Spectacular Smits debut tops key Rangers takeaways from 4-3 preseason loss

No one within the New York Rangers group is comfortable about blowing a three-goal lead and dropping to the rival Islanders 4-3 — on dwelling ice, no much less — even when it was solely a preseason sport. But whenever you take a step again and give attention to the larger image, one thing way more optimistic stands out from the loss Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

That could be the play of prime prospect Alberts Smits. Playing his first preseason game on the age of 18, Smits regarded each bit the a part of the much-hyped prospect getting into the 2026 NHL Draft and after the Rangers chosen him with the No. 5 total decide.

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Smits logged 15:29 TOI, and performed a particularly efficient sport in his personal finish, principally paired with Braden Schneider at even power. He performed greater than three minutes on the penalty kill, and wasn’t on the market for a single objective scored by the Islanders, which is saying one thing because the guests potted three power-play tallies of their comeback victory.

The native of Latvia did not file a shot on objective, however Smits did notch a fantastic thing about an help with a beautiful go proper on the tape of Taylor Raddysh’s stick for the redirect objective that made it 3-0 Rangers at 7:20 of the second interval.

“Crazy to assume he is simply 18. He strikes like a person on the market. His stick is nice, he is killing performs on the blue line, and he had an amazing look to ‘Raddy’ there on that objective,” former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Adam Fox told MSG Networks. “He does not look misplaced in any respect.”

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan was equally as impressed with Smits.

“One of the largest challenges for younger gamers is simply the bodily measurement and power of the blokes on this league. You guys can see it – he is a person as an 18-year-old. His bodily stature, he is massive and robust.”

Mike Sullivan talks about Alberts Smits’ “robust sport” tonight: pic.twitter.com/CCZAiPImFl

— SNY Rangers (@SNYRangers) September 23, 2026

There’s a purpose why Smits is getting an extended look in coaching camp, training with the NHL group every single day after which within the lineup Tuesday with what was largely the Varsity. There are two preseason video games remaining. Smits will play no less than one — if not each — of them, earlier than a choice is made as as to if he earns a spot on the opening-night roster.

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But if Tuesday is any indication, it positive appears like Smits goes to be a particular participant on this league, regardless of when his precise NHL debut takes place.

Key Rangers takeaways after 4-3 preseason loss to Islanders

PK = penalties kill

In hockey parlance, PK stands for penalty kill. However, a extra apt definition for the Rangers on Tuesday was PK = penalties kill — as in taking too many penalties merely completed off the Blueshirts of their collapse and loss to the Islanders.

Up 3-0 after Raddysh’s objective, the Rangers took a penalty — Eeli Tolvanen minor for interference — simply 50 seconds later. It was the primary of 5 consecutive energy performs the Rangers handed the Islanders bridging the second and third intervals. The Islanders stated “Thank You Very Much” and scored three power-play objectives, with reigning Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer choosing up a degree on all three (one objectives, two assists).

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While true, the game-tying objective by Matias Maccelli was a fluke one — a centering feed from a pointy angle that deflected in off Sean Durzi’s skate — there was no flukiness about Alexis Lafreniere’s unnecessary high-sticking minor at 8:40 of the third. That arrange Maccelli’s game-winning objective on the ability play, when he obtained behind Schneider to bury a rebound at 9:29.

It’s one sport — a preseason sport — and the Rangers solely began engaged on particular groups Monday at follow. But this must be cleaned up ASAP as a result of opening evening in opposition to the Boston Bruins is one week away.

Home hex

It’s technique to early to invest that final season’s dwelling hex carried over into 2026-27. But blowing a three-goal result in their arch rivals did fire up some unhealthy reminiscences of issues that occurred at The Garden a 12 months in the past.

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First there was the home-ice dropping streak which carried into the second month of the season, pockmarked by one shutout loss after one other. The unhealthy juju at MSG lasted just about all season, and the Rangers completed up 14-20-7 at dwelling. Those 14 wins had been their fewest in a full season since 2003-04, once they received 13 occasions at MSG.

It’s too quickly to panic or say “Here we go once more,” but it surely’s price noting that unhealthy reminiscences nonetheless linger.

More Doro, please

Pavel Dorofeyev had himself a pleasant first sport sporting the Blueshirt. The prized addition from the offseason displayed his shoot-first, ask questions later mentality with a team-high 5 pictures on objective in 17:32 TOI.

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Dorofeyev scored the second Rangers objective with a fast snipe, ending off robust work behind the Islanders objective line by linemates J.T. Miller and Oliver Bjorkstrand. That threesome regarded to have some actually good chemistry all through, and Miller appeared way more energized coming off a troublesome 2025-26 season.

The Rangers clearly want this Dorofeyev, the who who scored 72 objectives the previous two seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, contemplating that they completed 23rd in scoring final season.

J.T. on the dot

The Rangers struggled on the face-off dot Tuesday, however not Miller. The Rangers captain received 12 of 18 face-offs, together with an important one within the offensive zone within the dying seconds of regulation with their goalie pulled for an additional attacker. That led on to a scoring probability and wild scramble in entrance of Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov.

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With Vincent Trocheck traded to the Utah Mammoth, it is as much as Miller to take a lot of the massive attracts this season. He received a whopping 61.5 % of his face-offs final season and obtained off to an amazing begin Tuesday.

Kids are alright

It was largely an NHL-heavy lineup for the Rangers in opposition to the Islanders, however the youngsters that did play left their mark. Of course, there was Smits, as mentioned. But there was additionally Cole Beaudoin, who bulled his technique to the online to pot the primary objective of the sport at 8:23 of the primary interval — throughout a 6-on-5 delayed penalty in opposition to the Islanders. Not a foul first impression for the rugged 20-year-old, who came visiting from the Mammoth within the Trocheck commerce together with Durzi this summer time. Speaking of Durzi, he assisted on Beaudoin’s objective, as did Tolvanen, one other Rangers newcomer.

Forward prospects Liam Greentree and Dylan Roobroeck had been the one Rangers who performed within the preseason opener Monday against the New Jersey Devils and likewise dressed Tuesday. Greentree did not again down from veteran Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield within the second interval, dropping the gloves with the veteran and holding his personal within the sport’s solely combat.

Roobroeck and Greentree every logged greater than 11 minutes TOI, and completed plus-1. Roobroeck was on ice for Raddysh’s objective, and Greentree was on for Beaudoin’s tally.

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