NY Rangers (28-34-9) vs Chicago Blackhawks (27-32-13)
• 27 March 2026 19:00 EDT
• MSG, NYC
• TV: MSG, CHSN •
Tonight the Rangers are home for a tilt against fellow original-sixers the Chicago Blackhawks. Unfortunately for fans, both team’s best interest is to lose this game – at the moment they are positioned for the #2 (NYR) and #3 (CHI) spot in the upcoming NHL entry draft.
The Blackhawks come into the game 4-3-3 of their last ten, splitting the last two and two of five. The Rangers though 4-5-1, are winnless in their last six games. Chicago will also be playing the back half of a back to back tonight.
Garand (0-0-1, 2.00 GAA, 0.946 SV%) will get his second start in net tonight; his last was a strong performace (SO/L) against Winnipeg. Knight (18-20-10, 2.69 GAA, 0.908 SV%) expected for the Hawks. In good news, Laba was at praccy with a regular sweater on but is not expect in the game tonight. Newly signed defenseman Drew Fortescue will be making his NHL debut tonight in front of many family, friends and former teammates. No pressure! As a result, Sullivan has juggled the lines a little bit again, this time resulting in two righties and two lefties paired together 🤔 and the Prucha’ing of Iorio. No changes expected with the forwards until Laba returns.
The refs tonight are Jordan Samuels-Thomas (151 GP) and Brian Pochmara (1259 GP). They might cancel each other out – Samuels-Thomas favors the visitors and Pochmara the hosts, both by good margins.
On this date in history: In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans beat the Montreal Canadiens for the first Stanley Cup to be won by a United States based team. The team would fold just seven years later. Of note on the ’17 Cup: PCHA rules were used in two of the games meaning seven players per side, forward passing in the neutral zone and no subsitution for penalized players.
Speculative NYR lineup:
Forwards
1st line ⊳ Perreault ⋄ Zibanejad ⋄ Lafreniere
2nd line ⊳ Kartye ⋄ Miller ⋄ Sheary
3rd line ⊳ Cuylle ⋄ Trocheck ⋄ Sykora
4th line ⊳ Raddysh ⋄ Brodzinski ⋄ Chmelar
Defensemen
1st pair ⊳ Gavrikov ⋄ Fox
2nd pair ⊳ Borgen ⋄ Schneider
3rd pair ⊳ Fortescue ⋄ Robertson
Goalies
Starter ⊳ Garand
Backup ⊳ Shesterkin
Healthy scratch: F Pärssinen F Edström D Iorio
Injured: F Laba D Vaakanainen G Quick
In the Cooler: none
Long-term IR: F Rempe (thumb)
68 responses to “It’s Go Time!”
The only thing that matters with Ranger prospects is where and if they will fit in the bottom 6 or 3rd pair D. There are no elite prospects in the cotton candy clown show organization. That doesn’t mean they won’t end up being good additions to the teams overall mediocrity moving forward.
Rangers – Black Hawks. I can’t lose.
Can’t win either.
T minus 11 games and counting…
One word for this season: “kjbdofeill”
Ranger mistake putting Garand in. He might want to win.
Why is Miller still playing you need the kids to determine how good they are what the hell’s the matter with this j****** coach
This is a minus four point game.
I watched the Icelanders v Stars last night… got to see Colin Blackwell play! Still can’t believe he is continuing to collect an NHL paycheck
Robertson trying to cover three guys wtf
Hawks score first. I guess that’s it. Can’t catch up now.
Tiger in jail. DUI (again?). Rolled his suv this time
Olga what is Hawk beer and what is Ranger beer tonight?
Sheary with another goal.. offensive powerhause!
Hawk beer is Iroquois Light and Ranger beer is Old Frothingslosh.
Well each team has a goal so they can’t accuse them of not trying.
🤣 Olga one of the visitors left behind some Mad Elf (Elves?), ever try that stuff?
A rookie goal good for Robertson
Another rookie goal!
WOOT! (per Gravy)
Beezle, no, never had it. Any good?
Good stuff Sykora
Olga I haven’t tried it yet … 11% in 12 oz cans. Like drinking two for a single piss lol
We used to drink Golden Monkeys, 9.5%. We each had a sixpack and the caution was not to reach for the last Monkey.
We did anyway.
Great shift and score by Brodude
Last game they helped the Panthers get closer to keeping their first round pick this off-season. Today, they’re screwing themselves. They better not do this tomorrow.
can’t lose ’em all!
Ten Rangers have a point so far tonight
Of course these idiots win, because who wants a top pick….. (I know I know- they don’t care bc they’re playing for jobs).
It’s just the Rangers way…. to find a way to stay in perpetual mediocrity…
Rangers have no idea how to use a top pick. They would have been better off if they fired all the scouts and used Central Scouting to make their picks.
Penalty for tripping himself with his own stick
That is sadly so spot-on, Olga.
It didn’t help that they sent their scouts to places like Zimbabwe Venezuela and Bangladesh.
The Hawks are really bad. It would be hard-not impossible -to lose to them.
You mean to tell me those offensive dynamos Jed Ortmeyer and Tanner Glass aren’t capable of developing top talent? Why I can’t believe it!
Penalty for pushchecking
Olga, you didn’t even list the uncivilized countries they scouted.
They would have sent them to the Moon if we still had the Shuttle.
Rangers back to their normal shooting routine. That’s promising for sunday’s game.
Maloney calling out the other Rangers on the ice for not getting involved
What a HORRIBLE play by Miller for that short-handed break against smh
Garand doing ok
Better than ok 👍🏻
Took a shot away from the rangers again. Smh
Now they’re just showing off.
LaCoast clearly prefers a gluten free diet
12 now with a point
One of the best games the Rangers played all year. fast & checking all over the ice. Look like an entirely different team
Make that 14
Nice snipe by Brodude
Nice punch by the Borg
Well, they are playing Chicago you know.
Olga’s finished one six pack but Chicago not helping with the other
I’m reaching for the last Golden Monkey again.
Stick Salute, Mama!
Well, if you’re going to win, might as well be a blowout with a multiple milestone scorecard.
EV I’m putting you down for a postgame review on Sunday. You still owe us all your final Sam moment too!
17 minutes for Fortescue
Mika March!
Fortescue looked pretty poised.
Maybe Fortescue can be a Lindgren type player if they get Lucky.
Gonchar listed at 6-1 and 165. He’s 19 and could fill out.
Nice job winning a must lose game (facepalm).
A number of Ranger prospects not yet at Hartford give me hope for a bright future.
I know….silly me…can’t help it..I’m a Ranger fan…where hope springs eternal.
menahile the Rangers soar to #30 in the standings by virtue of holding the third tiebreaker over the Blackhawks 🤣
This season is so stoopid.
Last.
How did the azzlanders lose to this team?
I am trying to get my hopes up for Lafreniere. Is he figuring it out? Was it always Krusty? Or is it just confidence because of PP1 time? Am I dreaming?
Maybe Laffy is playing on a line where the vet (Mika) allows him the freedom To make plays and doesn’t hog The puck (Bread) or continually call for it whether open or not (JTM/Tro)…usually not.
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