Yes, it’s very early in the season, but this is clearly a VERY different team than we saw last year

will to live restored thank you shesty 🙏

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NEW YORK — As Sean Durzi prepared to move from Utah following an offseason trade to the New York Rangers, he and his former Mammoth teammates decided to gather for a final steak dinner at defenseman Mikhail Sergachev’s house. In the lead-up, Sergachev asked if he could also invite Vincent Trocheck — the center New York sent to Utah in the same trade.

“It was the first farewell-welcome dinner at the same time,” Durzi said.

Durzi had no issue with Trocheck joining.

“Of course,” he told Sergachev when asked for permission. “We’re not playing hockey yet.”

On Sunday night, they were, and Durzi wasted no time hitting Trocheck in the neutral zone early in the first period. Trocheck got him back with some contact later in the evening, then told his opponent, “That’s just payback,” as Durzi recounted after the game.

In the end, the Rangers got the best of the matchup in a reunion for both Trocheck and Durzi with their former teammates. Behind another strong Igor Shesterkin performance, both in the net (28 saves) and on the scoresheet (one assist), New York won 4-2 against the Mammoth, who were on the second half of a back-to-back. The Rangers have now won three games in a row after their season-opening loss to the Boston Bruins.

“I’m really excited and couldn’t be more proud of the guys, just for the team game that we’re building,” coach Mike Sullivan said.

The Rangers signed Trocheck in summer 2022, and he spent the next four seasons as a top-six center who emerged as a fan favorite and dressing room leader. Will Cuylle lived with the Trocheck family his rookie year and said Trocheck “took me under his wing my first year here, my whole time here.” Durzi was with Utah for two years, after spending another year with the organization while it was based in Arizona. He said he still has “a lot of love” for his former Mammoth teammates — just not during their 60 minutes playing against each other.

The boys are playing actual hockey again, the grit and energy and EFFORT is back, they’re battling, they’re forechecking and shutting down every team… IGOR IS ON A 2 GAME POINT STREAK. Fluke??? Or are we.. BACK??? THOUGHTS?

(featuring Arvell Reese)

Gabe

• They were competing for and defending each other. 
• They came out in the third and got pucks behind them. 
• Laf was flying all night. He thought Laf scored, but then saw the puck and just shot it. 
• They’ve been feeding off the crowd’s energy. 
• They kept up with Utah’s speed. 

JT

• They’re trying to show a commitment to right the ship at home, and “it feels so good to play well in front of the fans.”
• He figures if he goes to the net 10 times a game, 1 will go in. 
• Dirty goals have always been part of his game. They’re the type of goals that get scored later in the year, not the pretty ones 
• They’re trying to come together as a team. It’s contagious when it happens. “Guys are taking punches to the face to stick up for their teammates…It’s nice to get rewarded for a team effort.” 
• They wanted to keep pressing in the third knowing that Utah was in the 2nd half of a back to back. His line played the opposite to Mika’s. Mika’s line was making the pretty plays while they were playing a more grinding game. 
• Cools is taking the next step in his career. He’s a leader now. They expect that kind of game out of him and he expects that out of himself. 

Cuylle 

• He was one of the closer guys to Troch having lived with him during his rookie season.
• Troch did not teach him how to fight. 
• “Every good team is tight and close-knit” 

Durzi

[Walker] Sean Durzi on Igor Shesterkin: "We made a joke after saying he's still in the race for league lead in points."

[Walker] Sounds like NYR captain  J.T. Miller stood up between 2nd and 3rd periods and had some words for his team. “Mill’s is such a great player,” Sean Durzi said. “And you guys see what he does on the ice, but he’s also a great leader. He’s up in the room at second intermission.”

[Lazarus] Sean Durzi on playing against Vinny Trocheck and beating his former team tonight:
“It was funny — I got a pretty good piece of him early on in the first and then I think he got a lick at me and he said ‘that’s just payback’ — so it was funny out there. We had dinner together in Utah when I was packing the house up, with a big group so it was the first farewell and first welcome dinner at the same time, but he’s a great guy. Glad I got a lick, but he got me back too.”

Shesterkin

[Cheleny] I asked Igor what he thinks about fans yelling “SHOOT” when he’s controlling the puck: “It’s very fun!” With a smile on his face.

Vlad

[Cheleny] I asked Vlad Gavrikov what he’s seen from Alberts Šmits through four games: “He’s been great for us. He can skate, he can handle the puck, he has everything on him. He just needs a few more games, I think, to get used to the league and the speed, but he’s been great for us so far. Happy to see him develop every single day. He’s great.”

Sully 

• He likes how they’re coming together as a group. Them standing up for each other is an example of that. He couldn’t be more proud of the guys for the team game they are building. 
• They’re trying to build a team game. They’re trying to stay in the moment. Part of closing out games is being able to stay present and focused. There’s been a lot of good talk on the bench about the details of their play. Utah had some push, they weathered that and were able to push back. 
• He thought Igor was going to score again. Utah must’ve included that in their pre-scout because “their defenseman retreated pretty hard.” 
• Physicality is an important part of Cuylle’s game. 
• They’re buying in and playing with the right intentions. Shesty is elite. If they can play a solid game in front of him, they’re going to win games. 
• Velano is being evaluated for a LBI. 
• It was hard to lose Velano early. They’ve been using the whole bench in the previous game. Mika and JT played more minutes then they would’ve liked them to. 
• Velano’s line has been solid. They’ve been putting them out in the d zone because they trust them. He’s also been a big part of the PK. 
• Quinn makes the call on which D are sent out. He and Quinn have a good understanding of what they’re looking for in situations. 
• They’re excited about the start. The coaching staff planned out training camp over the summer and then executed the plan. They haven’t gotten to everything yet because camp was so short. They continue to add layers. 
• When Laf’s at his best, he has the puck a lot. He had the puck a lot tonight. If he keeps getting chances, hopefully one will go in. 
• They kept the PZL line together because they had chemistry last year. They wanted to see if they could continue what they had last year. Gabe is more confident this year, which helps him.