Rangers vs. Capitals: A Fitting End
Even Adam Fox’s return couldn’t mask a familiar reality as the Rangers slid further into the East’s basement.
- In my estimation—given the context of how 2023-24 ended—2025 was the worst calendar year I have seen from the New York Rangers in a very long time. Maybe ever. What a disgraceful year for this organization.
- The Rangers, with that loss to the Washington Capitals, now have the worst record (by points percentage) in the East. The Rangers are just three points ahead of Columbus for last place, but the Blue Jackets continue to have three games in hand. Ottawa (in ninth place) is two points away from the Rangers with four games in hand. The .512 point percentage for the Rangers is good for last place in the East and seventh worst in the NHL.
- Tom Wilson broke the Rangers once, so maybe he can do it again. He injured Noah Laba (on a clean hit, to be fair, even if he was hunting him), scored two goals, and added an assist. The Rangers had nothing to come close to matching the energy or the offense, and my hatred for the man contributed to grow. Hopefully Chris Drury felt just as embarrassed watching that one.
- To go back to a point I continue to make on the podcast and here: Yesterday afternoon's loss would have been "OK" in many circumstances. Down J.T. Miller, in Adam Fox's first game back, and two forwards (Laba and Conor Sheary) were injured and played less than 7 minutes each. Hard for any team to recover from two forwards missing half the game, but worse when the team already has no depth in the first place.
