Peter Laviolette Returns to MSG, Defeats Rangers | New York Rangers News

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It's October 29th. All right, so Peter Laviolette's back at Madison Square Garden, and it was quite the night. On October 26th, he returned to coach the Los Angeles Kings against his former team, the New York Rangers.

The Rangers took a loss, falling 6-3, but Laviolette's comeback was the headline. He had previously coached the Rangers for two seasons before being let go in April of 2025 In his first year, he led the team to win the Presidents' Trophy, but the second year saw them miss the playoffs entirely.

Got to admit, that contrast is wild and shows how quickly things can change in the NHL.

Before the game, Laviolette shared some memories about his time in New York. He called it a tale of two years, highlighting both the highs and lows of his coaching stint. He's got some strong feelings about the passion of the Rangers fans who he says bring a unique energy to the arena. You can tell he still really appreciates that connection. In this game, Drew Doughty shined for the Kings, racking up three points with one goal and two assists. Also worth noting, Laviolette isn't alone out there. Former Rangers assistant coach Phil Housley is with him, plus Artemi Panarin, who has traded to the Kings. Definitely a lot of familiar faces in that lineup. So, as Laviolette moves forward with coaching the Kings, it'll be interesting to see how this game impacts both him and the Rangers. This matchup might have been just one game, but the storyline runs deep, right? Stay locked in with New York Rangers News Today. AI-powered updates.