“They [the Boston Bruins] hit through people to possess the puck.” Dave Maloney on Bruins vs. Rangers on January 26, 2026
It’s called playing, Dave. It’s what we want to see from the Rangers.
Last night, the New York Rangers found luck— they won to redeem the brutal loss to Boston (remember when the Rangers stopped playing, and Boston scored 10?).
What was the vibe, though? (This is what we are here for, right?)
The evening started with a moving (and enthusiastic) tribute to the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion team. Mark Messier was reliving that winner’s smile (you know the one), and some players seemed to have tears in their eyes.
The announcers went on about how Mark Messier “redefined” the Captain’s role for the original six franchise. Compared to Messier, our current Captain is a bit of a joke. The man just makes these facial expressions as if he is so tired. Tired of what? I am not quite sure because he isn’t scoring (or trying). J.T. Miller always looks like a Kentucky grandpa out on his porch chair, squinting toward a dusty dirt road ahead, trying to see if he recognizes the pickup truck driving by. Miller is theatrical and exasperating.
It was confirmed that we traded Carson Soucy, yesterday. We keep doing this. Trading the players who play, score and have potential and keeping the ones who do not. Chris Drury’s judgment never sees redemption. I would be perfectly fine if we traded away our grandpa Miller (not because of age but attitude).
The man straddled Jonathan Quick (Rangers goalie) last night, trapping the legendary goalie, leaving him unable to defend their own net. He immobilized our own goalie. His own teammate. It’s exhausting. Then, in every press conference he says in a pathetic tone of voice, “I need to do better.” Bro, it gets old. Just do it. Miller gives me the same vibes as Coach Sullivan. Do with that what you will. They just leave you standing there with their word salad.
If you would have asked me a year ago, I would have argued Vinny Trocheck should be Captain (wrote about it here). Today, I say trade him, too. Yesterday, he did nothing other than glare at teammates who passed the puck to him (he would miss the pass). This man had a lobotomy last season. You cannot convince me otherwise. He behaves like a completely different person. Completely demoralized. A shell of himself. Trade him and let him find life elsewhere à la Chris Kreider Orange County renaissance.
Let’s turn to some of the positives— none involve Mika or Panarin. Quick kept us in the game, as he always does. Quick has that swagger that makes me wonder if he fights his own teammates in the locker room. They deserve it. Quick is a fighter, and he got the win he so deeply deserved after being the only player showing up to play for weeks. He also got an assist in that last Matthew Robertson goal that sealed the deal.
Robertson gave it his all and won the game with Quick. A young player with so much skill and potential who is just wilting here with the moronic veteran players who surround him. The camera captured Robertson’s large white smile as his team pressed him senselessly against the glass when he scored the winning goal. His wildly white mouth guard always throws me off. Watching that man smile is like that episode of Friends where Ross gets his teeth (overly) whitened. Someone give that man a Colgate deal already.
And lastly, speaking of young players with potential— Matt Rempe was back. He kept puck possession and saved Will Cuylle from getting his ass kicked. Welcome back to the Remps. His presence always increases the entertainment value of the game, even if it’s just watching the camera zoom in on him when he is upset and cursing as the commentators talk over his muted image. Rempe always tries, and we love him for that.
Dave Maloney kept saying “snappy” every time someone tried to score. Made me think of turtles. Dave is trying hard to make “snappy” happen.
Basically, last night had everything that had New Yorkers in a chokehold in the 90s— the Stanley Cup Rangers Team (with the opening ceremony), a Kodak moment (at the end with the Quick pass to Robertson), and a Colgate smile (Robertson smashed up against the glass after his winning goal).
It was a glimmer of nostalgia in a sea of losses. We’ll see if Lady Luck left the arena last night on Messier’s arm.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 