Ex-Canucks star J.T. Miller downplays Rangers' historically awful start
The Vancouver Canucks aren’t the only team off to a concerning start.
While the Canucks haven’t played well through three games, at least they haven’t set an NHL record for goal-scoring inefficiency.
J.T. Miller and the New York Rangers were shut out 2-0 by the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. It was the third straight home game where the Rangers failed to score a goal at Madison Square Garden. That makes them the first team in NHL history to be shut out during their first three home games of the season.
That’s a record that no team wants to set, but Miller is proactively trying to pump the brakes on any criticism.
“First of all, let’s not make this bigger than it is,” Miller told reporters following the loss.
“It’s Game 5. There’s a lot to like about our game. It’s a unique situation, but let’s not blow this out of proportion here.”
Even though Miller is trying to temper his emotions after a poor start, the same can’t be said for some of his Rangers teammates.
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, honestly,” Mika Zibanejad told reporters. “I honestly don’t know.”
Some Rangers fans are having a laugh at their team’s expense.
BREAKING: MSG goal horn placed on IR, retroactive to 10/7. Will miss a minimum of 3 games.
— Igor Shesterkin Muse (@ShestyMuse) October 15, 2025
Other Rangers fans aren’t as amused.
JT… it’s very big… literally so big that it made history as you’re the first team to ever do it.
— Mikey Z (@NYrangersNole) October 15, 2025
The Rangers’ historically bad start has also brought their new team slogan, “No B.S.,” back to the forefront.
Bro forgot the scoring goals part
— hockey images that precede unfortunate events (@UnfortunateHKY) October 15, 2025
The Rangers weren’t very threatening during their home opening loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, when former Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs shut them out. During their last two home games, however, the Rangers generated 6.51 expected goals, but they weren’t able to convert.
“There’s a lot of good,” Miller said. “We’re getting a lot of chances. This is a unique start to the season in the sense that there are a couple games where we feel like we’ve really thrown a lot at the other team and we’re really not getting rewarded.
Miller has one goal and three points in five games for the Rangers thus far, averaging 20:01 of ice time per game.