Rangers Coach Focuses on New Season Ahead | New York Rangers News

Corey (0:00)

It's September 30th. All right, so the Rangers are switching gears as they prepare for their home opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Coach Mike Sullivan is clearly looking to leave last season's home struggles in the past. Last year, the Rangers only won 14 games on home ice, which tied for second least in the NHL.

That's a rough start for sure. Sullivan made it clear that he's all about a fresh mindset for this season. He emphasized that the team is a forward-thinking group, and he knows the players are hyped to play at Madison Square Garden. It's a legendary venue, and that energy can make a big difference, you know?

Looking back, the Rangers started last year with a dismal record at MSG, including a horrible wins and 6 losses in their first 7 games there. They'll want to avoid repeating that kind of trend as they go into this season. Their first game at MSG last year was a tough 3-0 loss to the Penguins, but this season kicked off on the road, so let's see how it plays out.

The team's goals from last season hang over them a bit, but defenders like Adam Fox and Ford Mika Zibanejad are focusing on moving forward. Fox pointed out they want to protect their home ice and remind themselves it's a whole new year. That's a solid mindset to have, especially with the sellout crowd expected at the Garden on Thursday, and the schedule is looking favorable with 5 games in the first 8 days. If the Rangers can snag some early wins at home, it could set the tone for a stronger season. So yeah, it's all about building that momentum right out of the gate. Stay locked in with New York Rangers News Today. AI powered updates. I'm Corey with the story. This has been Teen News Today powered by AI.