Rangers
The Rangers get two thumbs up for how they played on Wednesday. It wasn’t perfect, but they entered a difficult road environment and defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1. The Rangers are now 2-1-0 on their four-game road trip to Alberta and the Pacific Northwest.
Since the Rangers score 2.95 goals per game, the 14th-fewest in the NHL, the pressure has been on Mika Zibanejad and JT Miller, the Rangers’ top two centers, to contribute more offensively. Zibanejad entered Wednesday’s game with three goals, on pace for a career-low 13 this season.
Zibanejad hadn’t scored on the power play since the Rangers’ second game. As a result, the Rangers have the 12th-worst power play in the NHL. It’s safe to say Zibanejad was due, though, and he lit the lamp twice on Wednesday, including on the power play.
The Scotiabank Saddledome is a special place for Zibanejad. It’s too bad the Flames are moving after this season. Zibanejad notched a two-minute, 38-second hat trick in that building in 2016, the fastest in Ottawa Senators history. He also scored the title-winning overtime goal for Team Sweden in the 2012 World Juniors Championship there.
“It’s one of the best moments of my hockey career,” Zibanejad reflected. “It’s something that I’ll always be happy with, and something that’s always going to tie me to this rink in Calgary.”
The Dome is on its last legs. Thankfully for the Rangers, Zibanejad is not on his. He has points in four straight games, and his multi-goal second period on Wednesday was his 26th as a Ranger, tying Steve Vickers for the second-most in franchise history.
“It’s nice to be able to contribute, but this one feels good to get the two points for the win,” Zibanejad said. “I feel like every time we come in here, it’s always a tough game. It doesn’t matter what kind of team they have and what position they’re in. It’s a tough building to come into.”
Zibanejad scored his first goal 59 seconds into the second period. He crossed the blue line, drove to the goal line uncontested, and slipped the puck behind Flames goalie Devin Cooley. He caught Cooley off guard by knocking the puck off his skates.
“I tried to bank it off of him,” Zibanejad said. “I felt like he came out. He left the post, I guess. I just tried to put it in there hoping that he backs into it, and luckily it worked this time.”
Zibanejad scored his power-play goal 10 minutes later, flashing the signature one-timer he’s hidden for most of this season. Pavel Dorofeyev noticed Zibanejad open in the left circle, and his cross-ice pass set up the slap shot. With his 138th career power-play goal, Zibanejad tied Daniel Sedin for the second-most all-time among Swedish NHL players.
“He can really shoot the puck,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I’m happy for him. He’s an important player for us, and he’s a really good hockey player. He’s one of our better goal-scorers, and we’d like to see him shoot the puck and think more shot-first.”
The Rangers ultimately beat the Flames, but they had to overcome an early onslaught. After Gabe Perreault was assessed a questionable hooking penalty 73 seconds into the first period, Calgary generated early offensive pressure, but Joonas Korpisalo stood strong in goal.
In his second start of the season, Korpisalo stopped 29 of 30 shots. The Rangers’ defense held the Flames to three high-danger scoring chances, including a wraparound chance for 20-year-old Zayne Parekh less than four minutes into the opening frame.
Korpisalo got stuck at the left post at first, but in a split second, he dropped his stick and dove to his side for the highlight-reel save. He robbed Parekh of a wide-open net, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
“I saw the puck all night,” Korpisalo said. “It’s fun to play behind [these defensemen]. The guys are helping me a lot. I think there are still some things I need to clean up in my game, but I’m happy to be winning.”
This Rangers team isn’t perfect, but they put their best foot forward every night. They know that Igor Shesterkin isn’t there to cover up their weaknesses anymore, and they have supported Korpisalo and Dylan Garand with committed puck control.
“This group, they’re a fun group to coach because they compete all the time,” Sullivan said. “I just love our competitive spirit. I think we’re getting better in these tight games and not trying to play on our heels or sit on the lead, so to speak. Just trying to play more aggressively and just doing it in a responsible way.”
The Rangers will try to finish their road trip with a winning record tonight against the Canucks in Vancouver (8 PM, 7 PM CST – MSG, DAZN). The last-place Canucks are 1-8-0 at home.
Schedule
Tonight 11/13:
7:00 PM (6:00 PM CST): 2026 NBA Cup, East Group B – NYK (0-1) at IND (0-1); MSG, Prime Video, DAZN
9:00 PM (8:00 PM CST): NYR at VAN; MSGSN, DAZN
Sunday 11/15:
1:00 PM (12:00 PM CST): NFL on CBS, Week 10 – New York Jets (2-7) vs. Buffalo Bills (7-1); CBS, Paramount+
6:00 PM (5:00 PM CST): NYK at TOR; MSG, DAZN
8:20 PM (7:20 PM CST): Sunday Night Football (SNF), Week 10 – Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-2); NBC, Peacock
7:00 PM (6:00 PM CST): Football Night in America (FNIA); NBC, Peacock
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CST): Hyundai Sunday Night Kickoff; NBC, Peacock
8:10 PM (7:10 PM CST): GEICO Sunday Night Anthem; NBC, Peacock
Cover Image Courtesy: New York Rangers
