Sam Carrick Breathes Life into Rangers Season with OT Winner against Devils

The New York Rangers needed a statement game, and they got one. After being crushed 10-1 in two frustrating losses to the New Jersey Devils earlier this season, the Blueshirts came into this Hudson River showdown with something to prove—and they delivered.

Sam Carrick's first career overtime winner ensured they found a way to beat the Devils, edging them out 3-2 in a thrilling overtime win at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. This victory was significant in a season where consistency has been hard to come by for the Kings of the seventh-place club inside the Metropolitan Division.

It wasn't a stellar showing for the Rangers, who were crushed at even strength 2-0 and outchanced 22-12, but remained in the game, thanks to two power-play goals—one of which was a fluke. Missing Filip Chytil and a fully healthy Chris Kreider doesn't help, but even strength play must improve. Still, they needed the win to prevent themselves from drowning in the standings and get it against their biggest rivals, who've suddenly dropped five of six.

Adam Fox Fires Rangers Ahead in a Tight First Period:

The Rangers controlled possession, with Braden Schneider and William Borgen getting solid looks toward the net. You could feel the momentum building. Luke Hughes rang one off the crossbar. The refs thought it was in for a moment, but it never crossed the line, keeping the game scoreless.

Adam Fox took a high stick penalty on Timo Meier, sending the Rangers' PK unit into their first big test of the night. They responded with two minutes of lockdown defense without the Devils even managing a single shot on goal. That's how you handle the NHL's second-best power play.

Defensively, the Devils had some standout moments, like Jonathan Kovacevic locking down Vincent Trocheck one-on-one. They even made Matt Rempe back after his eight-game suspension, seemingly hesitant and almost afraid to hit someone. New Jersey notched another man advantage after a Blueshirts too many men penalty, but the Devils couldn't capitalize, even as the Rangers seemed to dare Jack Hughes to torch them. So far, the bait was working.

Then, finally, the breakthrough. Fox desperately needed to step up his offensive aggression and ripped a shot from the blue line on the power play to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Kurtis MacDermid's penalty on Lindgren was ridiculous, gifting the Rangers this chance, but they'll take it. It was Fox's first goal this season against an actual goalie, not an empty net, and it's exactly the mentality New York needs from him—more shooting, less hesitation. It'll open up so many passing lanes if he shows he's a threat to score.

The rest of the period was a low-event grind. The Devils had the majority of the possession, and the Rangers were lucky to survive some bounces. Shots on goal were 11-8 in favor of New Jersey, but thanks to Igor Shesterkin looking sharp in his first game back from injury and some strong penalty killing, the Rangers headed into the intermission up 1-0.

Power Plays Keep Rangers Afloat in Tough Second Period:

Four minutes into the second, and just like that, the Devils tie it up. Jack Hughes struck again and it was way too easy this time. It was a soft zone entry, no one picking up Hughes in the slot, and a low-to-high pass that left Shesterkin helpless. Brett Pesce's point shot got redirected by Hughes, who loves to torment Igor. Fun fact (or nightmare stat): Hughes is now the first player to score 10 regular-season goals on Shesterkin. He's also got five goals and 8 points in just three games against the Rangers this year—and 16 goals and 28 points in 23 career games. The guy is in Blueshirts fans' nightmares.

Moments later, New Jersey went ahead. Dougie Hamilton obliterated Will Cuylle, sparking a transition play the other way. Jesper Bratt took the puck wide as Braden Schneider protected the middle, but Bratt ripped one short side, beating Igor clean.

The Rangers received a chance to respond with another power play after Nico Hischier slashed Vincent Trocheck—captain-on-captain crime—but peak frustration followed. There was a 2-on-0 shorthanded rush for Trocheck and Reilly Smith and no shot on Markstrom. Trocheck missed entirely, and Smith passes it back to nobody. This team's inability to finish is maddening.

Finally, with just under three minutes left in the period, the Blueshirts found life. Panarin buried one on the power play to tie it at 2. His 17th of the season was a beauty—a perfect example of what happens when the Blueshirts keep it simple. A great quarterback slide from Fox to Artemi, who hit Zibanejad and watched him fire it from the high slot. Markstrom gave up a rebound, and Panarin buried it from the left circle. None of the overpassing, just direct, effective hockey. The assist gave Mika a five-game point streak.

Sam Carrick Delivers in Overtime:

The Rangers finally showed up. Halfway through the third period, with the shots 8-0 Rangers, K'Andre Miller and William Borgen, were an absolute wall, driving the Rangers' possession game. On the other side, Markstrom stood tall for the Devils, robbing Trocheck with a stunning glove save. The Devils were pinned in their zone but managed to block critical shots and lean on Sweden's Four Nations goaltender to keep it tied at two.

Jack Hughes gave Rangers fans another scare with a solo rush down the right side, beating the 1-3-1 perfectly, but Shesterkin shut him down on the Devils' first shot of the period. A bad Devils penalty off a faceoff handed the Rangers a power-play opportunity they desperately needed to capitalize on. Yet, Zibanejad coughed up the puck at the blue line, leading to a breakaway for Dawson Mercer, only for Shesterkin to bail him out with a huge save, one of 21 saves. Then Zibanejad, adding insult to injury, took a slashing penalty, cutting the man advantage short and forcing a 4-on-4. With under three minutes to play, both teams traded chances—Kovacevic on one end and Trocheck on the other—but neither could break through. The game became a full-on goalie duel between Markstrom and Shesterkin, with both netminders standing tall in the clutch.

Markstrom might have been the best player on the ice tonight with 29 saves, but Panarin, Trocheck, and Fox looked far more like themselves. Even Zibanejad, who's taken his share of criticism, put together another solid performance. The Rangers finally resembled a competitive team, something we haven't been able to say in months.

Overtime was full of surprises. The Blueshirts started Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière instead of Panarin and Zibanejad and went with Miller on defense instead of Fox, likely to counter Jack Hughes. Panarin and Zibanejad eventually generated their chances, but Markstrom shut them down. Then, an unlikely hero emerged.

With Filip Chytil and Chris Kreider out of the lineup, Sam Carrick was on the ice with Reilly Smith during 3-on-3. Smith set him up beautifully on an odd-man rush, and Carrick ripped a one-timer past Markstrom for the win. It was just the second 3v3 shift of the hero's NHL career. The last one was a 36-shift for the Anaheim Ducks in 2019. The entire team mobbed the surprise king of the Garden and celebrated at the glass with the fans like they'd just won a playoff game, and it felt like one.

It's been a tough year to be a Rangers fan. The Devils embarrassed New York in their first two meetings, and the 24th-place Blueshirts have had more low points than highs. Tonight were signs of growth, effort, and a team finding their identity . Nothing beats the reward of visible progress and finally, a win against your biggest rivals on home ice.

What a night. What a moment for Sam Carrick. This team may be turning a corner.