Recap: Four Unanswered Goals Spark a Much Needed 6-2 Rangers Win in Chicago

The Rangers have been long overdue for a game just like this. In the second half of their weekend matinee double header, the Rangers found the back of the net six times to come out on top against the Chicago Blackhawks. Sure it wasn’t the toughest of opponents and they still gave up the first goal of the game, but the Rangers worked hard, giving their most complete effort as of late to secure a much needed pair of points. With Chris Kreider joining Igor Shesterkin on the injured list as day-to-day, Brodzinski jumped in as Louis Domingue led the charge into a big afternoon for the Blueshirts. 

1st Period: 

Picking up right where we left off, the Rangers put themselves in a hole right out the gate as Vincent Trocheck took a frustrating tripping penalty within the first minute of the game. The Blackhawks kept Louis Domingue busy in his first NHL start of the 2024-25 season, but were held off to keep things scoreless through the first man advantage of the afternoon. However it wouldn't be long before the Blackhawks were on the board. 

After a pressing shift from the Panarin line, a combined effort from Mika Zibanejad and his new linemate with Kreider out, Jonny Brodzinski, created a turnover that Connor Bedard was able to throw right towards the net. Tyler Bertuzzi would be waiting at the doorstep to guide the puck with ease right past Domingue to make it a 1-0 game early. 

At least four New York Rangers were at fault on this play. Zibanejad wasn’t confident on the puck which led to an awkward buddy pass. Brodzinski coughed the puck up, causing the turnover. Adam Fox sat back and allowed Bertuzzi to get to the net with little to no pressure. Ryan Lindgren was caught in no man’s land waiting for Brodzinski to get him the puck that he instead coughed up. Meanwhile, all Reilly Smith could do was watch this trainwreck unfold, likely leading him to counting down the minutes until he’s inevitably traded for a slew of draft picks and/or throw-at-the-dart-board prospects. 

This feels like the fifth different thing I’ve labeled as “one of the Rangers’ biggest issues as of late” but nonetheless, their resistance to shoot the puck has been one of them. This has been especially evident with Alexis Lafrenière and others who continue to look for that perfect play as opposed to letting it rip but you know who never hesitates from shooting the puck? Jonny Brodzinski. Sure enough, following an offensive zone face-off win, the Zibanejad line began moving the puck around real well. Adam Fox then found Brodzinski in the slot who was able to snipe one through traffic to tie things up, 1-1. 

Kudos to Brodzinski who picked up a goal in his first game since December 23rd. With the assist on the goal, Adam Fox now ties Brad Park for fourth on the franchises all time assist list for defensemen. 

Credit where it’s due, he and Zibanejad definitely made up for the turnover on the Chicago goal. On top of winning the face-off that led to the first goal, Zibanejad’s line again generated some strong offense in the final minutes of the period as he found himself on the right side of a turnover, getting a stick on what was meant to be an outlet pass. A couple of rebounds led to the puck coming right out for a wide open Will Borgen who fired one home for his first goal as a New York Ranger, 2-1 game.

A great response from the Rangers who got off to another brutal start but still too early to suggest it fixed anything. After the opening twenty, the Rangers were out-shooting the Blackhawks 14-6, led in scoring chances 8-3 and high danger chances 3-1. 

2nd Period:

For as much of a nightmare as this team has been, there truly are some important positives to take away from certain aspects of this group. One of which surrounds this third line of Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil and Brett Berard. Without question, these are the guys that have consistently been the best players for this Rangers team and they continued to prove that in the early parts of the second period. About four minutes in, a fantastic give and go involving Berard and Fox resulted in the Rangers third goal as Fox fed it to Chytil in the high slot for a shot from far out that beat Soderblom, 3-1 Rangers. 

With the assist, Fox now passes Brad Park for sole possession on the all time assists list and also becomes the first defenseman in Rangers history to have six consecutive thirty point seasons to start his career. 

Nearing the midway point of the outing, Urho Vaakanainen got into a shoving match with Pat Maroon which resulted in Sam Carrick getting involved, nearly dropping the gloves. Perhaps Carrick decided they didn’t need a fight with a two goal lead or perhaps he just didn’t want to have to have a go with Maroon. Nevertheless, it turned out to be the right call as the Rangers made it a 4-1 game on the following shift. A great outlet pass from Mika Zibanejad found Reilly Smith for a quick breakaway where he snuck a backhander through Soderblom’s five hole for his eighth of the season.  

This was turning into a much needed feel good, blowout win for the Rangers. With less than five minutes to go in the second, Artemi Panarin was flying around Chicago’s zone and ended up throwing a shot from far out on net that took a redirect off of Trocheck’s stick to find the back of the net, 5-1 game. 

For a moment, it felt as if the Rangers were easing up, ready to ride this one out with their dominant lead but with two minutes to go in the period, the Blackhawks brought them back down to earth. Rookie Wyatt Kaiser let a shot go from the top of the circle with Vaakanainen potentially acting as a partial screen. Domingue’s glove just missed it which got the Blackhawks back on the board. And oh yes, it isn’t a Rangers game unless an opposing player scores their first NHL goal… Stick taps to Kaiser. 

The officials certainly missed a call as the second period came to an end as Nick Foligno drilled Borgen from behind. Definitely could’ve and likely should have been a boarding/hit-from-behind penalty but for whatever reason, went uncalled. 

Nevertheless, Borgen seemed to be okay and the Rangers had a 5-2 lead heading into the second intermission. Shots on goal were now 25-13 in favor of the Rangers with scoring chances now 19-8 and high danger chances 6-2. All that was left to do was finish the job. 

3rd Period:

It was a pretty low event period through the first half of the period until Chytil picked up his second of the night about a minute and half away from its midway point. A shot from K’Andre Miller at the point went off of Soderblom, off of Chytil and into the back of the net. A lucky bounce but that’s what happens when you go to the net and put pucks there, 6-2 Rangers. 

Otherwise, the Blackhawks gave them some push back with 15 shots on goal but a strong effort from Louis Domingue helped his team maintain that 6-2 lead right until the end. Earlier tensions, specifically involving Pat Maroon reached a breaking point in the final 14 seconds as another spirited scrum broke out that for whatever reason, led to Maroon being allowed to casually stand by the Rangers bench, carrying extended conversations with a number of players. It almost looked like he and Carrick were going to have a proper go at it as play resumed but they were separated and time expired.

The Rangers finished the job as they got a much needed, high scoring win that they can hopefully build off of to finally put the past behind them. They’re back at it on home ice as they’ll have opportunities for rematches with the Dallas Stars on Tuesday and the New Jersey Devils on Friday.