The New York Rangers struggled to score on home ice last season — they put up one goal seven times and were shut out in seven more — on their way to missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
With a retooled roster, New York needed just 60 minutes to reach five goals in front of its fans this season.
While one strong home performance hardly dictates how things will unfold this season, the Rangers are hoping for another solid showing in front of their fans on Sunday when they host the Utah Mammoth.
New York has scored seven goals after opening its second season under coach Mike Sullivan with a 3-0 loss at Boston on Tuesday. The Rangers opened their home schedule with a 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday before hitting the road the next night for a 2-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
“We want to get off to a good start at home,” forward Mika Zibanejad said. “We want to feel good coming in here and making sure that we find our game, we find our identity at home.”
Last season, New York was shut out in its first three games at home while getting off to a 0-6-1 start at Madison Square Garden. So far, three new players have scored for the Rangers, including Eeli Tolvanen, who scored a goal in both wins.
Newcomer Pavel Dorofeyev and Zibanejad each have a goal along with Gabe Perreault, who is getting a more prominent role. Defenseman Sean Durzi, who was acquired from Utah in the summer in a deal involving Vincent Trocheck, also scored a power-play goal Friday.
In an ideal scenario for the Rangers, they hope to hold a late lead so goalie Igor Shesterkin can score into an empty net again. Shesterkin scored the first goal by a goaltender in team history in the home opener.
Utah is attempting to start 3-0-0 for the second time in its three seasons.
The Mammoth scored 16 goals in their season-opening three-game winning streak in 2024-25 and are up to 10 goals so far after handily beating the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets. Utah followed up its 6-0 rout of Chicago on Thursday by starting a five-game trip on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at Columbus.
Dylan Guenther and Nick Schmaltz combined for 73 goals last season and are off to fast starts with three goals apiece, helping the Mammoth open 5-for-7 on the power play.
“Just keep continuing what we’ve been doing,” Schmaltz said of Utah’s early prolific offense. “Obviously, the power play’s been clicking, which is awesome. Anytime you can win the special teams battle, you’re in a good spot.”
Guenther scored a pair of power-play goals against Chicago before adding another tally on the man advantage 5:59 into the third period Saturday. Schmaltz scored an even strength goal in the second period Thursday before scoring twice at Columbus.
Clayton Keller has set up four goals in the opening two games and has an assist in his past 12 regular-season games since March 24.
Utah has won both meetings in overtime at Madison Square Garden. Durzi scored the game-winner in its 3-2 win on Jan. 5, and Keller scored in overtime for a 6-5 victory on Oct. 12, 2024.
–Field Level Media
