New York could not do it again, however, and found itself on the losing end when Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored the winner 58 seconds into overtime.
Sure, the Rangers managed to get a point from the game, but the lack of offense remained a point of contention.
“It’s easy to get frustrated and get off the rails, but there’s 82 of these things and we’ve only played six,” captain J.T. Miller said. “So, that’s why I don’t want to keep blowing things out of proportion.”
It would be easy to do just that, even at this early stage, when you consider how some of New York’s big guns are struggling.
Miller, who scored 22 goals last season, has one. So does Mika Zibanejad, who had 20 in 2024-25. Artemi Panarin, who led the Rangers in goals last season with 37, has yet to score.
“If you’re mentally weak, you are going to go off the rails because this isn’t working on paper,” Miller said. “But to me, it’s about getting looks, not if they’re going in. Over time, if you get the looks, they’re going to go in.
“It’s easy to go the other way right now, and that’s why we’re going to be mentally tough in here. We’re going to keep pounding pucks at the net and outplaying the teams we’re playing against, and it’s going to work eventually.”
That the Rangers have allowed nine goals in six games and have just five points to show from it is an indictment of their sputtering offense, a trend Sullivan hopes is on the verge of ending.
“I do believe these guys are going to score,” he said.
The sooner the better.