By Daniel Feuerstein | Detroit, MI | October 2nd, 2026
After a spectacular home opener at Madison Square Garden with a little history added at the end of the game, the New York Rangers took a quick trip to Little Caesars Arena to play an Original Six matchup as they faced the Detroit Red Wings. While some thought there could be a hint of exhaustion or tiredness towards the end of the game, the Rangers played another solid game and held off the Red Wings for the entire game. After the final horn sounded, the Rangers shut out the Red Wings with a final score of 2-0.
Dylan Garand was Spectacular
After the preseason ended, the Rangers officially put Dylan Garand on waivers, and their prayers were answered when no one claimed him. That allowed Garand to start the season down in the American Hockey League and play for the Hartford Wolf Pack. But the Rangers’ backup goaltender, Joonas Korpisalo, developed an injury and is currently day-to-day with a lower-body injury, which meant Garand was getting called back up before the AHL Regular Season was about to kick off. And he came in for his first start of the season, giving Igor Shesterkin the night off in a back-to-back scenario.
When the puck was dropped, Garand was in the zone and had a fantastic game in his crease, and denied the Red Wings all of their 22 shots on goal for his first NHL Shutout in his career and this season for the Rangers. He never looked uncomfortable or confused. He stood in his crease, confident, and made several strong pad saves and made himself look big every time the Red Wings got chances. He was helped by the post once, but at the end of the day, this was his way of saying that he doesn’t want to go back to Hartford. He wants to force his way back into the Rangers’ roster and is ready to be Shesterkin’s backup.
Second power play unit gets on the board
The Rangers earned their first power play of the game and tried to get the opening goal, but when the first power play team couldn’t convert, it was the second team that dented the scoreboard, and it was an amazing play to put them ahead. Eeli Tolvanen brought the puck down the ice along the far boards, then he gave it to Will Cuylle, who skated close to the end line. Then he made the pass to Gabe Perreault at the near side, but all of a sudden he made the pass back to the point. Coming in was Sean Druzi, who just skated to the top of the slot and blasted the puck past John Gibson and scored his first as a Ranger at 5:12 of the first period on the power play.
Solid defending and the empty net
After getting their goal in the first period, the Rangers played a fantastic game, putting pressure on the puck when they were in the Red Wings zone, then defending the puck when the home side was attacking in their zone. There is big improvement from the Rangers, and they have continued their fabulous defending since the home opener last Thursday night against the Lightning. While John Gibson had a good game himself, the Rangers held the advantage on the scoreboard and in the final two minutes of the third period. Eeli Tolivanen sent the puck down to the empty net and scored at 18:44 of the third period.
Off to a good start
While the Rangers did lose to the Boston Bruins late in the third period, that game was the start of how the Rangers want to play and how they are attacking their opposition. The new players coming in have made the Rangers look a bit better, and right now they have to keep the intensity up. The players look happy, refreshed, and are ready to attack the opposition on each and every play they have the puck or when they are defending against the puck. Mike Sullivan must feel good right now about who he has on the roster.
BACK TO BACK BUZZ: New York completed their first back-to-back series tonight, having earned a win in each of the two games. Three different Rangers have notched points in back-to-back games: Eeli Tolvanen scored a goal in back-to-back games (2G), Adam Fox notched at least one point in back-to-back games (3A), and Gabe Perreault recorded a point in back-to-back games (1G-1A).
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Blueshirts killed off both of Detroit’s power plays, having killed off all 10 since their season opener, and have scored on the power play in back-to-back games (2 PPG). Since the 2025-26 season, their 24.8 power-play percentage ranks fourth in the NHL.
DYLAN GARAND: Posted his first career NHL shutout and extended his streak to four games having earned at least one point (3-0-1). He became the eighth Rangers rookie goaltender in franchise history to register his first career shutout in four games or less. He is also the first to earn at least one point in each of his first four NHL games since Henrik Lundqvist in 2005-06. His 22 saves against Detroit are the most by a Rangers rookie goaltender in a shutout since Igor Shesterkin (27 saves, Apr. 13, 2021).
SEAN DRUZI: scored his first goal (on the power play) as a Ranger.
EELI TOLVANEN: Leads the Rangers with two goals.
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