The Rangers were business as usual Monday night back at Madison Square Garden. 

On the heels of two frustrating road losses, the Blueshirts handily beat the Ducks 5-2 to remain undefeated on home ice and match the second-longest season-opening home win streak in franchise history at six games. 

At the very least, in a moderately challenging schedule to start the season, the Rangers are taking care of the teams they’re supposed to. 

Against the clubs projected to finish near the bottom of the standings — such as the Red Wings, Canucks and Ducks — the Rangers have won by a combined margin of 13-4. 

Injuries have forced the Rangers to make recalls and dress a lineup noticeably different from opening night in Boston, but this hasn’t slightly influenced how the team is playing on home ice. 

“It’s our fans. It’s an exciting time,” Sean Durzi said. “We heard what was going on tomorrow night [at the Knicks championship banner raising ceremony], so it’s nice to give back-to-back good nights at MSG. They’ve been great.” 

New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand (33) makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post

The team game that was missing in New Jersey and Columbus returned as soon as the Rangers stepped onto the ice in Manhattan. 

Rookie goalie Dylan Garand played his role to the fullest, stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced. 

Scoring within the first two minutes after puck drop for the third time this season, the Rangers controlled the pace of play frequently. 

Durzi’s shot through traffic from the top of the zone gave the home team a 1-0 lead just 1:18 into the first period, marking the second time in franchise history the Rangers have scored in the opening two minutes in three consecutive home games. 

The Rangers could’ve easily had a multigoal lead by the first intermission had Pavel Dorofeyev put away either one of his two grade A opportunities in the opening 20 minutes. Dorofeyev continues to find scoring opportunities, but the finish hasn’t quite been there thus far. 

Not only did he hit the post on a wide-open net during a 5-on-3 power play, but the 25-year-old Russian also missed entirely when on the doorstep later in the first period. 

Rangers right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) celebrates with right winger Taylor Raddysh (14) after scoring a goal during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post

With one goal through his first 11 games as a Ranger, Dorofeyev is still looking to find his stride with his new team. The reason he was briefly taken off the top power-play unit, however, had more to do with discipline. 

“I’ve been asking the power-play [unit] for a number of games now that the first unit — they have to change smarter,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “And when the puck gets dumped down two or three times, and they’ve got to go 200 feet to get it and then work back into the offensive zone, they should change — and Pav didn’t. At some point, there needs to be some accountability around it.” 

From the start of the second period, the Rangers absolutely dominated play. 

Center Mika Zibanejad (93) of the New York Rangers is checked on by a trainer after taking a hard hit during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for NY Post

The top power-play unit converted less than five minutes into the middle frame, after captain J.T. Miller redirected an Adam Fox shot from the top of the zone for his second goal of the season. 

Jump-started by Alexis Lafrenière’s cross-ice backhand feed, a Rangers tic-tac-toe passing sequence ended with Gabe Perreault tapping the puck in at the side of the net. The game seemed to get out of hand from there, with the Ducks struggling to maintain possession. 

Oliver Bjorkstrand then capped the second period with his third goal of the season before scoring his fourth early in the third. 

“I thought we just took what the game gave us,” Sullivan said. “I thought we played well and that we created a fair amount of offense just off our own defense.”