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New York Rangers Game Notes

Rangers vs. Islanders: Well, It's Only Preseason

The Rangers iced what will be most of their final roster and revealed they still have quite a few wrinkles to iron out.

Roberto Solis-Byxbee

Roberto Solis-Byxbee

— 5 min read
Rangers vs. Islanders: Well, It's Only Preseason
(Image credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
  • Welcome to game two of the preseason for the New York Rangers. Let's be realistic, everyone: Monday night was a showcase for the Hartford Wolf Pack and definitely does not count. For the record, I agree with Eric that the mostly New Jersey Devils NHL squad only beating the baby Rangers by a single goal in the final minutes is objectively hilarious.
  • Per John Giannone, last night's game would feature the Rangers' "A-Team." So what does that mean exactly? Take a look for yourself.
  • Random sidebar: I met John Giannone once, and I thought he'd be taller.
  • Tonight was Alberts Smits preseason debut for the Rangers, and he continued to don number 63, only worn by one other player in Rangers history. Anyone know who? Post it in the comments. Don't Google it. I see you; don't do it.
  • The preseason opener at Madison Square Garden seemed to have a pretty low turnout. Maybe that brand new Rangers Pass hasn't gone into effect just yet. This promotion incited a surprising response on social media. In a sense, it's making the game more accessible, but folks who have already committed to expensive ticketing plans end up feeling a bit burned through that lens. There's a metaphor buried in there somewhere.
  • Cole Beaudoin crashed the net and got the game's opening goal. Chris Drury holding out on the Vincent Trocheck trade is already paying off. After it happened, Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney talked through the play, and between the two of them, pronounced his name four different ways. It's Boh-DWAN, rhymes with "yo mom."
  • Dylan Roobroeck is making a strong case to make this team. He's stood out now a couple of times in the first period. One play in particular showed him controlling the puck and setting up an excellent chance for Smits, who threaded a shot on net from the point. There are worse things than having a mountain on skates who won 11 of 13 face offs against the Devils Monday night as your fourth-line center.
  • To those of you who are watching outside the New York metro area on ESPN+, what the heck is going on in their commercial break screens? The sounds remind me of crossing the Atlantic on a ship in the 1700s.

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