The Rangers kept rolling in Seattle, making it three straight wins and picking up their first victory of the four-game road trip in a game that produced plenty of milestones along the way.
New York’s offense was again in full gear, with the club reaching four goals for the ninth time this season. That total is tied for the seventh-most such games in the NHL.
Adam Fox was right in the middle of it. The defenseman extended his point streak to three games and became the fastest Rangers blueliner to reach 20 assists in a season, getting there in 18 games.
That tops Brian Leetch, who needed 19 games in 2000-01. Fox’s 20 assists are tied for third in the NHL, and his 22 points rank third among all NHL skaters.
Mika Zibanejad also carved out a place in the record book. He posted his 79th career multi-assist game, moving past Walt Tkaczuk for eighth on the Rangers’ all-time list. Zibanejad’s assist on the winning goal was his 77th as a Ranger, moving him past Artemi Panarin for third in franchise history.
Gabe Perreault continued his strong start by opening the scoring for the Rangers for the second straight game. His six goals are tied for second on the team this season.
Tye Kartye added to the attack as well, scoring his first career power-play goal and stretching his point streak to three games. He has seven points over his last eight outings, and his six goals are tied for second on the Rangers.
Pavel Dorofeyev stayed hot too, scoring in back-to-back games and recording a point in seven of his last eight contests. He has four goals and three assists over that stretch, and his six goals are also tied for second on the team.
Alexis Lafrenière turned in his fifth multi-point game of the season with two assists, matching the second-most such games on the Rangers. He now ranks second on the club with 18 points.
In net, Joonas Korpisalo made his season debut and earned his first win as a Ranger.
In Other News...
Rangers Goaltending Crisis Has One Costly Fix Fans Will Debate
With Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo both sidelined, the Rangers have been forced to lean on Dylan Garand for multiple starts and ride out a stretch that has only sharpened the concern around the crease. It is the kind of situation that can expose a team quickly, especially when the margin for error in the standings is already thin and every night can tilt the conversation from patience to urgency.
That urgency is why the idea of chasing a stabilizing answer keeps surfacing, even if the price would be steep. Nashville has the kind of goaltending depth that makes a move conceivable, but the Predators do not have much reason to part with a proven starter unless the return is strong enough to make them think twice, which leaves the Rangers facing a familiar dilemma: stand pat and wait for health, or pay up for certainty now. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Fans Should Notice Who Is Driving Hartford Right Now
The first month in Hartford offered a useful snapshot of where the Rangers top affiliate stands as its 30th consecutive season at PeoplesBank Arena gets rolling. The Wolf Pack finished October at 5-6-1-0, and the clubs own monthly spotlight pointed to a few names worth tracking, with forward Liam Greentree, goaltender Callum Tung and forward Glenn Gawdin standing out in the early going.
Greentree gave the Wolf Pack some needed offense, while Tung helped steady the net with a strong opening stretch that included his first AHL shutout. Coach Jay Leach singled out both players for the way they handled the start of the season, and for Rangers fans, that kind of early traction in Hartford is always worth watching closely because it can hint at who might be pushing for a bigger role down the line. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Suddenly Face A Blue Line Opening They Didnt Expect
A blue line that had already been under a bit of scrutiny got a sudden shakeup before the Rangers faced the Kraken, when rookie defenseman Alberts Smits was pulled from the lineup with an upper-body injury. It was a notable turn for a player who had been battling through a difficult season and had not missed an NHL game until now, forcing the club to adjust on the fly.
Matthew Robertson was the next man up, making his season debut after beginning the year in the minors. For the Rangers, it was the kind of depth test that can surface quickly over an 82-game schedule, with one young defenseman sidelined and another getting a chance to re-enter the picture in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]