?
I really don’t get it – they made a decision based on what they needed to have from their defense. Fox didn’t make the cut because they didn’t prioritize point play on the PP.
Based upon current records, WC2 looks to be 95 pts. NYR need to go 0.619 the rest of the way to get to that. Winning 10 in a row would go a long way!
Beezle
If the Rangers win 10 in a row the moon will leave orbit.
Its always hard to see for Molly
Agree. Fox strength is power play
I haven’t looked at the rosters. But I assume they have at least 5 other guys that can man that role
And do other things better
Now that Slow Fox is back I see Schneider has been relocated on the can.
I like the d pairs like this
More balanced and playing the natural side
Robertson proving capable and more experienced than a typical rookie given all the development time
Pairs 2 and 3 are interchangeable and should likely see same minutes. With Schneider seeing more minutes on PK
Would not have Fox doing much PK … less miles
Leafs were down 4 to.1.to the Peg…now 5 to 4 with Matthews Hat Trick…another team that will pass us in the standings…
They have Hughes and Wennberg to play QB PP and they are not skating like they are wearing an overloaded adult diaper
Maybe hockey gods will feel bad for us and give us another top 3 pick at the lottery
Record will probably earn a top 2
We’ll definitely be winning the draft lottery this season. Gavin McKenna is a left winger. Exactly what we need.
If the Rangers win tomorrow, I’m going to laugh in every Panther fan’s face because they lost to an AHL team.
I already told my good friend that he should cry if the cats lose tomorrow.
Good news everyone! Coolio was quoted as saying the ice sucks and is slow. Who knew NHL would give the NYR an advantage?
Looking at the US Olympic roster on defense – other than Hughes, the smallest guy is 6’1 200lb, most are 6’2-3 and 210+/-
Seems pretty clear powers that be only wanted one pony on defense and they picked Hughes over Fox.
But just to show they aren’t super smart – JT and Tro are named to roster as starters.
Bad ice might help. The Ranger game plan every games is to slow it down and make it a low event game so they can hang in and hope for a lucky break. Hope is not a plan.
Now we know why the refs suck so bad
The mediocrity in the East may keep the Rangers from climbing up the draft order. The AVs and Stars are picking up points faster than any Eastern team and and suppressing the points of the bottom dwellers in the West. That may make it hard for them to crack the top 5 unless the wheels completely fall off. That could happen if they move lots of guys at the deadline. But it’s late this year because of the Olympics.
More entertaining than Gianone. Ferrell shows his commitment by wearing the uni.
The Go Time is in the can and set to post a little earlier than usual, 7PM in case there is some game related news prior. I’ll be on the road today but should hopefully make it back before puck drop.
LGR!
What ever could possibly go wrong to make matters worse, will. It’s the Ranger way!
If the Rangers pick 8OA they’re in prime position to select the 155lb LD from Quebec. Better off trading down to the teens and take a center like Roobroeck or malhotra?
Vaka9n the only Finnish current nhl dman not selected to Olympic team. Somehow they will also manage without kakko…
Mika gets to represent the Swedes again.
Mika Zibanejad goes another game without a shot on goal
Wednesday’s game against the Capitals was the fourth time in the last five games Zibanejad failed to record a shot on goal. The one game he had a shot on goal was against the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Rangers’ center had just one. December was one of the most disappointing months for Zibanejad in quite some time, and his slump is baffling. The Rangers’ offense is struggling mightily, and Zibanejad needs to get back to being an assertive shooter.
How about growing some balls Sully and give Meeka a seat for.the Winter Classic..
Embarass him and maybe he will pout sulk and ask out finally…I would do it in a heartbeat
Just for morbid curiosity compared LAF’s stat’s to Yakupov, Stefan and Daigle. He fits nicely in that group.
Games Goals Asst Pts. Hi Pt
LAF 422 100 113 213 57
Daigle 616 129 198 327 51(3X)
Yakupov 350 62 74 136 36
Stefan 455 64 124 188 40
LAF looks to have surpassed Stefan and Yakupov. Daigle is still ahead of him and had three 50 point seasons. That’s not a lock for LAF yet.
It is odd that Daigle is the avatar for 1AO busts and LAF is not yet in the conversation. It may take him a few more seasons to get there. I also don’t think any of them got a third long term contract like Drury gave him.
Here are the returns when the other three were traded.
Daigle
Traded from Ottawa to Philadelphia for Václav Prospal, Pat Falloon, and a 2nd-round pick was Teemu Saimomaa who never played in the NHL.
Stefan
Stefan and defenseman Jaroslav Modry went to Dallas.
Return: Niko Kapanen and a 2006 seventh-round draft pick went to Atlanta.
Yakupov
From Oilers to Blues: Nail Yakupov (Russian forward).
From Blues to Oilers: Zach Pochiro (forward) and a conditional 2017 third-round pick.
Condition: The pick became a 2018 second-rounder if Yakupov scored 15+ goals in the 2016-17 season (which he didn’t).
LAF tracks closest to Daigle. If the Rangers could get a return similar to what the Sens got for Daigle they should jump on it even if they had to retain some salary to get it.
Lafren contract means he’ll stick around in the league at least another 5-6 years so he’s prettyikely to surpass daigle but not necessarily for good reasons!
SSDY
Same (stuff) different year.
Meeka was embarrassed by coach for Ducks game and the stats that follow are what resulted; guy needs an emotional rescue; he will be gonzo in second half as hitting ramps up. Maybe re-energized post Milan; but how cares.
if you want this franchise to succeed long term, you have to be rooting for a full on collapse and Dreary to sent packing
Fla 9
Rangers 0
Can see Dreary getting more draft capital for this years and wanting to start a new ‘retool’ clock but that didn’t work for Gorts w JD and the sour notes
JD the crayon eating ‘former’ coke head not J Oh baby D
I don’t care anymore
I don’t care anymore, do ya hear
I don’t care what sully / drury say
Other teams don’t play games the rangers play
I don’t care anymore
James Dolan – SN what’s wrong with eating crayons? The blue ones are best
James Dolan – I drink paint too
Any word on the seriousness of Hot Laba’s injury. He’s so hot, Laba.
The drive for five is alive, beehive, talkin jive, take a dive, Ian and Clive, married my wive
Boyeeeeeeeeeeeeee
That’s 6, pick up sticks, ny nix, lite yo bics, trader Vic’s, candle wicks, Stevie nicks, just for kicks, treat and tricks, watching flicks, country hicks, get some licks, krauts and micks,
Boyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Somebody stop me
So sick of 93
Mika “I know what my contract says” Zibanejad 🙄 a real new york sports legend
Sayonara
Even if Mika oks a deal the other team won’t take him without a couple of picks attached
Preferably 1s