Vincent Trocheck Lands on LTIR, Placing Focus on Rangers’ Scoring Woes

Through five games, the 2-3-0 Rangers are tied for 29th with just two goals per game. Lately, Madison Square Garden has turned into a house of horrors as Halloween approaches. 

On Tuesday, The Blueshirts were shut out by the visiting Edmonton Oilers and set an NHL record by opening a season without scoring a home goal for three full games.

Trocheck’s presence is sorely missed. The alternate captain has averaged 66.5 points per 82 regular season games since joining the Rangers in 2022 as a free agent.

Highly-paid winger Artemi Panarin is yet to register a goal this season. Connor Sheary has been bumped up to the second line in Trocheck’s absence and hasn’t scored a goal. Current first line center Mika Zibanejad has only recorded one point through five games played.

Morrow Recalled From Hartford, Borgen Dealing With Lower-Body Issue

Defenseman Will Borgen missed Wednesday’s practice due to a lower-body injury. He skated for 20:32 time on ice against Edmonton in Tuesday’s loss. His status for Thursday’s road meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs is uncertain and he is being evaluated.

The Rangers recalled 22-year-old defenseman Scott Morrow from Hartford on Wednesday morning. Morrow was acquired this offseason as part of the trade that sent K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Morrow has appeared in a total of 21 career regular season and postseason NHL games, registering six points (one goal, five assists). He was one of the final roster cuts before opening night.

The Rangers’ blue line has been hampered by injuries. Carson Soucy remains on the standard injured reserve.

New York will need to overcome injuries and bust out of their scoring slump to change their fortunes. The Maple Leafs will be a difficult test on Thursday, despite opening the season with a 2-2-0 record.

Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander and Matthew Knies will be a major challenge to the injury-hit Blueshirts. Nylander has tallied seven points (two goals, five assists) through four games played.

So far, the Rangers have excelled at keeping opponents off the scoreboard. Their 1.40 goals against per game ranks second in the NHL, only trailing Edmonton. The Rangers’ penalty kill is perfect through five games.

The Blueshirts will need to keep the Maple Leafs’ star performers quiet and find some scoring might of their own to escape Toronto with a much-needed victory.