In a clash between two teams desperate for a win, the Rangers came up just short.
The winless Sharks waltzed into Madison Square Garden on Thursday night and picked up their first victory of the season, 6-5 in overtime, against the Blueshirts, who have yet to effectively defend home ice once this season.
After Will Smith scored 1:37 into the extra period, the Rangers fell to 0-4-1 at MSG.
“That’s pretty piss-poor out of us, and you know, not the way we want to play hockey,” Adam Fox said. “So there’s really, really not much to say.’’
Each team had a player post a hat trick in the high-scoring battle. The consensus out of the Rangers locker room, however, was they neglected to “respect” their opponent.
San Jose Sharks center Will Smith reacts after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 23, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin allows the game-winning goal on October 23, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin reacts after he allows the game-winning goal on October 23, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Will Smith (left) celebrates with Macklin Celebrini after scoring the game-winning goal in the Rangers’ 6-5 overtime loss to the Sharks on Oct. 23, 2025. AP
Macklin Celebrini scored three of the Sharks’ first four goals, while Taylor Raddysh was the first to put the Rangers on the board before netting two more to help his team force overtime and earn at least a point.
“This is a good league, and there are good players on every team,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “If you don’t bring a certain diligence to your game every night, you run the risk of being beaten. You more than likely will.”
For a team that is looking to prove itself at home, the Rangers didn’t bring much at the start of the game.
Matt Rempe fights Ryan Reaves during the first period of the Rangers’ 6-5 overtime home loss to the Sharks on Oct. 23, 2025. Jason Szenes / New York Post
Not only were the Sharks able to get on the board less than two minutes in, they outshot and outhit the Rangers through the opening 20 minutes.
Adam Gaudette was left all alone in front of the Rangers net to easily take an early 1-0 lead before the Sharks capitalized on the power play less than five minutes later. A bouncing rebound found its way into the back of the Rangers net off Celebrini for his first of the night.
After Raddysh cut the Sharks lead in half, the 19-year-old Celebrini netted his second of the period with approximately nine seconds left. Will Cuylle couldn’t break the puck out of the zone, allowing the Sharks to send it back in for the two-goal lead.
New York Rangers right wing Taylor Raddysh celebrates after scoring a hat trick in the third period at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 23, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
New York Rangers right wing Taylor Raddysh celebrates after scoring a hat trick in the third period at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 23, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
The Rangers gave up another goal to Celebrini in the final seconds of the middle frame, which is a costly habit the team suffered from on several occasions last season.
“It’s just a lack of awareness, situational play, managing the game the right way,” Sullivan said. “Controlling those situations is how you win. We obviously have to learn how to win.”
Igor Shesterkin makes a glove save during the Rangers’ overtime loss to the Sharks. Jason Szenes / New York Post
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The Rangers tightened up in the second period and finally found some juice offensively. It led to three straight goals for the home team, including a power-play score from Mika Zibanejad and a go-ahead shorthanded goal from Raddysh.
Juuso Parssinen was the one to make it a 3-3 game off a shifty move on Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.
The star rookie Celebrini, however, unleashed a bullet one-timer from the circle, showing off his quick release, to notch the hat trick and even the game at four-all.
Asked if this game is a wake-up call for the Rangers as they head on the road for a four-game swing in western Canada and Seattle, Sullivan said it should be.
“I look at our last two outings, and that’s not the game that we want to put on the ice every night that we think will give us a chance to win, that’s for sure,” he said. “You can’t play two thirds of the game or half of the game and think you’re going to win consistently. The last two games, that’s what we did. The other element of it is, I don’t think we played nearly as smart.
“The discipline and the diligence that we put in from Day 1 of training camp, becoming a harder team to play against and priding ourselves on the commitment to play defense. A lot of that starts up the ice with the decisions that you make with and without the puck.”
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