The Rangers put on quite the show last night in the Winter Classic in southern Florida, beating the Panthers 5-1 on just twenty shots on goal. There was no question who the star of this game would be – Mika Zibanejad.
Zibanejad set the record for most points in an outdoor game, 5, with his three goals and two assists. His hat trick was the first of the Winter Classic and the second in outdoor game history (needs confo!). Earlier in the day he was named to Sweden’s Olympic roster as well. In addition, Zibanejad tied the NYR record for most power play points, 116. Zibanejad now has four goals scored in outdoor games.
There was also NYR history – they own the outdoor hockey game. Six wins out of six games spanning the period 1991-2026. This was also the third time they have scored five goals in an outdoor game, also an NHL record (Detroit and St. Louis are the only other teams to have multiple five goal games).
Other individual notes: Panarin is now tied with three others for most outdoor game points, seven (three goals, four assists). Lafreniere with three assists last night increased his outdoor game point total to five, all assists.
Game summary below:
The Rangers get back to work on Monday, 5 January at MSG against the Utah Mammoths. Telecast by MSG and Utah16.
79 responses to “Rangers 5, PuddyKats 1”
Beezled again!
Corporal – bad penalty by Brodude but there were five others too. At least he had three blocked shots (and in history, an assist in the last outdoor game).
I actually think one of the key moments was when Rempe drew the late hooking penalty. Rangers came out on the PP with a mission to get the 4th goal and stomp on any late Florida heroics. Play had been mostly in their own end prior.
I actually think I got this cold/flu whatever in NJ. Remind me never to go there again!
Liked Dowlings game last night
big wins like that are how you move from 16th in the conference to 15th! fingers crossed Drury’s statistician can explain to him what’s there for all to see that he’s still near last place and not “just one point outside of the wildcard”
I might do a write-up of what it felt like to be at this one, later in the season, Beezle. It was a fun one.
Which of the 7 minutes stood out most?
7 minutes?
lol SN I thought the same thing but 🤷♂️
EV you still owe us your “meeting with Sam” post!
I would like to hear about the meeting of Sam last year!!!
Shesty was fantastic. If Mika didn’t have that game he would’ve won the coco cup
Hank mentioned on pregame that the excitement and change of pace of these outdoor games with having family and friends there etc could be just what the rangers need to get out of their inconsistent funk
I’m paraphrasing
Beezle, I’m also going to skate on the Winter Classic ice tomorrow.
Maybe you fall and slide through the neutral zone like Trochek.
FL shot attempts 87 Rangers 46. Hits Fl 38 Rangers 20. You won’t win many of those games. Special teams and having the better Russian goalie last night did it for them. They will win some games from now until April but are still going to be around NHL 500. Enjoy the ones they win, but they still need to sell anyone they can over 30.
Out of morbid curiosity I switched to ot of leafs and fishsticks
From the nfl game
Obvious mistake by me
Not even a long list of over-30s. Jt Mika Bread Tro Carrick. Gavrikov Soucy. Quick and Igor’s infinity contract.
Veteran presence will save them
ORF, I’m gonna slide through the neutral zone just for you.
EV whatever you do, don’t pee on the ice. At least not when anyone is looking. But if you do, spell out “Bettman sucks” 🤣
I have tears in my eyes …
I think we are all on agreement that this is not a Stanley cup contending team. The way I see it, there are two roads Drury can take. He can attempt a retool. This means hockey trades, and a strategic FA, or two. Then go back at it next season. I’m a broken record with this, but the two guys who would bring the most value in this scenario are, Trocheck, and Schneider. The second way to go about it, tear it down. Everyone goes, Miller included. Between now, and next years trade deadline. Then build around Fox, Schneider, and Gavrikov on D, Lafrenier, Cuylle, Perreault, and Laba up front. Most likely keep Shesterkin. Panarin goes on both scenarios. He can’t leave for nothing. Acquire both futures, and NHL players. As much draft capital as possible. Make some picks, and use some picks on guys like Bennet, and Zegras (examples of previous guys). Throw away next season, but be back and ready to roll in 27/28.
Carey I think the second scenario is likely the better one long term. Crazy as it sounds, I trust Drury more at drafting than “hockey trades” for a retool. Probably because there is more input from others in the organization?
Does the retool include extending Panarin? Their scoring is even more problematic without him. The rebuild can’t be just draft choices. That gives you a team full of 20 year olds many of whom don’t pan out. That is the Edmonton, Buffalo model. You need a blend of vets, young NHL players and prospects to make it work. It’s hard to do and is Drury up to the task?
ORF,
It does not. They need to move on. I’ve mentioned the guys I’d target in a retool, Kyrou, and Laferrier. Kyrou is a proven goal scorer, and I think laferrier has potential to be a good goal scorer. Those are the types of guys Drury should go after.
Beezle,
I have never been a full rebuild fan. Those can last a long, long time. But I do lean sort of that way. Move on from Miller (retain to do it). Move on from Zibanejad ( retain to do it), and move on from Panarin. You will also need to retain to do that. Teams are only allowed 3 retentions at a time, so after next season Panarin would be off the books, leaving room for another retention if needed. Trocheck should go regardless. The value should be there. Soucy is draft pick trade. Borgen could be interesting. 3 years left on a very reasonable contract. I’m torn on what he bring back, draft capital, or useful young player.
Roman Moroni rebuild needed
https://x.com/vzmercogliano/status/2007857155433496654
Looks like Berard and Robertson out based on practice
Orf
Except bread will want longer contract say 4 or 5 yrs and no discount whatsoever
ORF- Coolio and Laf are vets at this point. Two seasons from now Laba would be 200 gp +/-
Not saying that’s enough but definitely a start
It’s a retool and you trade Panarin regardless….he can re sign if he wants to come back at a discount
Fire Drury, Bobbyo for GM he’s always optimistic!
Eli
Except for players he hates
Alex
He will trade them
YAWN
GMen doing it again. Dallas threw in the towel when they took out Prescott at half time. Looks like they drop to 7th in the draft.
Agree Panarin will want more than they can offer- especially term. So who are your top six next year? LAF, Cuylle and who else?
The DJ will probably still be here ….could see interest in Robertson ..and Bunting …and they may get a young roster player back via trades of Panarin and/Trochek
Old Rangers Fan. Screw draft position. Our QB played well and we finally beat Dallas. Yeah I know 2nd overall pick would have been nice; but you play the game in front of you and not for the shoulda,woulda and coulda’s.
Who would have thought of a parlay with Rangers and Giants winning.
All in all not a bad weekend.
BobbyO. How many retools do you want to do?
As many as it takes
He’s owns a big shed
we don’t need a retool. We need a new owner. Any one of you got 10 or 15 billion to buy MSG from Dolan?
The last thing I would want to keep for a rebuild would be Lafreniere. They don’t need him showing more young players how to coast and collect a big salary. Players with his lack of compete and sense of entitlement destroy teams.
To me, 2nd scenario, blow it up total rebuild.
Dreary almost got it right trading the youngsters (Kakko, Heetle) full of promise but not performance, thought he had something with the Laughing boy but jokes on him
The reality is Dolan will never let his GM do a total rebuild so the rangers as long as Dolan is the owner will never win a cup.
Rangers let a golden opportunity slip away during the Winter Classic. Had they managed to get shut out again and lose by several goals, EV would have been able to get thousands of Ranger fans to chant “FIRE DRURY” for a national audience. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get that chant going when they are winning. Another lost opportunity. EV was not given a fair chance to get the GM fired. Mika and Panarin screw the Rangers again.
I believe it was the Minx who said whatever could possibly go wrong would. So sorry EV, but I am usually right.
Gavrikov should send Wilson a dancing 🕺 meme
Czechia vs Sweden in the WJC Final. Czechs take down Canada 6-4.
Lol Mkh
Hey ORF, I slid through the neutral zone like you wanted me to. I even took a POV video when I did it. Didn’t get enough speed to go far enough though. Lol
Ev
Not enough speed? You’re Ranger material!
I remember a drill we used to do with the kids where they would slide through the neutral zone and got up at the far blue line. They did it on their stomachs though. It would be tough on your knees without shin guards.
The circus comes to town tonight at MSG. Let’s see if the Rangers can tame the Mammoths.
That Utah Mammoths is probably the dumbest professional team name ever.
Continuation of Zibanejanuary tonight vs the Mamut?
I caught the end of the Sweden-Finland semifinal. wouldn’t ever want it for pro playoff hockey and still think it’s a dumb way to award olympic/WC medals but it was fun to watch the kids shootout.
They have changed the championship game to 20 minutes OTs until someone scores. I think it’s still 3 on 3 though.
which former-Ranger moved out last year by Drury scored the most goals in December?
congrats if you answered Trouba and Reilly Smith (2 apiece!)
Czechs played Canada tough and probably had the better of the play. Is Canada still using they have too many good players as an excuse? The Finns are competitive every year with a population of 5.6 million.
Watched the outdoor game saw Fla only had one letter wearer
Googled and found this
https://floridahockeynow.com/this-florida-panthers-story-brought-to-you-by-the-letter-a/
That’s interesting about the rule on wearing the letter. As to Maurice concerns both guys are fabulously wealthy multi-Cup championbstars filling in for injured star teammates I doubt they’re having ego issues with a letter going on and off their jerseys temporarily 🤣
wwwp – Congrats if you answered Brett Howden 3G 1A (traded two months after Dreary took over)
Wheneverberg 3x$6M extension with SJS
In his 118 games played for the franchise, his 82 game pace is 11.8 G 30.6 A
From that Vince dude as GGMM is probably getting her hair done:
coach Mike Sullivan spoke about why he values having Dowling and Blidh in the lineup, noting that he likes dressing more than 4 forwards who are comfortable playing center. Dowling and Brodzinski can provide that while Miller is out, although he also noted preferring Brodzinski at wing.
As for Blidh, he wants to add a “disruptive” presence on the forecheck.
Miller won’t play tonight be he is now cleared for contact
Beezle
Miller definitely adds more speed to the lineup 🤔
When asked about the potential of being traded, Artemi Panarin said: “People talk who are not deciding anything. They are people who are trying to get money, sitting on a couch, talking about me. They’re not making any decisions. That’s why I’m not worried about it.’’
Go Time at the usual time
Oh no. I was already in the dumps today!
A good song/band reference is always appreciated.
“Czechs played Canada tough and probably had the better of the play…”
That forced Canada to go overboard with their “tough play” at times. They took some easily avoidable penalties in the third period. Czechia had some many chances to put them away much sooner than the empty net.
Using geriatrics to change the culture. Now we’re talking. Dolan: “Drury is a winner.” 🤣
@St Pete Eli Mon 05 Jan 2026 10:03
They had something unique with Utah Hockey Club, but blew it with this ridiculous name. The logo is equally awful.
I’m not doubting Drury being a winner; I just want to know when will NYR become winners too.