For the third time in about a month, the New York Rangers competed against the NHL’s last-place team, visiting the Blackhawks in Chicago on Sunday. After previous losses to both the Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators, the Rangers finally secured a victory, dominating the game with a 6-2 win at the United Center. Although they fell behind 1-0 early in the first period, the Rangers responded with five consecutive goals and added a sixth, with 12 different players contributing at least one point.
The Rangers achieved this success without seasoned forward Chris Kreider, who was sidelined due to an upper-body injury—his absence’s relation to earlier back spasms remains unclear. The team has now won two of their last three outings, having previously defeated the Boston Bruins on January 2, with the recent loss to the Washington Capitals showcasing their potential as they scored four goals in a 7-4 defeat. While they’re not completely out of their slump, scoring 10 goals over two games is a promising improvement.
Filip Chytil was a standout performer with two goals against Chicago, while Jonny Brodzinski netted his first goal back since December 23 after being reintroduced to the lineup. Reilly Smith and Vincent Trocheck also contributed goals, and Will Borgen scored his second of the season and first as a Ranger. Adam Fox and Brett Berard each provided two assists, with Fox becoming the Rangers’ all-time fourth-leading defenseman in assists with 284, surpassing Hall of Famer Brad Park. Additionally, Fox made history as the first defenseman in the franchise to achieve at least 30 points in each of his first six seasons. Ryan Lindgren, Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, Mika Zibanejad, and K’Andre Miller all contributed assists as well, with Zibanejad reaching his 400th career NHL assist.
With Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve and Jonathan Quick having played previously, Louis Domingue took to the ice in goal for his first NHL game since November 9, 2023, and made an impressive 25 saves on 27 shots.
With Shesterkin and Kreider out, both Domingue and Brodzinski rose to the occasion. Domingue, despite conceding an early goal, maintained composure throughout the game, effectively transitioning the puck to offensive plays. Brodzinski’s crucial goal tied the match late in the first period, shifting momentum in favor of the Rangers. Although he has faced lineup challenges, he may earn a more permanent role even after Kreider returns, potentially taking Jimmy Vesey’s spot on the fourth line.
Currently, both Filip Chytil and Mika Zibanejad are gaining momentum, essential as the Rangers look to boost their playoff chances. Chytil has racked up five points over a four-game streak, showcasing excellent puck control and his best performance yet. Meanwhile, Zibanejad has recorded three points in three games, breaking an eight-game point drought before scoring against the Bruins and contributing in subsequent games, appearing more confident and active on the ice.
The Rangers learned a crucial lesson about the importance of directing pucks and bodies toward the net in this game. This shift in mentality led to multiple goals against the Blackhawks, with Brodzinski’s goal carefully navigating traffic, and both Trocheck and Chytil scoring off deflections from long-range shots. Even Borgen capitalized on rebound opportunities, reinforcing the value of persistent pressure on the net.
