Rangers Match Franchise Low in Shots, Fall to Senators 2-1

In a disappointing outing for the New York Rangers, the Ottawa Senators secured a 2-1 victory, capitalizing on a power play goal from Shane Pinto and a fifth goal in nine games from Warren Foegele. The loss not only marked the Rangers’ continued struggle at home, but it also tied a franchise record for the fewest shots on goal in a game, with just nine attempts, a feat last achieved in 1955 against Detroit.

This defeat was the Rangers’ 25th in 34 home games this season, further complicating their playoff aspirations. Meanwhile, the Senators have surged, winning three straight and improving their record to 14-3-2 since January 25. With 12 games remaining, Ottawa sits just two points behind the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The game took a toll on the Senators’ defensive lineup, which was already thin. Thomas Chabot suffered a right arm injury from a stick by J.T. Miller in the waning seconds of the first period, while Lassi Thomson exited during the second period due to a lower-body injury, leaving Ottawa with only four defensemen to finish the game. The absence of Jake Sanderson, who is sidelined with an upper-body injury, and Nick Jensen, recovering from knee surgery, further compounded their challenges.

In goal for New York, Igor Shesterkin was a standout, stopping 31 shots and keeping the Rangers within striking distance. Conor Sheary managed to score on the Rangers’ seventh shot, breaking James Reimer’s shutout with 13 minutes remaining in the contest.

On a brighter note for the Rangers, Mika Zibanejad celebrated his 1,000th regular-season game, including 719 with New York after starting his career with 281 games in Ottawa. He was honored in a pregame ceremony that featured a touching video narrated by his wife, Irma, and was presented with a silver stick and a mini version for their daughter, Ella.

The Senators will continue their playoff push with a matchup against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, while the Rangers are set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.