Rangers vs. Hurricanes: The Home Streak Continues, and That's Not Good
The Rangers outplayed Carolina for half the game but still can’t buy a goal — their sixth straight home loss and fourth home shutout of the year.
The Carolina Hurricanes came to Madison Square Garden for a measuring stick game. For 30 minutes the Rangers out Carolina'd Carolina...it wasn't enough.
Onto the notes.
- How great is Vladislav Gavrikov? About halfway through the first period, the Carolina Hurricanes had a two-on-one with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Bradly Nadeu streaking in against Gavrikov. Vlad the Impaler was able to break it up by reading the pass, filling the lane and getting enough of his stick on the puck to slow up the rush and allow his mates to come back and pressure Nadeu into a rushed shot that was off-target. Folks, I love Ryan Lindgren. I love how he gave his heart, soul, and body to this team, but going from Ryan Lindgren to Vlad Gavrikov is like going from Applebees to Peter Lugar's.
- Kenny Albert about 15 minutes into the game used the line that could be the tagline for the 2025-26 New York Rangers, "a really good period for the Rangers but they trail..." The Rangers basically dominated Carolina for most of the first period. They were more physical, they were strong on the puck, they limited Carolina's opportunities, they did everything.—except score. Instead, they gave up a power play goal to a team that came into the game with only four power play goals in 33 chances, and to a player (Nikolaj Ehlers) who hadn't scored all season and found themselves down 1-0 after the first. This tracks.
- Jaromir Jagr joined the the broadcast for the first intermission. It's possible that Jagr was a Ranger the last time the team won at home. I kid. Mostly. The New York Yankees' last home win was Oct. 7. That's still more recent than the Rangers' last home win (April 17). It's Nov. 5.
You know if this team can win every road game and then lose in OT 15ish times at home they might just do it. #NYR
— Generic Brand Adam Fox (@RSolisByx) November 5, 2025
- This may have to become the official strategy.
- OK, so spoiler alert: On the podcast, Joe and I talked about the fact that the Rangers are a scorer short. If Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, and Mika Zibanejad are going to keep shooting into the chest of goaltenders, then they're going to need more than one. All three of them, and Alexis Lafrenière, had great scoring chances and the puck went everywhere but in.
- Not a lot happened in the first ten minutes of the second period, but there was a hysterical visual of Adam Edstrom skating by Logan Stankoven. It looked like bring your kid to work day.
