The New York Rangers achieved their third consecutive win on Oct. 3 with a 4-2 victory against the Utah Mammoth at Madison Square Garden. Igor Shesterkin recorded 28 saves and an assist to help lift the Rangers to the win.
Gabe Perreault and J.T. Miller scored in the third period to extend the Rangers' lead. Perreault opened the scoring at 3:15 of the third period following a rebound after Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere entered on a 2-on-1. Miller scored at 12:47 after a shot from Vladislav Gavrikov redirected off his skates. Gavrikov also provided an assist on the scoring play.
Utah responded through Nick Schmaltz, who scored on a power play at 14:29, and Andrew Peeke, who scored at 14:57 with a shot over Shesterkin's glove. Eeli Tolvanen secured an empty-net goal for the Mammoth at 18:45, assisted by Cuylle and Shesterkin.
The Mammoth entered the game on the second night of a back-to-back after winning in Columbus on Saturday. Utah coach Andre Tourigny noted that while the team doubled the Rangers in scoring chances through two periods, they failed to sustain momentum and lost patience in the third period.
Utah forward Vincent Trocheck, who was traded from New York to Utah on July 1, said the team showed great effort despite lacking execution. The trade involved Trocheck being moved for defenseman Sean Durzi, forward prospect Cole Beaudoin, and a 2027 third-round pick.
The Rangers' victory marks their first two home wins of the season, a turnaround from last season when they lost their first seven home games and did not secure a second home win until Nov. 24. Shesterkin's assist on the empty-net goal follows his first NHL goal, which occurred on Thursday during a 5-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rangers center Joe Veleno sustained a lower-body injury during the first period and did not return to the game. Coach Mike Sullivan stated that the team would likely have more information on Veleno on Monday.
