The Rangers return to action today after three days off. While the team was off, Gabe Perreault signed his ELC and will be in the lineup tonight, Montreal won a pair of games over Florida and Columbus defeated Nashville, significantly impacting the second wild card race. New York faces the Wild (and the retiring Marc-Andre Fleury) at home tonight kicking off a stretch of eight games in 15 days to conclude the regular season.

Gabe Perreault was on the ice for Rangers practice yesterday wearing No. 94 just like his father, Yanic, did. He skated on the right wing of Alexis Lafrenière and J.T. Miller. The rest of lineup looked like this:

Panarin-Trocheck-Othmann
Lafrenière-Miller-Perreault
Kreider-Zibanejad-Cuylle
Berard-Carrick-Brodzinski

Matt Rempe (upper-body injury) was also on the ice for practice in a green non-contact jersey. Good that Rempe is skating, though it’s doubtful he will be back before the end of the season. With Perreault in the lineup, Nicolas Aube-Kubel slides back the press box.

Miller-Borgen
Soucy-Fox
Vaakanainen-Schneider

Jones-de Haan

Here's how the #NYR are practicing with the addition of Gabe Perreault.https://t.co/kMB5vTVZXV

— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) April 1, 2025

A look at the new top-nine shows six were home grown picks, including five first round picks and one second round selection. Granted JT Miller left and returned and Chris Kreider was selected well over a decade ago, but for the other four, they were drafted from 2020-2023. The key will be for these players to continue their development, which has been challenging at times in this organization, and lead the team.

Perreault rotated with Will Cuylle on PP2 with K'Andre Miller, J.T. Miller, Alexis Lafrenière and Jonny Brodzinski. He is not the savior nor should he be viewed as one. We know he needs to get stronger and quicker but the hope is that his hockey sense and quick decision making ability will lead to scoring chances for him and his line. He lengthens the lineup, creating further balance.

Playoff chase: A comeback win for the Habs and another win for the Blue Jackets leaves the Rangers two points behind Montreal for the final Wild Card spot and tied with Columbus who still have a game in hand and the edge in PTS%. Detroit is two points and the Islanders three points behind the Rangers, both teams also having played 74 games.

Not sure the three days off could have gone worse for New York in terms of the playoff race. Add in the Blueshirts having the hardest schedule of the contenders down the stretch and their task is extremely difficult. A win tonight is almost a must, though we may say that every game day the rest of the way.

The Rangers agreed Monday to terms with goaltender Callum Tung on a three-year, entry-level contract. Tung will report to the Hartford Wolf Pack on an amateur tryout (ATO) for the remainder of this season. He adds to the goalie depth which is lacking a bit in the organization. Tung, 21, posted a 10-4-1 record, 2.01 goals-against average, and .933 save percentage in 15 games with the UConn Huskies (Hockey East) this season, leading them to their first-ever NCAA Tournament. New York gets an end of season basically free view at a talented netminder.

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