The top 10 Ranger goals of calendar year 2021

2021 is coming to a close, and the Rangers have had a very eventful year. In this calendar year the Rangers have scored a total of 259 goals. While the Rangers’ late comeback goals in Arizona were pretty awesome, they aren’t among the best.   Let’s take a look at some of the best goals of 2021.

Here’s the criteria for selection.  I looked at several factors, the most important being if it was an individual effort or show of skill. Did the player go coast to coast through the entire team, did someone dangle the defenseman one-on-one leading to a goal? Second, was there an amazing setup leading to the goal. For example did Panarin undress the defense leaving Strome wide open for the easy tap in? Finally, pure entertainment or shock value. Did the goal leave me saying how did that go in, or was it a last second game tying or winning goal?

Honorable mentions

The honorable mentions are in no specific order so here we go.

Kakko’s first of the year – November 14

Kaapo Kakko was projected by many to have a breakout season. Coming into the game Kakko had zero  points in 10 games and desperately needed a goal, and what a way to get on the board.

Not only that, he scored the winning goal in the shootout against New Jersey.

Fox’s shorty vs Florida – November 8

Adam Fox is making waves in his campaign for reelection as the leagues best defenseman.   It’s not everyday you see hands like this on a defenseman. By the way, Florida, how do you lose Adam Fox in the offensive zone?  Plus, it was a shortie.

The one-two punch – May 3

Number one overall, meet number two overall. Alexis Lafrenière toe drags around a sliding Zdeno Chara giving Kaapo Kakko an easy tap in. Unfortunately this go-ahead goal gets forgotten because of the NHL’s clown Tom Wilson shenanigans in the third period.

#10 Out of the press box, on the board – November 16

Julien Gauthier has finally cracked the lineup. He’s found a home on the kid line with Flilip Chytil, and fellow French Canadian, Alexis Lafrenière.

Playing in his fourth straight game for the first time all season, the 24 year old buried his first of the year on a great individual effort. Gauthier’s goal was not only skillful in his ability to steal the puck and score on the back hand, but it also was a game winner, and those are always exciting.

To make it even better, he did against his hometown team, the Montreal Canadiens.

This game winner was for sure a confidence booster for Gauthier. After being a healthy scratch for most of the year Gauthier has played in every game since November eighth. Gauthier clearly has chemistry with his line mates, and the kid line should be an exciting line to watch for the rest of the year.

#9 You never forget your first – January 28

With some help from Lady Luck, and maybe some Gary Bettman tampering the Rangers won the Alexis Lafrenière sweepstakes. Alexis Lafrenière didn’t have the rookie season everyone expected, with some highlights but also maybe some lowlights.

As a rookie in the NHL, its all about getting goal number one. Its about getting that weight of your shoulders. Lafrenière only scored 12 goals last season, but you never forget your first especially when it comes in the form of an overtime game winner.

Hopefully this was the first of many for Lafrienière. So far this season Lafrienière only has six goals, but the season is still young at 27 games. If Lafrenière can turn it on down the stretch, the Rangers should be in great shape come playoff time.

#7 The bread needed more time – October 18

When the Rangers met the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 18th, it was a battle of two of the leagues most skilled teams. The Rangers spoiled Auston Matthews season debut with a 2-1 OT victory.

Artemi Panarin scored the game winner off a rare face-off win.

The goal is a result of great effort by Mika Zibanejad. As a result of his face-off win as well as outworking two Maple Leaf players, Panarin was left wide open and all Zibanejad had to do was get him the puck. Panarin did the rest with an amazing shot off the post and in, beating the Leafs in overtime.

#6 Buch’s birthday bash – April 17

When Pavel Buchnevich was trade to St. Louis it left many fans upset. The 20 goal scorer was a fan favorite and had great chemistry with Mika Zibanejad.

Sometimes Buchnevich would have you screaming at your TV when he passed on a two on one into the diving defender, but on his 26th birthday he was feeling dangerous.

Scoring a hat-trick on his birthday is one of Buchnevich’s best Rangers’ performances. His second of the three was the best, as he sniped Aaron Dell for a power play goal. Dell had absolutely no chance.

#5 Through the legs – April 25

Mika Zibanejad had a slow start to 2021. ZIbanejad caught COVID during training camp and affected his play early on. Zibanejad finished with 24 goals on the year, six coming against the Flyers. Zibanejad scored three hat-tricks last season, two against the Flyers, and one against the Sabres.

Of Zibanejad’s three against the Sabres, the third one was a beauty. After receiving the pass on a through the legs move, Zibanejad then beat Colin Miller to get the shot off.

Zibanejad scored a few nice goals last year, but this is the one that I felt was his best. His individual effort, the skill to pull puck between the legs, and entertainment value of seeing just a beautiful goal.

#4 Foxy goes coast to coast – March 6

After only being able to watch Adam Fox on TV since being traded here, I have never been able to truly see his talent. After going to the game against Columbus in October, I’m convinced Adam Fox is the best defenseman in the league and its not even close.

In college football every Heisman Trophy winner has what they call “their Heisman moment”. Last year against New Jersey, Adam Fox had his Norris moment.

A power play goal that was all skill and an amazing individual effort to give the Rangers the lead on the power play.

#3 Buzzer beater – November 21

In what may be the wildest game of 2021, the Rangers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-4. This game saw four goals scored in a span of 1:22 during the second period.  That was crazy, but the end of the game was even crazier and that’s what makes this goal stand out.

The 4-4 tie was broken with 0.7 seconds remaining when Ryan Lindgren scored into an open net.

The goal was the result of a great team play. Kreider and Goodrow in the corner working the puck free as Buffalo tried to force overtime by pinning the puck. Zibanejad also made maybe the pass of  year as he got the pass from Fox over to Lindgren just in time to beat the buzzer. This makes the list for its pure entertainment value. One of the most exciting goals of the year and its scored by a defensive defenseman.

#2 Filthy Chytil  – January 22

Filip Chytil can be a divisive player amongst Rangers fans. Is he a center or is he a wing? The one thing thats not debatable is his offensive ability.

Last year Chytil had a great start to the year until an upper body injury kept him out of the lineup.  Things were looking good when he scored this goal against the Penguins.  Unfortunately, he suffered the injury in the very next game after he scored.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find a clip of the goal with the MSG broadcast because the Penguins announcers do not do this goal justice. A great effort by Phil Di Giuseppe along the boards got Chytil the puck all alone in front of the net, where he had the time to reach into his bag of tricks.

An amazing skillful deke that makes your jaw hit the floor, making us wish we would see more of this from Filip Chytil.

#1 Lady Liberty returns – February 4

After 14 years the Lady Liberty jerseys made their return to Madison Square Garden. To no one’s surprise, Lady Liberty was not the biggest star of the night. It was Long Island native Anthony Bitetto scoring the number one goal of 2021.

What makes this goal number one is the skill and effort Bitetto displays. Bitetto is not know for his goal scoring which makes this goal all the more impresive. Until that goal Bitetto hadn’t scored in three years. The goal also comes with pure entertainment as we were all shocked, watching a defensive defenseman undress the Capitals players. Look at his teammates’ faces in the picture, they all have big smiles on their faces after that goal.

The Rangers have scored plenty of impressive goals in the 2021 calendar year. There are five games left in 2021 s there’s still time for a spectacular goal to make this list.  We are also looking forward to plenty of goals to be scored in 2022.

Do you have a favorite we didn’t mention?  Fell free to let us know below!