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What goes up must come down.
For all the merit the Rangers earned on the road through a 9-1-1 start, a flat 3-2 loss to Vegas reminded everyone just how listless this team can be — no matter what building it’s in.
Maybe regression was due, as there’s only so far home and away splits so polarizing can go (1-7-1 at home).
For a team that remains No. 4 overall in expected goals rate at 5-on-5 per MoneyPuck, the five-point margin between first place and where the Rangers sit in sixth can almost all be attributed to top-six forwards not converting on the scoresheet.
Artemi Panarin began showing vital signs, registering points in six of his last seven games, though J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere owning eight goals collectively has hurt the Rangers.
In between them, there is Will Cuylle, the bruising power forward who has scored six goals, which ranks second on the roster.
Cuylle’s two-way game has made steps into more responsibility, and that has only welcomed the looks to jump in off the rush when turnovers are forced.
Filling the shoes of Chris Kreider as a stalwart net-front presence is no trivial demand, but Cuylle has assumed the role capably, manufacturing offense through traffic and proving cumbersome in messy areas he can clean up with stick skill.
The Rangers were held to under 20 shots on the road for the first time this season on Tuesday. Cuylle accounted for two of those and generated four high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick.
It was Cuylle’s 10th multi-shot game in his last 13.
Vegas is a top-10 puck possession team. On Thursday, Cuylle looks to puncture an Avalanche club touted for a rapid breakout that’s charged by the speed of Nathan Mackinnon and Cale Makar.
Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche shoots against the New York Islanders at Ball Arena on November 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. NHLI via Getty Images
The Avalanche’s sustained offensive zone pressure keeps the puck out of their net; they have allowed the fewest goals in the NHL and sport a top-five save percentage at .909.
Shots are still getting to their net as they have yielded 26 per game, good for the league’s bottom quintile.
This aggressive gap control and quick transition defense leaves seams in front of the net where Cuylle can use his frame to leverage himself.
He has marshalled eight shots on goal per 60 minutes and 11 total high-danger shots this season, ranking within the top 30 overall players per MoneyPuck.
Betting on the NHL?
Cuylle’s 2.3 shots per game is also a raw product of the fact that he leads the Rangers in hits by a margin of 24.
He’s an important cog amid a roster of several underperforming players, and his high-energy game keeps his upside consistent.
THE PLAY: Will Cuylle 2+ Shots on Goal (-170, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.
