The New York Rangers made sure their home opener had a very different feel than their season opener.
After getting shut out by the Boston Bruins, the Rangers returned to Madison Square Garden and wasted no time getting their offense moving against the Tampa Bay Lightning. An early Lightning penalty opened the door, and New York cashed in on the power play when a shot that just missed by Pavel Dorofeyev was hit in by Mika Zibanejad for the first goal of the season for New York.
The Rangers kept building from there. After killing off a penalty later in the first period, the second line went to work, with Oliver Bjorkstrand finding Dorofeyev for his first goal as a member of New York.
New York kept the pressure on in the second period, and Eeli Tolvanen added another quick strike. It was another encouraging moment for one of the team’s new additions, as he also got on the board.
The Lightning eventually broke through despite a strong night from Igor Shesterkin. A redirection in the crease off Noah Laba led to the goal, which went to Nikita Kucherov.
But the Rangers answered right back. Later in the period, Adam Fox delivered a great pass and Gabe Perreault redirected it into the net to push New York ahead 4-1.
From there, the Rangers leaned on Shesterkin to help finish the job in the third period. He was excellent all night and especially busy on the penalty kill, where New York went a perfect six-for-six.
Shesterkin stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced on Thursday night and continued his strong start to the season. Then he added the final touch himself. With the net empty late in the third, Shesterkin scored the first-ever goalie goal for the Rangers, and the lap he got to take after it made for a memorable night at MSG.
The Rangers now head into a back-to-back against the Detroit Red Wings. Shesterkin figures to get a night off at this point of the season, but Thursday was one he won’t forget anytime soon.
In Other News...
Rangers Linked To Alexander Nikishin As Bigger Trade Questions Build
Alexander Nikishin has become one of the more interesting names to watch as the trade market starts to take shape around the league, and the Rangers were in the picture once before. Reports say a deal involving Nikishin and New York was explored around the 2026 NHL draft, though it never came together, leaving the defenseman still in Carolina and still looking like a player with a clear market.
The intrigue is only growing now because Nikishin is said to want a change of scenery for more ice time and responsibility, while the Hurricanes have also been working through bigger roster questions of their own. One recent thread has them considering how to use acquired assets in a possible move with the Winnipeg Jets for Connor Hellebuyck, which only adds to the sense that Nikishin could end up part of a much larger shuffle if the right deal emerges. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Need A Different Madison Square Garden This Time
Mike Sullivan did not spend much time looking backward when the Rangers opened the conversation around their home-ice issues from last season. He framed it as a reset, with a new season and a new group, while Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad both sounded optimistic about the clubs chances to defend Madison Square Garden more effectively this time around.
The timing matters, too, because the Rangers do not get much of a warm-up before the home opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. With a busy early schedule ahead, New York is hoping that a better start in its own building can help establish some momentum quickly, especially after a year in which the Garden was too often an advantage in name only. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Already Have An Opening Week Goalie Concern
Opening week has already brought a wrinkle in the Rangers crease. Joonas Korpisalo was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, and the team has turned to Dylan Garand by recalling him from AHL Hartford. With Igor Shesterkin lined up for the home opener, the immediate burden still sits with the starter, but the depth chart behind him has changed quickly before the season has even settled in.
What makes this more notable is how little clarity there is around the injury itself. Korpisalo has not played this season, and the Rangers have not said how the issue first surfaced, leaving the club to manage a situation that is now being viewed on a week-to-week timeline. Garands call-up at least gives New York another option in the short term, with the schedule moving fast enough that the next crease decision could arrive sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]