The New York Rangers' preseason is almost over as they have just one game left to play before the 2025-26 NHL regular season opens on October 7 at Madison Square Garden against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Broadway Blueshirts' most recent loss vs. the New Jersey Devils featured a very lackluster performance, and the team looked like a group that was bored and simply trying to avoid injury as the preseason winds down. But hey, it is only the preseason, and as long as they turn it on for regular season, everything should be fine. At least that's what fans hope.
Rangers start the game slow, and fall behind
The game ended 3-1, and it was a game that at times looked like there were more things going on than they actually were. The Blueshirts gifted the Devils a 1-0 lead after Matt Rempe threw a puck up the middle within his own zone which allowed the Devils to spring a breakaway. Paul Cotter was setup by Arseny Gritsyuk, and he beat former Vegas Golden Knight teammate Jonathan Quick for the first goal of the game. It was a very low event first period in which the Rangers had a 32.26 Corsi for percentage, a 44.44 scoring chances for percentage, and a 17.09 expected goals for percentage per Natural Stat Trick. Shots on goal for the period were 3-2 in favor of New Jersey.
Blueshirts get a bounce and a break in middle frame
Things went a little bit better in the second period for the Rangers, and they got on the board in an unconventional way. Simon Nemec was attempting to send the puck out of the zone, but it struck Adam Edstrom and it ricocheted into the net to tie the game at 1-1.
Eddy finds the back of the net. pic.twitter.com/OiPRd1YeRm
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 3, 2025
The Rangers ended the middle frame with a 57.14 CF%, a 55.56 SCF%, and an xGF% of 68.18. They did a much better job controlling play with a 13-4 shot advantage, and it's a shame their only offense was the bank shot off Edstrom.
Early mistake comes back to bite Rangers
With the game tied 1-1, and the Rangers coming off a strong second period, they had an opportunity to make a push for a strong final 20 minutes in their final home preseason game. Instead, they took an early penalty to give the Devils their first power play of the night. Naturally New Jersey found the back of the net on this opportunity, and old nemesis Ondrej Palat tipped home a shot from Dougie Hamilton to give the away squad a 2-1 lead.
The rest of the period felt like a game of pong with the puck going back up and down the ice as seconds ticked off the clock like grains of sand in an hourglass. There was a brief respite of this when Vincent Trocheck sprung Alexis Lafrenière on a chance, but the chance was easily stymied by Jacob Markstrom, The Rangers later pulled Quick for an extra skater, but were unsuccessful as Dawson Mercer scored an empty netter to ice the game.
Shots were 6-5 Devils over the final 20, and the Blueshirts had a slashline that includes a 46.15 CF%, a 45.45 SCF%, and a 34.65 xGF%. In total the Blueshirts finished the game with a 45.65 CF%, a 50 SCF%, and a 46.51 xGF% which in all honesty feels a bit generous
What's next for the Rangers?
The Rangers are shipping up to Boston to end the preseason on Saturday for a matinee tilt against the Boston Bruins. Between now and then it is likely that the team will make some additional roster cuts, as ideally Mike Sullivan will want as close to an opening night roster as possible available for Saturday's dress rehearsal. Igor Shesterkin will be in goal, but it remains to be seen if J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin will get in the lineup. Both remain day-to-day, but their ailments don't appear to be all that serious.