Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Highlights: NYR 4, WSH 2 (4:54 video via NHL.com)
• Game Recap: Multi-point efforts from Ryan Strome and Artemiy Panarin helped the Rangers take the early lead in the season series against Washington (CBS)
• Larry Brooks writes that while Kaapo Kakko continues to improve, he is yet to reach the hype that made him worthy of the second overall selection in the 2019 Entry Draft (NY Post)
• Brooks also raises the possibility of dumping Tony DeAngelo on the Calgary Flames (NY Post)
• Vincent Mercogliano offers his takeaways from last night’s victory (LoHud)
• Adam Naclerio examines how Mika Zibanejad stacks up with the previous Rangers’ forward to wear #93, Petr Nedved (The Hockey Writers)
• $ean $hapiro detail$ the ma$$ive finanical losses M$G, and by exten$ion the Blue$hirt$, took in Q2 of the fi$cal calendar (The Athletic)
• Media Availability: Igor Shesterkin, (3:46) Ryan Strome,(4:18) and Anthony Bitetto (1:52) (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• Columbus Blue Jackets’ forwards Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic both scored their first goals since being traded from the Winnipeg Jets to help their new team earn a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars (TSN)
• Sean Leahy reports that due to the numerous COVID-19 outbreaks around the league, new in-arena protocols have been put into place for the remainder of the season (NBC Sports)
• The Colorado Avalanche have had their scheduled games through February 11th postponded due COVID Protocols (Sportsnet)
• Chad DeDominicis relays word that Buffalo Sabres’ head coach Ralph Krueger has tested positive for COVID-19 (Die By The Blade)/