In an intermission during the New York Rangers game in Anaheim, MSG presented it’s usual MSG150 highlights segment. The thing that made it unusual (and a little irritating) was that it featured a series of goals scored by ex-Rangers. Let’s take a look.
The segment covered games on Friday and Saturday. We’ll tackle Friday first.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
Ex-Rangers lit up the scoresheets in the only two games in the NHL on Friday. Pavel Buchnevich was named first star of the game and is really looking like he is determined to make this one of the worst deals in Blueshirts’ history. The southern version of the Rangers, known as the Carolina Hurricanes, were in action with Brady Skjei named the first star and Jesper Fast the third star of their game.
Blues 5, Capitals 1: Buchnevich
This one hurts the most as Pavel Buchnevich added to his already excellent numbers with two goals and an assist. His first goal was the game winner and he added a shorthanded goal in the third period. The only consolation is he helped the Rangers by beating the Capitals. Buchnevich has 13 goals and 33 points in 32 games, picking up when he left off last season.
Hurricanes 6, Flames 3: Skjei, DeAngelo, Fast, Stepan
Brady Skjei led the Hurricanes with a goal and two assists. Tony DeAngelo scored the game winning goal while Derek Stepan and Jesper Fast added one goal each.
Skjei tied his career high with three points, a total he reached once before as a Rangers. DeAngelo has two game winning goals for Carolina and leads all Carolina defensemen in scoring. Jesper Fast played in his 500th game and has eight goals and 13 points while Stepan has four goals and eight points as a fourth line center.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 8
Ex-Rangers made the scoresheet in four of the 11 games on the NHL schedule. The Rangers should be glad they held Kevin Shattenkirk off the scoresheet in their game with Anaheim. Anthony Duclair got second star honors for his heroics Saturday night.
Panthers 4, Hurricanes 3 OT: Duclair, Skjei, DeAngelo
Anthony Duclair won the game for the Panthers, scoring 2:53 into overtime. It was his second game winning goal of the season. Brady Skjei continued his hot scoring with another goal, the third straight game he has scored while DeAngelo got an assist on a first period power play.
Anthony Duclair continues to be a big scorer for the Panthers. He now has 14 goals and 25 points in 27 games, far ahead of the 10 goals he scored in 43 games last season for Florida.
Skjei is red hot with four goals and six points in his last three games and five goals and 13 points on the season. DeAngelo has six goals and 24 points and leads the team with eight power play assists.
Wild 3, Capitals 2 Shootout: Zuccarello
Rangers favorite Mats Zuccarello scored the game tying goal for Minnesota with 35 seconds left in the third period. In a total oddity, ex-Ranger Carl Hagelin shot the puck into his own net on a delayed penalty, giving the Wild their first goal of the game. So, another former Rangers scored on Saturday night, only he didn’t.
Zuccarello, 34, is having an excellent season in Minnesota, playing with Kirill Kaprisov. He has nine goals and 27 points in 27 games and looks to be headed for his best season since the Rangers traded him in 2019.
Blue Jackets 4, Devils 3: Vesey
Jimmy Vesey had a goal and an assist in the Devils 4-3 loss to Columbus, his first multi-point game of the season . After a lost season in 2020-21 when he was shunted from Toronto to Vancouver, he was a free agent signed by the Devils and has been a useful depth forward. He has played in 32 games and has six goals and 10 points. He is headed for his best season since 2018-19, his last year with the Rangers.
Sharks 3, Flyers 2 OT: Hayes
Kevin Hayes had one assist in Philadelphia’s overtime loss to the Sharks. He has three goals and nine points in 17 games while enduring numerous injuries this season.
Okay, now we now how they did. What do the Rangers have to show for losing all of these players?