The New York Rangers finally did something that hasn’t been done yet this season. They won a game in front of the home crowd at Madison Square Garden.
With a 6-3 victory over the Nashville Predators, the Rangers avoided another home loss and may have sparked a season revival. That wasn’t the only potential revival that happened, as a certain player might have given himself a much-needed confidence boost.
Alexis Lafrenière, who has been up and down all season, rose to the occasion in the 6-3 victory. With a goal and two assists, he now has three goals and eight assists for 11 points.
Can this be the game that send him off into a scoring streak?
Big part of first home win
The Rangers have been down bad all season long at home, but were finally able to lift the curse. Lafrenière has been a good omen this season, as when he gets on the scoresheet, it usually results in a win. In fact, of his point total, he has 10 points in games that the Rangers won, and only registered one point in a loss.
It is only fitting that Lafrenière was able to get a three-point night to mark the first home win.
So good to have Trocheck back
One of the biggest contributors to Lafrenière's solid night was the return of Vincent Trocheck. This team was missing No. 16, and his return only spells success for this team. Now, the top six is once again complete.
Lafrenière has historically been great with Trocheck as his centerman, and Panarin on the other wing. This line is going to be very important for the rest of the season, as long as it can stay healthy.
The Rangers have a long season ahead of them, and they can push all of the past disappointments behind them. This could be the perfect storm with Lafrenière turning the tide on his season, and potentially his career. If he can keep this pace, he will finish the 2025-26 season with 14 goals, 39 assists, and 53 points. It would set a career-high in assists, and would fall into his average year of hovering around 50 points.
But the return of Trocheck could spark a little more goal scoring from No. 13. That would not be too bad a thing for the Rangers right now.