Rangers Earn Revenge for Opening Night

The New York Rangers exacted revenge for their Opening Night loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blueshirts won 6-1 in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Coach Mike Sullivan made his return to his prior stomping grounds. Igor Shesterkin continued his fine play, stopping 18 of 19 shots to notch his second victory of the season in three starts. The third and fourth lines were keys to the victory, providing the depth needed up front while chipping in offensively.

#NYR warmup rushes for Game 3 in Pittsburgh:

Panarin – Zibanejad – Lafrenière
Cuylle – Miller – Sheary
Pärssinen – Laba – Raddysh
Edström – Carrick – Rempe

Gavrikov – Fox
Soucy – Borgen
Vaakanainen – Schneider

Shesterkin
Quick

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) October 11, 2025

With Vincent Trocheck sidelined week-to-week with an upper body injury, Mikz Zibanejad moved from wing on the first line to center Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Zib notched a shorthanded goal and that trio was also evident throughout the contest. Panarin tallied an assist in the victory. Conor Sheary moved up to the second line, notching an assist on Will Cuylle’s power play goal. 

Rangers Special Teams

Both the power play and penalty kill had solid games. The first unit struggled at times, failing to get the movement – both player and puck – needed. On that man-advantage, the second unit tallied to give the team a 3-1 lead. Later in the second period, Adam Fox notched his second of the game, aided by a strong screen in front by J.T. Miller, who won the initial draw to create the opportunity,

The penalty kill is perfect this year. New York stopped all four chances Saturday and is now 9-for-9 this season. Strong support down low and active defensemen up front have been hallmarks of the penalty kill.

Fox and Shesterkin

Fox and Igor had, for them, disappointing 2024-25 campaigns. Through three games, both have shown signs of righting the ship. Knowing both players, this is not a surprise.

Fox, save for one sequence on the power play, where he was beaten to the puck and prevented a goal by sweeping the puck out of the crease, was very solid. He was active with his stick and strong positionally in his own zone. In the past, we have criticized Fox’s failure to shoot enough, this was not the case yesterday. With Carson Soucy likely to miss Sunday’s game with an upper-body injury, it will be interesting to see if Matthew Robertson dresses against the Capitals or if Scott Morrow is promoted.

Shesterkin has been brilliant. He has stopped 83 of 85 shots, going 2-1 in his three starts. Igor is making key save after key save, keeping New York either in games or the lead. When Shesterkin plays like this, he is a Vezina Trophy candidate and the Rangers are difficult to face.

Rangers Third-and-Fourth Line Production

For New York to be successful, the bottom six will need to be productive and help change the narrative. Saturday, this most certainly was the case. Noah Laba tallied his first two assists of the game and was visible and effective in. all three zones. The Rangers’ final goal of the game, scored by Taylor Raddysh, was created by Jusso Parssinnen’s and Laba’s work at the defensive blue line. Laba continued that effort in the neutral zone. Then his speed into the offensive zone and dish to Raddysh created the scoring chance and goal.

Adam Edstrom-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe helped clinch the game in the third period. That trio notched a goal. crashing the net while also pinning the Penguins deep in their own zone. Games like this are why many of us feel that unit needs to remain together based on their potential to have their physical play be a difference maker.