Dylan Garand made his first start of the season count in a big way Friday night, turning aside all 23 shots he faced to earn the first NHL shutout of his career as the Rangers blanked the Red Wings, 2-0, in Detroit.
The win came in the second half of New York’s first back-to-back of the season, and the Rangers kept the same lineup after their home-opening victory the night before. Garand got the nod in net, and the Blueshirts gave him just enough support while leaning on special teams and a late empty-netter to finish the job.
The early swing came on the power play. Nate Danielson’s holding penalty three and a half minutes in put the Rangers on the man advantage, and the second unit cashed in. Sean Durzi snapped a shot home off a Gabe Perreault feed to open the scoring and give New York a 1-0 lead.
The Rangers nearly added another shortly after when Michael Rasmussen went off for roughing, with Keegan Kolesar and Joe Veleno also drawing coincidental unsportsmanlike minors. Oliver Bjorkstrand appeared to redirect another Durzi shot past John Gibson, but Detroit challenged for offside and the goal was taken off the board.
New York’s penalty kill was sharp when its first test arrived, too. Alberts Smits was whistled for cross-checking Mason Appleton late in the opening period, but the Rangers kept Detroit off the scoreboard and carried that 1-0 edge into the intermission. Garand had already made a strong impression, and the Red Wings came closest to tying it when Anton Johansson rang a shot off the post with less than three minutes left in the frame.
Detroit pushed hard to open the second period, spending long stretches in the Rangers’ end while New York went more than seven minutes without a shot on goal. Garand answered the bell with a glove save on Lucas Raymond and later denied J.T. Compher from point-blank range.
Smits continued to leave his mark physically, including a solid hit on Danielson along the boards in the offensive zone. Later in the period, Axel Sandin-Pellikka was called for hooking, and a post-whistle scrum turned into a fight between Durzi and Marco Kasper. The Rangers controlled much of the puck on that power play, but they were too hesitant to shoot and came away empty after Detroit killed it off.
The third period brought more special teams, as Justin Faulk was called for slashing and the Rangers used their timeout before the power play. Even with the extra rest, New York couldn’t turn the chance into a goal, managing only one shot on goal.
From there, the game settled into a stretch of rushes and not much else on the scoreboard. Eeli Tolvanen made one of the key defensive plays of the night, blocking a 92-mile-per-hour one-timer from Raymond.
The line combinations also shifted as Kartye got reps with J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev, while Bjorkstrand moved alongside Veleno and Jaroslav Chmelar.
With just over two minutes remaining, Gibson went to the bench for an extra attacker, and Tolvanen sealed it by sending the puck into the empty net from center with 76 seconds left.
Garand’s 23-save shutout gave him his first NHL clean sheet in only his fourth game. The Rangers head back home to face the Utah Mammoth at Madison Square Garden on Sunday evening.
In Other News...
Rangers Got A Feel-Good Night But One Goalie Concern Just Grew
Igor Shesterkin turned a routine win into a memorable one Tuesday night, becoming the first Rangers goalie to score a goal by sending the puck into an empty net in a 5-1 victory over Tampa Bay. New York also got an early lift from Mika Zibanejad and saw first goals with the club from Pavel Dorofeyev and Eeli Tolvanen, a collection of contributions that made it one of those nights when the goals kept coming from everywhere.
Shesterkin was sharp in his own end too, stopping 24 of 25 shots, but the bigger-picture note for the Rangers came on the backup side of the ledger. With Joonas Korpisalo injured, the teams goalie depth is being tested at a time when the schedule keeps moving, and Dylan Garand is now positioned to take the next start Friday night in Detroit. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper Sends Lightning An Early Warning They Can't Ignore
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For the Rangers, it was an opening win that looked increasingly convincing as Tampa Bays frustration grew. Cooper tied his critique to the kind of playoff shortcomings the Lightning have been trying to move past, and the next chance to reset comes quickly against the Washington Capitals. The early warning is clear enough, but whether Tampa Bay treats it that way is the real question now. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Home Opener Delivered The Reset Fans Needed
The home opener gave the Rangers a needed jolt after the frustration of their previous game, and the return to Madison Square Garden brought a more settled look right away. New York handled Tampa Bay with early offense and a cleaner overall start, getting goals from Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Dorofeyev before Eeli Tolvanen added another in the second period to help set the tone.
There was also movement in the roster before puck drop, with Dylan Garand rejoining the team as Joonas Korpisalo went on injured reserve. Jaroslav Chmelar made his season debut as part of the lineup shuffle, a reminder that the opening weeks can still be about sorting out roles as much as banking points. For a Rangers group looking to steady itself, the night offered a more encouraging reset, even if the deeper question is how long this version can hold. [Read more 🡒]