This is some of what George McPhee saw when, as general manager of the then-embryonic Vegas franchise, he scouted the 2016 World Championships in Russia. “That No. 76, I like the way he carries himself on the ice,” McPhee said during a chat between periods of a Rangers game in Florida last season. “He has […]
Read MoreFinally, the Rangers had a consistent fourth line, but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to last very long. The pivot of that group, Boo Nieves, was forced to leave Friday night’s 2-1 overtime win against the Red Wings with what coach Alain Vigneault called a “hip pointer” injury. It happened on a hit in […]
Read MoreIt is premature to declare the end of the Pittsburgh-Washington axis that has been dominant in the Metro Division, but it appears as if we’re experiencing an ongoing redistribution of power in which a path to the conference finals is wide open. And though the road to the final four might well go through Sergei […]
Read MoreOTTAWA, Ontario — Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle scored, Nick Leddy had two assists and the Islanders continued their hot play Saturday night, beating the Senators 2-1, Ottawa’s sixth loss in a row. Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves for the Islanders, who have won three straight and six of seven. “It’s a big win and […]
Read MoreJust like that, Boo Nieves will disappear again. The Rangers rookie was present for the team’s optional practice Saturday afternoon, but coach Alain Vigneault has ruled him out for Sunday’s game against the Canucks at the Garden because of a hip pointer he suffered in Friday night’s win over the Red Wings. “It’s sore today,” […]
Read MoreMats Zuccarello has been around long enough to know that both winning streaks and losing slumps have to be taken with a bit of perspective. That doesn’t mean the winger isn’t enjoying the Rangers’ surge as they enter Sunday’s game at the Garden against the Canucks having won nine of their past 11 — just […]
Read MoreHere is one message the Rangers are sending to themselves, with a hint of truth and a hint of hyperbole: “Sometimes good teams find ways to win when they don’t play their best,” coach Alain Vigneault said after his team eked out a 4-3 shootout victory over the Canucks on Sunday afternoon at the Garden. […]
Read MoreIn the bad old days after an opening 35 minutes through which the Rangers’ energy quotient was equal to the big round zero on the Garden scoreboard Sunday afternoon against the Canucks, someone surely would have gone over the boards to initiate a fight in order to get his team going. “Oh, for sure,” Rick […]
Read MoreThe Rangers played a third straight game without their captain, Ryan McDonagh, when they managed to take a 4-3 shootout victory against the Canucks on Sunday afternoon at the Garden. This was the day that McDonagh’s “mild” abdominal strain was supposed to be reevaluated, but coach Alain Vigneault had not spoken to doctors and didn’t […]
Read MoreThe absence of fourth-line center Boo Nieves for most of Friday’s game in Detroit and for all of Sunday’s at the Garden threw off the Rangers’ entire rotation up-front. As a result, coach Alain Vigneault has had to shorten his bench and get away from rolling his forward groups. Of course, the game Nieves missed […]
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