Emotions were running high heading into Monday's New York Rangers vs. Anaheim Ducks matchup on Broadway. Social media and The Garden were buzzing in anticipation of the return of former Rangers Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba.
Jacob Trouba’s exit from the Rangers organization also came with its own whirlwind of drama. Whether you liked him or not, he was the team’s former captain, and when he was dealt away, much of the Rangers’ size and snarl on the back end went with him.
There were mixed emotions surrounding the return of one of the Rangers’ most prolific scorers—Kreider—who holds the franchise lead in all‑time playoff goals, playoff games played, power‑play goals, and regular‑season power‑play goals (tied with Camille Henry).
His departure represented a major shift in the Rangers’ roster and leadership core, shaking both the locker room and the fan base.
"“I think it's hard to express my appreciation for the support we had over all those years, over all those runs. I mean, it's an amazing building, right? It's the most famous building in the world. But it's a building. so, it's the fans that make it a special place... it's hard to put into words my gratitude and appreciation for the support and the passion over all those years.'"Chris Kreider
Those fans who make MSG a special place for him were in attendance last night, cheering on Kreider in an opposing jersey. In fact, it was arguably the closest the Anaheim Mighty Ducks have ever come to having a home game at MSG.
As if that storyline weren’t enough heading into their matchup against a West Coast foe, breaking news hit several hours before puck drop head coach Mike Sullivan was making Mika Zibanejad a healthy scratch for missing a team meeting.
There’s something to be said for holding players accountable, but this felt like the wrong place and the wrong time for Sullivan to swing the gavel—especially at a player with zero history of character or behavioral issues on or off the ice. A heavy‑handed, “one strike and you’re out” punishment for the team’s number‑one center seemed excessive.
Sullivan was clearly trying to make a statement about authority and consequences for not toeing the organizational line. But in my opinion, Mika missing one meeting was not only inconsequential—it was out of character. Punishing him on the night his best friend Chris Kreider returned to The Garden felt wrong.
Mika and Kreider are extremely close, and you know Mika wanted to be on the ice for this one—not watching from the press box
Predictably enough, the Rangers lost a close game despite the 4–1 final score. The power play and penalty kill were out of sorts, and they even surrendered a shorthanded goal. That may not be solely because of Zibanejad’s absence, but it certainly didn’t help—nor did Mike Sullivan’s stubborn insistence on keeping five forwards on the top power‑play unit. That tactic hasn’t worked, and it continues to be futile.
We don’t yet know what domino effect Mika’s healthy scratch will have moving forward, but the Rangers are fortunate to have a quick turnaround tonight against the Vancouver Canucks at The Garden. As we all know, momentum can change from this Broadway backfire of a lineup decision in a New York minute.