NY Rangers (22-29-7) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (30-15-12)
• 28 February 2026 12:30 EST
• MSG, NYC
• TV: ABC, SNW, TVAS •
The Rangers try to regroup after a loss to Philadelphia to be ready to take on the other, better team from the great state of Pennsyltucky.
The Penguins come into this game on a two game win streak (NJD, BUF) and 8-1-1 of the last ten. The Rangers are 2-7-1, their last win an OT victory over Boston just over a month ago on 26 January.
Shesterkin (17-12-5, 2.47 GAA, 0.912 SV%) is expected in net again today against Skinner (19-12-5, 2.79 GAA, 0.890 SV%). The Pens are without Crosby (LBI) who was injured in the Olympic tournament. In NYR lineup moves/news, Othmann was sent back to Hartford (we’ve lost track how many times); Kartye (5’11, 202lb, near 25 yro) was claimed on waivers from the Kracken and looks like he may get a start on the fourth line.
The refs today are Gord Dwyer (1363 GP) and Kelly Sutherland (1658). At least the officiating will be entertaining!
On this date in history: In 1983 the NYR scored 5 PPG to beat Pittsburgh 9-3.
Speculative NYR lineup:
Forwards
1st line ⊳ Miller ⋄ Zibanejad ⋄ Perreault
2nd line ⊳ Cuylle ⋄ Trocheck ⋄ Lafreniere
3rd line ⊳ Sheary ⋄ Laba ⋄ Brisson
4th line ⊳ Kartye ⋄ Carrick ⋄ Raddysh
Defensemen
1st pair ⊳ Gavrikov ⋄ Fox
2nd pair ⊳ Schneider ⋄ Borgen
3rd pair ⊳ Robertson ⋄ Iorio
Goalies
Starter ⊳ Shesterkin
Backup ⊳ Quick
Healthy scratch: D Vaakanainen F Brodzinski D Morrow
Injured: none
In the Cooler: none
Long-term IR: F Edstrom (LBI) F Rempe (thumb)
66 responses to “It’s Go Time!”
Good Friedman stuff on podcast. Said this is buyers market with alot of inventory and teams are waiting things out for lower returns. Not sure how that impacts Trocheck trade if there is a lot of interest but would definitely impact Schneider/Carrack etc. If Drury is not getting proper price on any here he should be holding.
Is it go time? Already?
If the returns aren’t there Drury can just “make some calls” and sit it out. If anyone wants Sheary or Johnny B get a late round pick if you can. I assume Quick isn’t going anywhere. Those are their UFAs.
Agree. No rush to sell at low prices. Trocheck cost controlled with term. And if somehow they tweak enough and play better next year, we may be happy to have him. If we suck, can sell next year
Bottom 6 grinder for free with kartye.
Isn’t that solution to the highest need area but it’s still good to have guys like that who are young and cheap.
Kiefer Sherwood didn’t start scoring till he was about 28.
This kid is same size. Sherwood will be 31 this month and would have cost assetts.
Maybe kartye develops into the next Sherwood?
“Tye Kartye is a 24-year-old, 5’11”, 202-lb left winger known for a high-energy, physical, and versatile “sandpaper” style of play. On February 27, 2026, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers from the Seattle Kraken, where he is expected to bolster their fourth-line depth and penalty kill.
Scouting Profile
Physicality: Kartye is a relentless “banger” who excels at finishing checks and forechecking. In the 2025-26 season, he recorded 98 hits in just 40 games, averaging roughly 13.7 hits per 60 minutes.
Offensive Upside: While his production has dipped since a standout 2022-23 playoff debut, he possesses an elite shot and good hands around the net. Scouts believe he has the potential for 30+ points in a stable third-line role.
Versatility: He is a “plug-and-play” forward capable of playing both left wing and center. He has experience across the lineup, from grinding on the fourth line to occasionally filling in on the top line with elite playmakers.
Defensive Reliability: He is praised for his hockey IQ, two-way awareness, and willingness to play a disciplined, secondary role on the penalty kill. “
So in essence he can replace brodude as he can play bottom six center in a pinch. Is defensively responsible with an “elite “ shot. And doesn’t pass th opportunity to hit.
Sounds like an upgrade from brodude or Sheary or rempe or berard
Sorry… 12:20 AM 🤦♂️
I almost screwed on 12:00 am vs. pm recently and was about to book a red eye flight rather than the one I wanted in the early afternoon.
The whole AM and PM thing should be banned. Military time is the way to go.
Manthas on the pens pp?
Err never mind it appears so ☹️
How many games since Igor’s last save?
I almost missed this one. I tuned in to check out European football leagues and saw puck is about to be dropped.
Best linesman elbow EVER!
Mc Donough is a tool
I clicked Mute as soon as I heard his annoying voice.
Drury’s choice of Sully over Muse is on display here. He is so f$%ing predictable and risk averse. He hasn’t even been able to be mediocre. My optimistic view is after another horrible season next year Dolan will clean house. Drury may do more damage before that though. Dolan selling the Rangers is what I would most like to see of course.
Pitiful.
Is Cuylle drop off this year in play quality and effort one of the more perplexing parts of this season?
It’s hard to separate the individuals from the overall team performance. The national broadcasts calling out what a laughingstock they are may hasten a reckoning for Drury.
https://x.com/Peter_Baugh/status/2027792202085044720
“Dolan selling the Rangers is what I would most like to see of course.”
Perhaps we should start a GoFundMe [or GiveSendGo] for a hostile takeover?
Above is lineup early on
Yes. We. McKENna.
More Madison Square Garbage
20th last night in ot
I never realized how good it feels to not be watching this team. I just looked at the stats. Out of sight, out of mind. Namaste
Okay to cherry pick an example though, what’s Carrick got that Cuylle shouldn’t got too as a young pro who had a potentially breakout year during last season’s disaster who hasn’t hit his big contract yet as a guy whose brand was effort and playing hard and now in the top 6
I’m not feeling so bad right now with this season already a waste.. but check back after a few more years of this!
Fox wanting out is music to my ears. The rest of the league figured him out awhile ago- lean on him, and he disappears. If some other idiot GM thinks he has value, get rid of his passive @ss along with his bloated salary.
Emily’s an expert in load management.
Looks like another home shutout may be happening today. They are generating zero offense. It looks like Canada vs. Italy in Milan.
The PP merchant strikes again….
Way to go, Zibanedved
Mika has been good this year. You can’t say that about many Rangers.
# 24 The New guy looks pretty good.
Since when does fox want out? Is that new?
Carrick should be made captain; he’s seems to be the only player that cares. He’s there every day and plays hard.
Play for the point!
Please don’t get any points…. Need to go full tank.
Lgr!
You just know these idiots will get 2 points. Classic sign of a crap team- can’t even lose properly lol.
Rangers win let’s go Rangers woohoo
2 points. Rangers soar to last place in the conference!
The Minx will be happy- I think. They were pretty good in the 2nd half of the game. The new guy looked ok.
Egghead McDummer on the mic? Spare us all.
Was at Rye beach with old yeller his his 2 hour ice bath
Good for the crowd paying inflated ticket prices to get a W while missing the nicest weather since November
Can’t lose em all …should have won in regulation but they wear too cute
Deslaurier and Jeannot just had a nice tilt…heavyweights
Big boy fight in the Bruins game w Jeannot getting the best of DeLettersmany
This team decided not to total tank and play hard in the 3rd period. Shesterken is always better in shootouts.
Too cute or they’re just not that good 😉
Did I miss a good game?
I am afraid to say that as long as Twerkin is in net and the core is not moved the Rangers will wind up with a middle of the pack 1st rd pick. Get used to disappointment.
Best thing about the rangers win is it made Ferrooa and Sean Mcdonit and Jackson very sad
National broadcaster felt like a bunch of Pitt homers calling the game
Terrible listening to them
They woke up in the second half of the game and dominated for parts of the game. Still didn’t get a regulation win at home and only scored 2. The three pts. they have picked up move them back a few slots in the tankathon.
Hartford Wolfpack wins their third game in a row with a ,5′-4 ,overtime victory. Apparently being more confident they played like a real coohesive team. Even Orthmann scored a goal.
Greentree with a goal and assist in Windsor’s win. Aspinall 1 an1 in Flint’s SO win. He also scored on his shoutout chance. Gonchar with 2 assists but Sudbury loses again.
Sabres not messing around
Dear Corporal; Have noticed for a few years that ABC games against the Penguins are always a love fest for Pitt. It use to be having to sit through dozens of closeups of Cindy. Yesterday at the end of the 2nd period all I saw were shots of Malkin and the Pitt bench.
In the 3rp period when Rangers started to play better we got more balanced coverage. And don’t get me started on commentators . Those guys are the reason I turn the sound off. Also agree with St Pete this team will play just good enough to not get 1st overall pick.
Jeff
Book it!
I doubt Butt Stupid does anything before the deadline, if anything.
If he moves the pending UFAs I’m ok with that. My hope is they get a competent GM to do a successful rebuild in the next year sometime.
I also expect Igor to give them just enough of a lift to move them out of the top 5.
Dreary not going anywhere. Slats approved to ensure more futility until Dolan sells the team.
New Post