Rangers Rising: How New York has Rekindled their Fire in 2025

The New York Rangers are heating up, and fans have every reason to feel a spark of hope. After a rocky start to the season, the Blueshirts have turned things around with a 4-1-1 record in January, including a two-game win streak. As they head into Colorado on Tuesday and wrap up their road trip in Utah on Thursday, let's dive into what's changed for this team — and why they suddenly look connected, committed, and dangerous.

For the first time in months, the Rangers are playing with purpose.

Their work ethic, pride in the uniform, and commitment to the details have returned. You can feel the difference. Their play has a sense of urgency, and the results are starting to show, especially in their wins over contenders in the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils. While a playoff spot remains a long shot — they're four points back with five teams to pass — the renewed energy is impossible to ignore. Superstar goaltender Igor Shesterkin is back, and that's a game-changer. After a brief stint on injured reserve, the Rangers' franchise netminder has returned without skipping a beat. He's been sharp, stabilizing a team that desperately needed it. Shesterkin himself summed up the team's shift perfectly recently.

"We talked a lot in the locker room. We changed our mindset. And we're ready to go," Shesterkin said.

Strong defensive play in front of him has also helped. The Rangers tightened gaps, improved coverage, and adopted a more disciplined defensive structure. When your team is built around one of the best goalies in the world, that kind of support makes all the difference.

The Rangers' power play has come alive after a brutal stretch. They went 1-for-30 over an 11-game skid but have converted four times in their last three games. Artemi Panarin attributes the improvement to switching up positioning and creating a fresh look that's throwing opponents off. That said, it's unclear whether bench boss Peter Laviolette and power play coach Michael Pecca will ride the hot hand when star deflector Chris Kreider and center Filip Chytil return to the lineup. 

The team has also stepped up on the penalty kill. After struggling mightily in their first two meetings with the Devils, the Rangers shut them down on four power plays Thursday and have regained confidence in this critical area.

Recent trades brought acquisitions like Will Borgen, who has been a physical and reliable presence on defense since joining the team in exchange for Kaapo Kakko. Arthur Kaliyev and Matt Rempe have added depth and tenacity to the lineup, while blueliner Urho Vaakanainen has provided steady blue-line play. These additions have helped inject new energy into the roster, and it's paying off. The boy's rebirth includes Mika Zibanejad, who has recently elevated his game while not returning to his dominant self in transition and the defensive zone. He's on a six-game point streak, bringing urgency and pace to his play.

Yet even with this turnaround, don't expect GM Chris Drury to make a big splash at the trade deadline. The Rangers aren't likely to sacrifice future assets for a short-term playoff push. They focus on building a team capable of contending for a Stanley Cup — not just scraping into the postseason. Still, the Blueshirts have shown they're not giving up. With 40 games left and momentum on their side, they've given fans a reason to believe again.

Whether this surge is enough to push them into playoff contention or simply a sign of better days, it's clear New York has their heartbeat back.