Not that a 4-3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in a rookie game at PPL Paints Arena in Allentown, Pennsylvania, means anything in the cosmic scheme of things, but the New York Rangers hope their failure to turn an early two-goal lead into a win isn't a harbinger of bad things to come.
There were some good things. Brennan Othmann converted a slick pass from Noah Laba for the game's first goal, living up to his contention during the first two days of camp that he can put the puck in the net. He scored less than four minutes into the game, and Dylan Roobroeck doubled the lead less than a minute later. Defenseman Scott Morrow, acquired in the July 1 trade that sent K'Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes , assisted on both goals.
The Flyers tied the game with two quick second-period goals before Raoul Boilard, a 2024 fifth-round pick who's headed back to juniors after rookie camp, pumped in the go-ahead goal with less than seven minutes left in the middle period — one of the few highlights in a 20-minute span that saw the Flyers outshoot the Rangers 20-6.
Philadelphia got even at 3-3 midway through the third period when Jacob Gaucher scored, and each team had chances to take the lead before regulation time expired.
The Flyers dominated the 3-on-3 overtime and needed less than a minute to win. Nikita Grebenkin was left open in the slot and pumped a shot past Hugo Ollas for the victory.
The rematch is Saturday at 5 p.m.
Here are three takeaways from the Rangers' rookies loss to their Philadelphia counterparts.
1. Brennan Othmann is a man of his word
Othmann is attending his fifth rookie camp, partly because he's been unable to put the puck in the net at the NHL level (no goals in 25 games). But he said on the opening day of rookie camp Wednesday that, "Honestly, brutally honest, I'm not worried about my abilities or when I'm going to play in the NHL. I'm going to play in the NHL at some point, whether it's this year or whether it's whatever. I'm going to play in the NHL and I know I am — and I'm confident in that."
It took the 22-year-old less than four minutes to show he's a man of his word. He got open in the slot, spun around and whipped the puck into the net for a 1-0 lead.
It's the kind of goal the Rangers would like to see a lot more of this season. He said he wants to make an impression on new coach Mike Sullivan and his staff. This won't hurt.
The scoresheet says Ollas was charged with an overtime loss. In reality, the 6-foot-7 goaltender from Sweden was the biggest reason the Rangers got to OT.
The Flyers outshot the Rangers 35-24, meaning that Ollas finished with 31 saves. He wasn't to blame on any of the Flyers' goals and looked pretty sharp overall.
There's no chance Ollas sees the ice in a Rangers uniform this season. But when you're a 23-year-old seventh-round draft pick (No. 197 in 2020) who has played all of one game above the ECHL level, games like this are big. Ollas wants to show the Rangers that he's worthy of playing in Hartford (where he would likely back up Dylan Garand ) rather than trudge through the ECHL for another season.
Callum Tung is likely to get the start on Saturday, but Ollas didn't hurt his chances of at least getting another look-see before decisions are made.
Vaughan is a 19-year-old defenseman from Prince George of the WHL who's never been drafted but attended the Los Angeles Kings ' rookie camp last season. He likely earned his invite to the Rangers' rookie camp because of the willingness to drop the gloves he showed Friday — a game that otherwise wasn't nearly as combative as some past rookie showdowns.
The native of Kamloops, British Columbia, made a pest of himself by hitting as many Flyers as he could — and needless to say, the home side wasn't enthused. He acquitted himself well in a battle with Gaucher but came out second-best in a battle with Sawyer Boulton.
It will be interesting to see if there any hard feelings carry over into the rematch.
Related Headlines
