The Rangers have more wins in outdoor games all time than the 2025-26 team has wins at Madison Square Garden.
After showing the Panthers the Winter Classic belongs to the North, however, the Blueshirts are hoping it was the kind of win that starts a new chapter of the campaign.
That needs to begin Monday night at home against the Mammoth.
The most recent regulation win for the Rangers at MSG was well over a month ago — Nov. 24 against the Blues.
Due to the NHL’s condensed schedule with the upcoming Olympics, there have not been many lengthy homestands for the Rangers this season.
The five-game stretch coming up is the closest to a significant stretch at home so far.
Four of the next five contests will be played at the Garden, with the one road game coming just a quick flight away at TD Garden in Boston.
The narrative surrounding the inferior Rangers play in front of home fans has hung over the team all season, but this next stretch could help the Rangers lower the noise.
New York Rangers celebrate their 5-1 victory against the Florida Panthers during the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park on January 2, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NHLI via Getty Images
“I think sometimes when you play on the road, it’s a whole lot easier to sell the message of simplicity,” head coach Mike Sullivan said Friday. “There’s value in simplicity in today’s game. When you play straight ahead, you try to put pucks behind opponents, establish forechecks, defend hard. I think when all those elements are in play, you all of a sudden become a hard team to play against.”
Entering Saturday’s slate of games, the five Rangers wins at home were tied with the Kings for the second fewest in the NHL. The only team with fewer home wins was the Canucks with four.
Their two regulation wins are the fewest in the league, while the 34 goals they’ve scored at MSG also are the fewest. The club with the next-fewest goals at home this season is the L.A. Kings with 41.
Read the expert take on the Blueshirts
Sign up for Inside the Rangers, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.
Thank you
The Rangers were off Saturday before being set to return to practice Sunday at MSG Training Center.
With six outdoor wins, the Rangers lead the NHL. They tied Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for second-most outdoor games played, behind only Chicago’s seven.
Comments are closed.