Thursday, April 17, 2025 was the last game of the 2024-25 regular season for the New York Rangers, who will be missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year. It was also the last game of Rangers play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen’s career and the Blueshirts sent Rosen out in style winning 4-0 over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden.
Coming into this game, the visiting Lightning had already secured their spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, so this game was meaningless to them. Despite this, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper played the same lineup that he will most likely use in round 1 of the playoffs.
The Rangers opened the scoring one minute into the second period while down a man. Vincent Trocheck intercepted a pass made by Lightning forward Brayden Point at Tampa Bay’s blueline. Trocheck then made a pass to teammate J.T. Miller, went to the net, received the puck back and whisked a wrist shot past Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson. The goal put Trocheck into a tie for the most short-handed goals (Six) in the NHL this season with Buffalo’s Alex Tuch.
Vincent Trocheck with a shorthanded goal!
(via @NYRangers) pic.twitter.com/SC23wKmty6
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 18, 2025
A little over four minutes into the third period, the Rangers scored their second goal. Chris Kreider picked up the puck in the slot, fired a shot off the leg of Yanni Gourde, picked up the puck and fired another shot that went off the post and in for his 22nd goal of the season.
Chris Kreider's 22nd goal of the season doubles the New York lead to 2!#NYR pic.twitter.com/TO74Brzu8w
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 18, 2025
At 12:05 of the third period, the Rangers struck again. This time, K’Andre Miller made a cross-ice pass to Mika Zibanejad inside the offensive zone which Zibanejad one-timed into the net to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
Mika Zibanejad scores!
(via @NYRangers) pic.twitter.com/G8RNlyJq7p
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 18, 2025
With under four minutes remaining in the game, Zibanejad tipped in a feed from Kreider in front of the net for his 20th goal of the season which stretched the Ranger lead to 4-0. That’s how it would end as the Rangers cruised to victory in their regular season finale.
The mood was bittersweet at the Garden as the Rangers skated off the ice because they will be missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018-19.
It may have very well been Chris Kreider’s last game as a Ranger, because his production deteriorated this season from 75 points in 82 games a year ago to 28 in 67 and Rangers GM Chris Drury may want to work around his modified no-trade clause to move him this summer.
The Three Stars of the game were Chris Kreider, who tallied a goal and an assist; Mika Zibanejad, who had two goals and an assist; and Rangers play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen, in that order.
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin also earned his sixth shutout of the season.
The first star of tonight's game….
Sam Rosen. 🫶
(via @NYRangers) pic.twitter.com/628FgMxFm3
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 18, 2025
The takeaway from this game was Rosen, who retires from his job as the MSG Networks play-by-play announcer for the Rangers after 40 seasons. Rosen will be succeeded by longtime Rangers radio announcer on MSG, Kenny Albert, who will begin his time in the Rangers broadcast booth next season for the Rangers centennial season.
