Congratulations to Mika Zibanejad on being named this season’s NorthwellHealth Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Winner by NY Ranger fans!
The Rangers continued their mysterious winning ways, though in doing so hurt their draft position, by spanking the Devils 4-1 last night at the Garden. Its the Ranger way!
Sheary (6) started the scoring while continuing his own inexplicable late season surge at 08:14 of the first period, tipping in a Kartye (12) shot; Borgen (10) with the secondary assist. Five minutes later Miller (16) would get a PPG at 13:39 from the blue after Lafreniere (30) sent him a bullet of a cross ice pass from the bottom of the right circle; Fox (37) also credited with an assist. 2-0 NYR after one.
The second period would see the teams exchange goals. Brown (16) on the PPG at just 00:51 was first for the Devils. Chmelař (3) would get that back at 11:12, buzzing the net front and banging home the rebound of a hard shot by Schneider (15). 3-1 NYR after two.
There was only one goal in the third period but more than enough fireworks to keep MSG fans rocking. Zibanejad (33) finished March as he started, scoring goals, this time at 03:49 and easily at the corner of the net off a beautiful diagonal pass from Perreault (15) from the left circle; Fox (38) with another secondary assist.
And then there was the fight. Around the 9:00 mark, Shesterkin took exception to Cotter running him, or as the refs would say “interfered with,” by getting into some shoving behind the net, possibly also landing a small punch. This apparently ignited something within Devil’s goalie Markstrom who skated to the Rangers end to challenge Shesterkin to a fight. He really should not have done that as word is Shesterkin has been taking boxing lessons. Hockeyfights.com has the match scored 88% in Igor’s favor and 8% a draw. Markstrom won’t be doing that again!
Final score: NYR 4 NJD 1 and the first three game home win streak of the 25/26 season.
Game summary below:

The Rangers start their final stretch of seven games on 2 April against Les Habs at MSG, 19:00 EDT. MSG and likely SN and RDS with the telecast.

96 responses to “Rangers 4, Devils 1”
Beezle enjoys Beezleing me way too much.
First?
Not first. They are unlikely to draft a player who will make the squad in the fall. Maybe that’s not so bad, but it is one less thing to keep the fan base interested.
Hey that was 9 hours Jbytes!
Gotta love da Post headline writers – they’ve named LaCoast a “Crease rat”
Extra Effort Award for team leader who quit last season… No one said Ranger fans are smart.
Devils have 2 1OA picks, first line centers and are making tee times for 2 weeks from now. Shame
They all look pretty happy, even Captain Grumpy almost has a smile
I will say though that Hextall would probably cream Igor
Don’t see Quickie in picture. The Hall of Famer better get another game at home if he’s retiring
All I really remember from the Rangers 7-year playoff draught is Dan Cloutier windmilling on Tomy Salo and challenging the islander bench. At least today’s ranger fan youth will have some core memory of the decade to look back on now.
Sounds like Carrick did something bad to his arm last night after hitting the ice at end of fight with Anders Lee. Bummer for the Buffaloes
https://bluelinestation.com/kevin-maxwell-s-expected-return-signals-a-new-direction-for-new-york-rangers-01kn2wy9d8y2?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fansided_Newsletter_FS_Daily%20%7C%20Fansided%20Daily%202026-04-01
More importantly after the last 2 beat downs in the scoreboard by Derbils 6-3, they showed some heart and delivered before and after the whistle
Did Maxwell’s agent write that article. Damning evidence of Dreary being over his head; wonder if Slatapus ‘suggested’ this move, could be GM in waiting if Dreary continues to flounder.
If goalies fight, they should sit for five minutes, just like other players.
Kind of a weird article …Based on this previous time frame here as director of scouting no mention of his involvement with first round picks of Othman, Kravtsov, Kakko, Anderson picks ..lets hope he was on vacation
https://springfieldthunderbirds.com/staff/kevin-maxwell
Professional scouting – current ahl/nhl
If Maxwell was responsible for drafting Anderson, Whinesoft, Mothman, Chytil, Miller, and Lundkvist I am not impressed.
Think trades and free agents
9:34
since in your opinion you’re the smartest in the room, who would you have voted for. keeping in mind that dreary traded carrick.
New NYR Rule: no individual awards if team fails to qualify for playoffs.
If somebody gotta get it anyway and it’s for individual points not extra effort then Gavrikov
I don’t think I’m the smartest Francis but Gavrikov, Laba, Kartye all warranted it ahead of him ..you should take some time and check qualifications for the award …dedication, toughness, and effort on the ice. Its laughable that your Huggy twin got it
Mika has had a great season so I understand him getting it
I voted for Gavrikov
I would have voted Carrick if he remained
There is no way kartye gets it here this year not having 20 games played or so. Next year he could be in the running though
Shesty has potential to win it too. Especially after last night!
12:14
i don’t think you’re the smartest either. in any room with at least 1 other person.
kartye barely here.
but keep insulting fellow ranger fans saying they are not smart. and keep insulting me you pos.
your’re really boring….Kartye barely but has probably thrown more checks in 20 games than Meeka has in 10 season
hits per 60, 10 GP min
NHL can’t filter on points so… cursory glance at forwards with 50 GP… there really are not too many with more than 50 points with a lot more hits/60 than mika who are of similar size. As example, Charlie Coyle who still is a bigger guy by order 15lbs is 4.32/60. Pastrnak is 10lbs lighter than Mika and has 3.31/60
Carp with a stroll down memory lane
Who cares about draft position! I love seeing the guys having fun together and playing good hockey. Love them building chemistry with so many young players in the lineup and winning. Fights don’t hurt that either!
Need to care because they need a top 5 pick and a future top center
Beezle …how does Bennett or Eichel compare?
Malhotra is your top future center 🏆 🏆 🏆
saw most of 3rd and postgame on replay today
shesty playfully throwing punches as 1st star was very funny
With the 12th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers select…
maybe Ethan belchetz the 6’5 230lb winger
Eichel has 35 hits so far this season (1.46/60), Bennett 112 (5.1/60)
Malhotra will be gone by the time they pick. Maybe Ty Lawrence will still be on the board but I am skeptical about him. He had one good USHL season.l
Thanks for beating the Devils. Can we please resume the tank tomorrow.
figure we fall 2 spots with lottery
so if 7th worst record we pick 9th
With the 12th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers select…
“Going off the board, we proudly select Unknown Kid from Prep School X. We’re thrilled that he grew up a Rangers fan.”
Sheary on 1.5 hits/60 – he does all the ‘little things’
SN
You know Sheary is little, right?
I believe the Rangers will end up right where the are 4th from the bottom.
Actually maybe Sheary does all things a little.
eli then they pick 6th after dropping in lottery although i think they’ll have 5th worst record so pick 7th
Hopefully Shesty hurt his hand and tank is back
On
I’m in the play Misery in the role of Buster the sheriff. Sitting around waiting for my scenes is torture. I have only three scenes and if you know anything about the movie or the play you know it doesn’t work out too well for poor ole Buster. At least he probably wasn’t a Ranger fan.
Feel bad Carrick injured. He’s been a nice fit for sabers.
Did not look good
ORF will he? I don’t know. One guy’s got malhotra ranked 4, one guy’s got him at 20, and there’s everything in between.
I don’t know prospects well. But from what it seems. This class doesn’t look to have clear cut top 5 or whatever. That a case can be made for taking a number of players up that high. So hopefully any pic in say the top 10 can be just as good as 3rd overall?
What do you guys think?
I like your style!
Auston Matthews is coming!
Nucks over Avs, can’t make it up
Even the Canucks can’t lose them all
Very rare to have a generational talent and even if you do, absolutely zero guarantee of Cup; takes an entire roster
SN
Indeed, no guarantee of winning a cup.
but the roster needs a 1C
Like the devils – they have 2 and teeing off in 2 weeks
but they are closer to a cup with Hughes /Hischier
13th vs 16th in conference so technically, yes
By definition generational talents don’t come along but once a generation. (Sid, McDavid?) but a lot of very good players (Hughes, McKinnon,Celebrini) come in between. The Rangers need one of them. They didn’t get one in LAF.
I haven’t seen Malhotra listed below 10, but maybe some list him lower. They’re are many highly rated Centers or LDs. They may have to just take the best player available. We have suffered through a lot of losing and they should get something out of it- not another bottom six forward.
Ovi is a generational talent – 1 cup late in career after countless playoff flubs
McDavid is very talented but also has another top 5 player on the roster and not sold on his ability to raise others games
Same with Skidknees; best player in past 2 decades but no cups and little playoff success without Malkinstein and LeTang
If there isnt a no brainer D man, they need to take the best center ..build down the middle.
top several guys are either d men or a couple of wings at the top
can’t get a 1 c from this draft
Sorry about the formatting… Caleb Malhotra
Ranked #13 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #7 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #8 by CAM’S CONSENSUS
Ranked #11 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #17 by THN/FERRARI
Ranked #5 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #9 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #8 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #5 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #7 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #5 by SPORTSNET/COSENTINO
Ranked #4 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #12 by SMAHT SCOUTING
Ranked #20 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Tynan Lawrence
Ranked #5 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #11 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #5 by CAM’S CONSENSUS
Ranked #17 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #6 by TSN/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #3 by THN/FERRARI
Ranked #8 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #7 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #6 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #6 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #7 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #4 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #9 by SPORTSNET/COSENTINO
Ranked #6 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #4 by SMAHT SCOUTING
Ranked #4 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
My favorite draft picks are the consensus picks because then mngt doesn’t have to do their job…
Reality is nobody knows as seen by these rankings and prior drafts which are a crapshoot at best. Aptitude, Athletic ability and Attitude are the key inputs.
For me, unless a freak talent; min 6’ 200lbs who strong on skates, not fastest skater. Look at the successful NYR picks (few to choose from in last 20 yrs), Kreider, JT, Schneider; physical with skill.
then you pick a Dman and trade Schneider for a center
11:01
not a 1 center. more likely a 3
and pretty likely the d man they’d draft would stay in college or wherever for at least another year
they would get more than a 3C for Schneider
Jack Hughes will be throwing out the first pitch at the Stadium tomorrow 😐
they have a top 6 center in Laba imho; more 2C than 1C; still hunting for the great white whale, er, 1C; dont’ grow on trees but some have been traded in past 10 years including a future Conn Smythe winner so the GM with a full brain and half a sack can always acquire one if smart enough to…
My thoughts for what it’s worth. I think the team we are seeing with a few subtractions and additions is the team we should ice next year. Moving Trocheck is the right move, the return is still unknown. Trading Schneider is not going to bring back the 1C we need. If Drury trys to ice a cup contender next year he is delusional. Trading assets to accomplish it is why this organization is in the present mess it’s in. One more thing if I’m Shesterkin I asking for a trade. He will most likely be at least 34 before the Rangers are ready to contend again, if then. Having said all that anything is possible a quick turn around would be an astonishing feat.
Laba I think tops out at at very good 3C
I haven’t gotten the feeling he’s top 6
At least not on a contending team.
Not a slight on him. a good two way center and 3 C is an important role
All they need to do is draft well, make good trades, and sign the right free agents. Is that so hard?
hope Laba is a 2C but agree more with Corporal that he’s a 3C
wwpd
For Drury, yes it’s hard.
speaking of drafting Perrault, Laba, Fortescue and Chmelar are all in starting lineup
its a retool Pete, there are going to be moves made. Some decent depth in bottom 6 but top 6 is not close to being good enough
It’s true, Lava was holding back the goal scoring wingers on his line by the names of Sheary, Raddysh, Othman, Brodzinski and Berard. Those guys would have been ripping the twine playing with a top 6 center.
Kid is very good on dot and a 2 way game and plays very physical. Has offensive upside that will come from smart plays and puck possession. He is a middle six center is his first season, so potential to emerge as solid 2C.
Making the starting lineup in the last 15 games on a cellar dweller is something
Need those lottery balls to fall the rangers way. Anything thing less than a top 5 pick would be dissappointing.
I like Schneider a lot but he is not bringing back a current or young, likely 1C. In fact, I don’t think there are many young defenders that would get that kind of trade done anywhere. As to the idea of moving him at all, Sully has made it fact that Borgen is 3rd pair and with Fox getting hurt pretty much every year, he is your Fox insurance from a defensive, not offensive, stand point.
Laba is definitely a 3C that might be a 2C – consider Trocheck as an example of how that happens. Mika is obviously the 1C until further notice and unless they bump up Laba by choice, Miller the 2C until something better comes along and he moves to wing (or another team).
last 15 games….but Laba has played over 60 games…Perrault over 40
Perrault has surprised me in a good way.
Ahead of schedule it seems too
That pass to Mika for the tap in through traffic was superb
Kid isn’t big but he doesn’t shy away from contact to make the play.
disagree on Schneider Beezle…24 and right handed dmen have value..I think he could net a 1C prospect..maybe from Sharks. They have Morrow, Emery, Barnhill in system as RHD …could possibly draft another in June and/or sign Raddysh
Perrault and Lava are future – Pearl River is tbd; defense not as pressing a need imho as Robbie Robertson has joined the Band and try not to get too excited about 3LD
Agree SN
Our forward group needs new identity next year
We seem deep on D
Schneider and Tro package deal could get top flight prospect and a player
Brady T in Ottawa will be itching to leave that sheet hole town if they don’t make the second season
Pipe dream or not. Brady tkachuk at 27 years old this September would be an instant remake of this team.
Imagine his immortality if he brought a cup to NY!!!
i like schneider but no way he nets us a 1c. or for that matter a very good 2c
Hope to get the RDS feed tonight, excitable French announcers keeping me awake vs the Kenny drone 🤣
If they beat the Canadians I will quit drinking. On second thought, maybe I’ll just have a nip now and then.