A night of superlatives at MSG where the Rangers beat a Calgary squad that flamed out early. Zibanejad with his 800th point, Fox with his 400th and a rejuvenated Lafreniere with a hatty, second of career.
The game started slow, if not outright boringly, if the Garden crowd was any indication. It took until 17:27 of the first for a score, Lafreniere (16) with a PPG tip-in of a Zibanejad “shot” meant more as a pass, Fox (27) with the secondary. 1-0 NYR after one.
The second would see the game open up a bit when at 10:28 Sheary (2) (that is not a misprint) took a very nice centering pass from newcomer Kartye (8) to put a wrister behind Wolf. Borgen(6) with the secondary assist. Lafreniere (17) would add to the lead at 16:31 when he flipped the puck into a wide open net, a result of Wolf over committed to playing Zibanejad (34) and Perreault (8) (who made the pass to Lafreniere for the primary assist). 3-0 NYR after two.
The only goal in the third was fairly late at 17:42 and compeleted the hatty for Lafreniere (18). Once again, Perreault (9) getting a pass through traffic to an open Lafreniere for a nearly uncontested shot. Vaakanainen (5) credited with the secondary.
Final 4-0 NYR, outskilling a Calgary team that looked like it would rather be at a rodeo or golf course. Won’t be long for either!
Game summary below:
The Rangers get on a jet today to face the Jets of Winnipeg on 12 March at 20:00 EDT. Telecast by MSG and TSN3.
68 responses to “Rangers 4, Flames 0”
Other than the SO win against PIT, none of these teams are any great shakes so have to take all of this “turn around” with a grain of salt. Are they a better team with Panarin and Miller in the line-up? Right now the answer would be “on paper only”.
I hope what is happening with Lafrenier isn’t fools gold. We are currently getting the Lafrenier they drafted. A few years back when they named Trouba captain, Trouba was one of three rumored. Zibanejad was another. I was not a fan of the Zibanejad idea, but now, watching how he’s handling things, and how the youth seem to be feeding off of him, makes me think it should have been him. Certainly should have been him instead of Miller.
watching Miller play this year has been disappointing. I think so of it has to do with him being injured but also he just does not seem to be the happiest person we ever seen as a Ranger. Sort of like Kappo Kako with more baggage. We really do not need for him to rush back to soon,but being a hockey player he will force his way back into the lineup and screw up the present chemistry. I guess that is good for the Tank.
I just do not think that bringing him back was a great idea. Hey; I could be wrong. I am sure Chris Drury knows more about this stuff then I do. After all he is the GM. (sarcasm)
so they won 2 in a row against 2 bottom feeders and its either Bread’s fault or the Cranky Captain. They were holding this team back
Purro settling in
Another win w Lurch in lineup
Laffy finding his game ?!?
And most importantly, Quickie with the shutout. He’s been thru hell and back with this team this season; good for him!!
My vote for MacDonald award
It is more than the last two. Go back to the first game post-Bread. 2-0 loss to CAR that was 1-0 until the last minute IIRC. They have been playing better hockey, even considering the general level of opponents. Lafreniere has stepped up his game more so since Miller went out.
Yes, it can all be coincidence. And as Carey said, hopefully not fools-gold. Quite a few games left to see, roughly half against teams in the playoffs or fighting to be.
Was really happy for Quick. He’s been on the bad side of some dreadful defense this season. I woudn’t mind him coming back (though I can see why he might want to pass on that idea) except that he can’t physically handle playing a long stretch of games and well, we all know Igor is going to be in the shop for at least two weeks a season.
SN: Lurch needs to have a talking with the post and cross bar. Seems like a magnet for his shots this season.
Jeff: Finns are for the most part a very reserved, border line dour bunch until you get them drinking or in sauna. At that point, even money on happy, outgoing or psycho may kill me 🤣
Good for Quickie but they need to get Garand some games to see what they have…and Sheary does not need to be in the lineup
Messier didn’t smile that much
Poor kid, hope he at least got a free steak dinner
Management must believe they know what they have in Garand as they made zero effort to bring him up even for a game during Igor’s latest injury stint. If anything, they made negative effort!
So wonder what you guys think about the Borg’s apparent demotion and Robertson’s promotion?
@Jeff Wed 11 Mar 2026 09:50
I never saw a happy NJ Devils player during their cup winning years.
Miller would be a great addition to an already good squad; he is not the type of player who’s going to turn a bad team into a contender.
Sigh…
“…We are currently getting the Lafrenier they drafted…”
Are we now? Weren’t we supposed to get that since the last playoff run?
Laffy playing with confidence. Coulda had 5 goals last night.
Purro is cooking with him. You keep them together.
Was laffy too deferential to bread and Vinny?
He seems to like having youngsters with him. Like when he had chytil and kaako
Or maybe playing without the pressure on makes things easier? 😉
I would hold the horses until we see which Laffy we will have next year before I hand him the keys to the city.
Or maybe he’s taking advantage of an opportunity to be the guy? Not standing around watching 10 do his zig zag thing. Notice how quickly the puck moves with 13,93, and 94. The puck, and play often died on 10s stick. 13 has a lot to prove, and I agree he needs to the player he is now, next year, but what we are seeing right now can’t be viewed as anything less than encouraging.
more powerplay time does wonders for confidence…and stats
LAF gets similar chances with Perrault as he did with Panarin, but there’s no need to defer. He just shoots. Let’s see how he does against the Wild and in Devils rematch.
Utah Nick Schmaltz 8-year deal, $8 per
May the Schmaltz be with you
Carey – was thinking same thing, Miller, Tro and Bread always calling for the puck and then rarely sending it back.
If your vets are not role modeling the type of play you are coaching toward, big problems in little China
Laffy has no choice but to shoot on those tap ins
I can’t believe I’m saying this. Mika may be the right vet to mentor Perreault and LaTap-in. If Sully breaks up that line when Captain Grumpy returns he’s a butthead!
Huh huh huh. Heh heh hehe. Yeeah. Huh but. Huh huh. Yeh.
Can the Steven McD Award winner be someone who was on the team?
I would still vote for Carrick.
I’ve been thinking that Lafreniere deferred too much to Panarin for a while now. He seems to be much more assertive on the ice since Bread was put on the shelf. Is he also playing on the left side more?
I don’t recall seeing the same issue with JT – note that his highest xGF%s this year have come when there is at least one yoot on his line, whether it be Perreault, Cuylle or Lafreniere). I would take the same approach with JT as people above are suggesting for Lafreniere (but sort of in reverse) – let’s see him next year fully healthy before we condemn him for his performance earlier this year. But, at the risk of being excessively hopeful, if JT is healthy next year, is it so bad to have your top three centers be Zibanejad, JT and Laba?
Not ideal they need some speed in the middle
If the French connection with a Swede in the middle is going to be their top line going forward. They are going to need some real physicality 4 through 12.
GP and LAF apparently communicate in French. Maybe that’s what LAF needed. Someone who speaks his language. They need a Francophone Centre to form the French Connection part Deux.
Rangers need to focus on tanking and getting a top 5 pick
According to my mentally unstable AI friend –
Mika Zibanejad’s is fluent in Swedish, English, Finish, Farsi and basic French from his time playing for Ottawa.
Speaking of Ottawa…
If it was Florida Buttman would have gotten them in top 5
Bobbyo
I don’t see the players tanking it’s not in their nature. Only Sullivan can make it happen, unfortunately he won’t. Our hope for a top 5 pick will be determined by the teams around them consistantly compiling pts.
Players and coaches don’t tank. It’s not in their interest. Management and ownership tank. They will be there long term. Holding out Igor and Fox longer would have been a tank.
ORF
I don’t disagree but I consider the coach as part of management. He manageges the on ice play from behind the bench. It is a combination of all 3.
Players don’t tank? Did you guys forget about last season ?
What Sully can do get more youths in lineup …with more ice time. Let them get more experience and lose more frequently. There is no reason for Sheary or Brodz or Miller if he has any lingering injury to be in lineup
Bobbyo 11:58
True, but he won’t.
Bobbyo 11:54
Tanking and rebellion are 2 different things.
There are currently no other youth to get into the lineup. As far as Sheary goes, like everyone else I wanted no part of him being in the lineup earlier in the season. Right now, i think he’s important to the development of Laba, and Kartye.
Rebellion is tanking…just for a different reason
Guy scores a goal and Carey wants to extend him for 3 more seasons…
I keed, I keed
Sykora, Brisson, Roobroeck should all get some games. The Rangers have other vets to play with Laba …Kartye has already played 180+ NHL games .
Figures Dreary would name JT Sourpuss Captain. Culture Club has a new leader…
Took 60 games but the brass finally put Schneider and Robertson together. You know, the 2nd pair under team control forever that weren’t allowed to play together.
Sort of like when JT was traded and they never played Kreider, Mika and JT on the same line tell me Capt Cluch wasn’t involved in that decision.
The Borg has been officially demoted, at least per the praccy lines from GGMM
Perreault-Zibanejad-Lafrenière
Edström-Trocheck-Cuylle
Kartye-Laba-Sheary
Brodzinski-Pärssinen-Chmelař
Gavrikov-Fox
Robertson-Schneider
Vaakanainen-Borgen
GGMM also says Taylor Raddysh is also back with #NYR and on the ice this morning in Winnipeg … but no clue why not part of the praccy lines
Likewise Captain Dour, no restrictions.
For your comment:
Rebellion is not tanking.
Tanking is a mutual decision to accomplish a rebuild
Rebellion is the players message to management of their dissatisfaction with organizational decisions.
Miller confirmed out for tonight.
Just remember MOST elite players pad their stats against bottom feeders. I put most in caps for Bobbyo lol!
Minnesota’s season ended last night. Did they sign Brody Lamb yet?
Bobbyo,
I should have more clear. My fault. When I was talking about the development of Laba, and Kartye, I was meaning as a pair, not individual development.
Would rather have Raddiah with Hot Lava and Ye Kart
That works too.
Okay Cory …just think that Kartye is further along
Our boys in blue will win tonight.
Brody lamb 2 year ELC starting next year, but he’ll play in Hartford this year as a tryout?
Have any of the NYR beats managed (or cared) to ask the coach about the Borg?
The Lamb lies down on Broadway
The : big returns from the trades are playing 3rd pair
So Drury did keep an eye on Lamb. The Pack could use some help.