Daily Report – 10/5/26
Rangers
Igor Shesterkin is tied for third in points on the Rangers.
Last night at the Garden, in his first start since scoring the first goalie goal in franchise history, Shesterkin shot for the empty net again. He didn’t score, but he did earn an assist on Eeli Tolvanen’s game-sealing tally.
With a goal and an assist in three starts, Shesterkin is now on pace for 42 points this season. He is the third goalie in Rangers history to earn a point in back-to-back games, and the first since Henrik Lundqvist in 2010-11.
“We made a joke after [the game] saying he’s still in the race for the league lead in points,” said Sean Durzi, who led all defensemen in time on ice last night. In his first game against his former team, Durzi helped the Rangers secure a 4-2 victory. With a 3-1-0 record, they now lead the NHL.
The Rangers acquired Durzi from Utah in the offseason in exchange for Vincent Trocheck, who delivered many great moments as a Ranger, including a double-overtime game-winning goal in the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Trocheck’s return was a big storyline before yesterday’s game, so Durzi’s first game against his former team got less attention. Two years ago, Durzi’s first season with Utah came with high expectations, but a shoulder injury cost him 30 games. He hopes to write a new chapter in New York.
“My mindset every day is you don’t expect anything, but you’re prepared for the most,” said Durzi, who scored his first goal as a Ranger on Friday and nearly added another before an offside reversed it. “It’s whatever they give you, and you bring it every single day.”
Meanwhile, it was odd to see Trocheck wearing white and baby blue. With the Rangers, he was a successful center and an excellent teammate. Skating alongside Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière in 2023-24, his faceoff skills powered one of the league’s best lines, and one of the best in Rangers history. He won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award that season.
But once general manager Chris Drury announced a retool last season, Trocheck knew his days in New York were numbered. He played for a Rangers team that took eight games to win at home. But that is not the case this season.
The Rangers have won each of their first two home games. Including Friday’s victory in Detroit, when backup goalie Dylan Garand earned his first career shutout, the Rangers have won three straight games. Adam Fox and Gabe Perreault have points in each of those victories.
Fox’s talent has been well-documented during his seven years in New York. Since arriving in 2019, he has been the Rangers’ top blueliner. Perreault, meanwhile, is still developing, but early in his first full NHL season, he looks like a deserving top-six forward.
Last night, three minutes into the third period, Perreault buried Lafrenière’s rebound for the go-ahead tally. Mika Zibanejad passed to Lafrenière on an odd-man rush, but Karel Vejmelka stopped his shot. Perreault, whose spin move started the rush, was there to clean the ice.
Less than seven minutes later, Vladislav Gavrikov’s wrist shot deflected off JT Miller’s skate, putting the Rangers up a pair. A miscommunication between Shesterkin and rookie defenseman Alberts Šmits helped Utah pull back within one, but Tolvanen’s empty-netter at 18:45 sealed the game.
Throughout the game, fans kept begging Shesterkin to shoot, even when Utah’s net wasn’t empty. He actually shot for the empty net late in the third period, but the puck was stopped. He did earn an assist, though, as he played the puck up to Will Cuylle. His shot was blocked, but Tolvanen finished the job.
“I thought it was pretty funny when [the fans] were yelling ‘Shoot!’ in the first period when they saw the goalie in the net,” Cuylle said. “It was a great play by [Shesterkin] on the empty-net goal to not go for the goal and pass it up to me, and we get the empty-net goal. He’s obviously a smart guy.”
Indeed, Shesterkin is such a prolific goal-scorer that his teammates want him to distribute the wealth. Hopefully, his stick stays hot all season. If the Rangers ever struggle to score, they can make Shesterkin a skater and have Garand mind the net.
Jokes aside, the Rangers lost Joe Valeno early in yesterday’s game. The fourth-line center suffered a lower-body injury midway through the opening period. Oliver Bjorkstrand will assume fourth-line center duties tomorrow night against the Islanders, and the Rangers waived Matthew Robertson today to add another center.
Schedule
7:00 PM (6:00 PM CDT): 2026 NBA Preseason – NYK at PHI; MSG, DAZN
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): 2026 ALDS, Game 2 – NYY (0-1) at TB (1-0); TBS, TRUTV, HBO MAX; SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA, 239 K) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (10-11, 4.42 ERA, 156 K)
8:15 PM (7:15 PM CDT): Monday Night Football (MNF), Week 4 – Atlanta Falcons (1-2) at New Orleans Saints (1-2); ESPN, ESPN App
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): Progressive Monday Night Kickoff; ESPN, ESPN App
Cover Image Courtesy: New York Rangers
