Good Preseason Is Setting Up the Rangers for Success

The New York Rangers preseason is off to a good start, winning their first three games, including a remarkable comeback victory against their rival the New York Islanders. Victor Mancini, Filip Chytil, and Artemi Panarin are names to be discussed. The Blueshirts are developing and showing off their youth this preseason, but have also had good veteran performances from Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and the new guy on the block – Reilly Smith.

First Few Games of the Rangers Preseason

September 26 Game Against the Boston Bruins Highlights

Adam Fox Opening the Scoring With a Pretty Play from Chytil & Kreider

Let’s start by looking at star Rangers defenceman Adam Fox’s score-opening, 5-on-3 power play goal. Just prior to the goal, you had a V-formation in the offensive zone, left to right, of Foxy, star centreman Mika Zibanejad, and 25-year-old centre Filip Chytil. Zibanejad and Chytil exchanged the puck a few times. When it was back to Chytil, he fired the puck and Bruins goaltender Brandon Bussi made the save. But Kreider, right in front of the net, sent the puck to Foxy, who was waiting at the top of the left faceoff circle. On the left side of the net lay a massive opening, which Foxy used to score the opening goal.

Takeaway: The Rangers were able to play chess and find openings when one type of goal did not work.

Reilly Smith’s Assist

In his second game as a Ranger, 33-year-old right-winger Reilly Smith is already proving himself on the Kreider-Zibanejad-Smith line. After Zibanejad won an offensive zone faceoff with 01:58 left in the first period, Reilly received the puck. Smith then passed it to a waiting captain Jacob Trouba who was close to the blue line. Trouba shot a one-timer which Kreider tipped in closer to the net to make the score 2-1 Rangers.

Reilly Smith September 26 Postgame Interview

Reilly Smith, who was joking around and talking movie quotes with his teammates on the bench during the game, said in a postgame interview on September 26 that he’s trying not to think too much about the new systems on a new team.

“Inherently, it comes into your game and as soon as you’re thinking too much, you’re probably playing too slow. So, there’s gonna be a lot of mistakes and you just try to kind of iron those out as quickly as possible,” Smith said.

He also said that muscle memory helps him think less about the new systems and make the adjustments inherently.

“So, as many reps as you can do and get in, you start to not think about the systems and it kind of just flows inherently.”

Takeaway: Reilly Smith can receive the puck after faceoffs, read the play to pass it efficiently and accurately, and help with goal set-ups.

Victor Mancini & the Rangers Training Camps Promising Youth

Previously, the Blueshirts showed off their youth against the Boston Bruins on September 22. Victor Mancini and Chytil were shining stars in that game. The 22-year-old defenceman Mancini scored his first of the Rangers preseason in that game. Mancini showed his sharp eye to receive a pass, taking it long-range from left-winger Anton Blidh who was behind the net. He then scored the slap shot 10:23 into the first period to tie the game 1-1. Mancini is clearly a defenceman who can use his vision to make set-ups from closer to the blue line and capitalize on them, scoring through traffic. He also demonstrated his defensive abilities with a block and physicality with three hits in that game.

This is a clear example of the promising youth the Rangers have. Some have already played for them, and some are just starting this season. Mancini is a Michigan native and played seven games with the AHLs Hartford Wolf Pack and 40 with the University of Nebraska-Omaha last year.

Mollie Walker of The New York Post reported on X Thursday morning that Mancini is proud of shutting down plays and being physical, bringing that grit the Rangers should look for. He can also play on both the right and left side.

Mancini’s Thoughts

“It’s a two-way defenseman,” he told Walker. “It starts in the defensive zone. I take pride in shutting plays down, playing a tough, physical game. But being able to win pucks and then I feel like my vision is a strong part of my game. So using my vision to breakout my team and kind of starting the offense in our defensive zone, getting the puck into the forward’s hands and on the offensive side, being able to join that second layer and find open areas,” Walker quoted him. Takeaway: We are seeing a sharp-eyed, two-way, and physical defenceman developing in Mancini.

Filip Chytil & the Rangers Coming Back from Injuries

We were happy to see Filip Chytil as the third star of the September 22 game! For the very next goal after Mancinis, Chytil received a pass from 22-year-old Will Cuylle from behind the goal line. Chytil then scored a go-ahead wrister on the power play. The goal was also through traffic, demonstrating Chytil’s keen eye and ability to read the play, receive passes and aim shots. The icing on the cake was that Mancini also assisted the goal for his second point of the game.

Sadly, Chytil left the September 24 game against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden due to a knee-on-knee hit from Isles blueliner Scott Mayfield. Chytil was helped off the ice and did not put weight on his left leg. But he later returned to the game and scored. The young Czech centreman told Walker that Mayfield’s knee did in fact go into his leg. Initially uncomfortable, he later felt better and returned to the ice, saying it was a “hockey play.”

Luckily, Walker had reported on X Thursday morning that you could expect Chytil to play in the September 26 preseason game against the Bruins. That he did, notching an assist, a shot on goal, and two blocks.

Takeaway: Even if it is only the preseason, one of the best attitudes a player can have is to be determined to play when they can.

Artemi Panarin Is Okay & Hopes to Play Another Rangers Preseason Game

Thursday afternoon, Walker reported that star left-winger Artemi Panarin is “fine” and hopes for another game in the preseason. She posted a video of him skating Thursday morning. The Calder Memorial Trophy winner had been day to day with a lower-body injury, but Rangers Head Coach Peter Laviolette had been optimistic, saying he hoped Panarin played another preseason game. Panarin struck NHL career highs for both goals and points last regular season, with 120 points and 49 goals in 82 games.

Takeaway: It’s a big scare when the star player is injured, but we can breathe a sigh of relief knowing his indispensable offense will be there during the regular season. 

Goaltenders Dylan Garand & Louis Domingue‘s Performances in Boston on September 22

Young Canadian netminder Dylan Garand, who played a combined 71 games for the AHLs Hartford Wolf Pack in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 regular seasons, had a good night in goal at Bostons TD Garden on September 22. He notched a .923 SV%, making 12 saves on 13 shot attempts. The 22-year-old played for 29:42, balancing the responsibility with veteran goaltender Louis Domingue.