Rangers Celebrate First Win, But Vincent Trocheck’s Injury Casts a Shadow
BUFFALO — The New York Rangers showcased a dramatic turnaround between their first two games of the 2025-26 season, but the excitement was dampened by a concerning injury.
After a disappointing, scoreless home opener against the Penguins on Tuesday, the Blueshirts hit the road and delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday night. It was a performance that finally put the Rangers on the scoreboard and demonstrated what the team can achieve when everything clicks. But here’s where it gets controversial — the celebration was quickly overshadowed when Vincent Trocheck left the game in the second period due to an upper-body injury.
The exact circumstances surrounding Trocheck’s exit, which occurred with 13:10 remaining in the second period, remain unclear. The Rangers confirmed he would not return for the remainder of the match, and no further details were available immediately after the game, as he continued to undergo evaluation.
“It’s tough,” said Alexis Lafrenière, who scored the first goal for the Rangers this season. “He’s one of our best players, obviously. He does everything for us. Hopefully, he gets better soon.”
Trocheck had been wearing a full face shield for most of the preseason and in the opening games after taking a puck to the face during practice. It is not yet known whether the two incidents are related, adding another layer of uncertainty to his condition.
The Rangers are already navigating a thin roster at the center position, with Mika Zibanejad temporarily shifted to the wing. Should Trocheck miss any extended time, head coach Mike Sullivan faces a tricky decision: move Zibanejad back to center, or give the role to Juuso Parssinen or Jonny Brodzinski. Rookie Noah Laba had earned the third-line center spot during training camp, but Sullivan may be hesitant to thrust the 22-year-old into heavy responsibility in the top six too soon.
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Trocheck’s absence would also have implications for the Rangers’ special teams. “We lose Troch early, and everybody kind of digs in there,” Sullivan said. “And obviously, [Igor Shesterkin] made some huge saves for us when we needed it.”
After a sluggish and uninspired performance in the season opener, the Rangers brought a sharper, more direct approach on Thursday. There was a clear offensive intent missing in the shutout loss to Pittsburgh, and it paid off early. Lafrenière scored on a rebound from Artemi Panarin’s shot, breaking a 71-minute, 43-second scoring drought and putting the Rangers ahead.
Buffalo regained some momentum late in the first period, and that carried into the second, outshooting New York 13-5. Special teams played a part as well, with three Sabres power plays tilting the ice in their favor. However, Shesterkin stood tall, stopping 11 shots in the middle frame and finishing with an impressive 37 saves for the game.
Despite the lineup disruptions caused by Trocheck’s exit, the Rangers held strong, preventing Buffalo from mounting a comeback in the final 20 minutes. Carson Soucy extended the lead with just over five minutes left, firing a shot past Sabres goalie Alex Lyon. J.T. Miller, scoring his first goal as Rangers captain, tipped in a Braden Schneider shot to make it 3-0, followed by an empty-net goal from Adam Fox to seal the victory.
“We obviously had way more energy to start,” Sullivan said. “From an energy standpoint, a lot of the guys seemed better physically for some reason. I think that’s where it started. But we also had the right intentions. It wasn’t perfect by any stretch. Buffalo has a dynamic offense that’s tough to handle. But I think the first period might have been the best we’ve played since training camp.”
So, while the win gives Rangers fans something to cheer about, Trocheck’s injury leaves an open question: can New York maintain this momentum without one of their key players? What do you think — should the Rangers shuffle their lines, or rely on their rookies to step up? Share your thoughts below.
