Despite almost rallying back, the New York Rangers have now fallen to 16-19-1 on the 2024-25 season amongst being in last place in the Metropolitan Division. With a final score of 5-3 against the Florida Panthers, the matchup actually marked the first time since Dec. 11 that the Rangers have scored three or more goals in a game.
Rangers' head coach peter Laviolette said that while it's tough to lose a game you played well enough to win at points.
“We did enough to win the game, we did enough to lose the game. It is frustrating because you feel like you’re doing more good than you are bad out there," Laviolette said. "At the end of the day, it’s not showing on the scoreboard. That’s the business, it’s winning. It’s not good enough.”
Let's breakdown exactly how the Rangers got their latest loss with four key takeaways from the matchup which also happened to be the Rangers' last of the 2024 year.
1. Artemi Panarin joins the 500 Club
During the third period with 14:41 left to go, the longest-tenured Rangers veteran Chris Kreider tied up the matchup (3-3) off of an assist from Artemi Panarin.
According to the New York Rangers PR Department, this was the breadman's 500th point as a Ranger. He becomes the 14th player in franchise history to hit the milestone and the fastest to do so (384 GP).
5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ POINTS AS A NEW YORK RANGER.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 31, 2024
With an 🍎 on Kreider’s PPG, Breadman hits another milestone. pic.twitter.com/J7J05PWyNt
Although an important milestone to hit, it's hard to think Panarin's mark won't be overshadowed by the loss in what is clearly a disastrous season for the Blueshirts so far.
2. A Bad Day for the Birthday Boy
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin got the nod to play in goal and played throughout the entirety of the matchup. This is in contrast to the Rangers' last game against Tampa Bay — in which Shesterkin was pulled for backup netminder Jonathan Quick after giving up five goals.
Against the Panthers, Shesterkin allowed for four goals off of 25 shots, saving 21 for a .840 save percentage.
Let's hope the loss wasn't the only "present" the NHL's highest-paid goaltender received, as the former Vezina Trophy winner turned 29 on Dec. 30.
3. Chris Kreider's Power Play Goal
The previously mentioned goal that gave Panarin his 500th point was a beautiful goal from Kreider.
It was scored with 1:37 remaining on the power-play and was a beautiful moment for the Rangers, with Kreider yelling "let's go" in a team huddle following the goal featuring some love taps from Alexis Lafreniere.
CHRIS KREIDER, HOW GOES IT. pic.twitter.com/OfJNVjJLnf
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 31, 2024
Too bad it didn't last, with the Rangers giving up two goal in the remaining 14 minutes of play following.
4. Mika Zibanejad now among the NHL's Worst
The first goal of the night was actually set up by New York's Mika Zibanejad. But the first goal was actually scored by Florida. Zibanejad had a miss-pass that actually set up the Panthers for the goal in what would have been a secondary assist for the Swedish alternate captain.
Zibanejad is now a -23, which is the third worst in the entire league.