Revisiting Rangers 5-0-0 road trip last season ahead of upcoming journey west
After a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on home ice Thursday night, the New York Rangers are now off on a four-game road trip that will send them out west to take on the Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers.
This road trip brings to mind last season’s similar trip through the same cities which also included a stop in Winnipeg for one against the Jets. The Rangers were 5-0-0 on that road trip, which really set the tone for the rest of their season.
After starting out with a 2-2-0 record and trying to find their game under new coach Peter Laviolette last season, the Rangers embarked on a five-game road trip from Oct. 21-30 which, same as this season, started in Seattle against the Kraken.
The Rangers swept that road trip, and some of those wins came in dramatic fashion. Not only did it start a six-game win streak for the Blueshirts and a run of 10 wins in 11 games, but it set the standard for how they were expected to play going forward for the rest of the season. Ultimately, the Rangers set franchise records with 55 wins and 114 points, and won the Presidents’ Trophy as the best team in the NHL for the regular season.
The Rangers (10-4-1) have won five of their past nine games, but largely struggled in that stretch at both ends of the rink. They simply need to play better. And perhaps this trip can provide the same medicine as the one in 2023-24 did.
In recent years, the Rangers have been among the best NHL teams on the road. This season, they are 5-1-0 away from Madison Square Garden, after three straight seasons of 24 road wins, including 25 last season and in 2021-22.
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A look back on Rangers 5-0-0 road trip in 2023-24
With all of this in mind, let’s take a look back on last season’s successful road trip in October, before the Rangers drop the puck on this current trek Sunday in Seattle.
Oct. 21, 2023 – Rangers 4 – Kraken 1
After a 4-1 loss on home ice to the Nashville Predators on Oct. 19, the Rangers headed out west to take on the Kraken. This was Jonathan Quick’s first start in goal with the Rangers., meaning there was much apprehension heading into the game. After some down years and an underwhelming preseason, a lot of questions surrounded Quick and if he would be a serviceable backup to Igor Shesterkin.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion put that notion to bed with a solid performance, making 18 saves on 19 shots and helping the Rangers earn a 4-1 victory, kickstarting a great season for the veteran netminder. After the Rangers trailed 1-0, Artemi Panarin scored two goals in the contest, and Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko each had one. Filip Chytil had three assists in one of his best games of what unfortunately turned out to be an injury-shortened season. And who can forget Vincent Trocheck’s rousing third-period fight with Jared McCann?
Oct. 24, 2023 – Rangers 3 – Flames 1
Three nights later, the Rangers were in Calgary against another mediocre opponent. The Rangers received another great goaltending performance, when Shesterkin made 25 saves on 26 shots to help the Rangers win 3-1.
Lafreniere scored for the second straight game, and Chris Kreider and since-departed defenseman Erik Gustafsson picked up the other two goals, each in the second period after the Rangers fell behind 1-0 just 1:12 into the first period. Chytil registered two more assists, and Panarin, Adam Fox, and K’Andre Miller all picked up helpers.
Oct. 26, 2023 – Rangers 3 – Oilers 0
Now, it was Quick’s turn to shine once again. In his second game of the season, he picked up his first shutout with the Rangers, making 29 saves, blanking Connor McDavid and the Oilers 3-0 in Edmonton. The Rangers scored all three goals in the second period. Lafreniere scored extended his goal-scoring streak to three games, and Fox and Braden Schneider had the other two goals. Each defenseman also registered an assist.
Panarin continued his blazing point streak with two assists in the contest. Trocheck and Jimmy Vesey had assists as well. With the win, the Rangers were now on a three-game win streak, and momentum was building for the rest of the trip, and the rest of the season.
Oct. 28, 2023 – Rangers 4 – Canucks 3 (OT)
This 4-3 overtime win against the Canucks is when the road trip really heated up for the Rangers. The two teams traded goals back and forth, leading to a fantastic overtime finish. After New York went up 1-0 on a Panarin goal, the Canucks answered with two of their own. The Rangers battled back with goals from Fox and Mika Zibanejad, but the Canucks tied it with just under five minutes left in regulation, just after the Rangers killed off a penalty to Chytil.
It would take overtime, but Miller ended up scoring the game-winner with an assist from Kreider. Zibanejad had himself a three-point night with a goal and two assists; Panarin and Fox had a goal and an assist; and Trocheck added an assist as well. Shesterkin had a big night with 30 saves, and kept the Rangers in the game, especially in overtime, when he made five saves.
Oct. 30, 2023 – Rangers 3 – Jets 2 (OT)
To cap off this impressive stretch of games, the Rangers faced off against the Winnipeg Jets less than 48 hours after the draining battle against the Canucks. It was a similar story, and another overtime victory. Panarin opened the scoring in the first period, assisted by Jacob Trouba and Miller. The Jets answered with two goals of their own, and then Kreider tied it late in the third period, with assists from Fox and Panarin.
Once again the Rangers found themselves in overtime, likely drained from the last game, and the road trip as a whole. Even so, they found a way to win. This time, Zibanejad was the overtime hero, scoring off a feed from Panarin to send the Rangers home after a perfect nine-day road trip. Miller also assisted on the overtime winner. Shesterkin had to be great once again, making 26 saves, five of them coming in OT.
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