New Year, New Rangers: A Strong Start to 2025
The New York Rangers’ 2024-25 season has been a series of highs and lows. After a record-breaking campaign last year, which included winning the Presidents' Trophy, setting a franchise high in points, and reaching the Eastern Conference Final, the Rangers entered this season with high expectations. However, the first half of their schedule was filled with inconsistency, leaving fans frustrated as the team struggled near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
The Rangers ended 2024 on a disappointing four-game losing streak. Their final loss came against the Florida Panthers, the team that knocked them out of last season's Eastern Conference Final. Sitting at 16-19-1, the Blue Shirts were far removed from the team in second place in the division in October. When January arrived, the Rangers knew they needed to flip a switch, starting 2025 with a strong run that led to a nine-game point streak.
A key factor in the Rangers' turnaround has been goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who has been living up to his high expectations. Shesterkin delivered back-to-back shutouts, first in a 1-0 shootout win against the Columbus Blue Jackets and then stopping 20 shots in a dominant 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden. These performances extended his shutout streak to an impressive 164:03, just shy of his career-best 166:30 from last season.
Shesterkin's turnaround has been critical for the Rangers. After a shaky start to the season, where he frequently allowed four or more goals per game, the star has found his rhythm. His consistency over his last 15 starts has stabilized the team, with quality outings replacing earlier struggles. The Rangers’ recent success is coming from all aspects of the roster. In the win against Ottawa, 13 of New York's 18 skaters registered at least one point. Alexis Lafrenière had a goal and an assist, Adam Fox picked up two assists, and fan favorite Matt Rempe scored his first goal of the season. Artemi Panarin has been on a roll with four goals and six assists in the last 10 games. Fox pointed out how momentum has played a big role, with the Rangers tightening up defensively and giving Shesterkin the support he needs. The stronger connection between the defense and goaltending has been a big part of their recent success.
This nine-game point streak has revived a Rangers team that seemed unrecognizable just weeks ago. After dropping 15 of 19 games before January, they’re now just two points out of the second wild-card spot, with a chance to make a push if they can maintain this level of play. While the Rangers still face a long road ahead, their January performance has given fans hope. If Shesterkin continues his consistency and the team builds on this momentum, the Rangers could be in the playoff race deep into the spring. For now, it’s clear the Rangers are back in the hunt, and with Madison Square Garden alive again, anything is possible.
