NEW YORK — The New York Rangers continued their strong start at home with a 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night, improving to 6-0-0 at Madison Square Garden this season. Sean Durzi opened the scoring just 78 seconds into the game, setting the tone for the Rangers, who have now scored in the first two minutes of three consecutive home games—a feat they last achieved in March 1989.

Dylan Garand, filling in for injured franchise goaltender Igor Shesterkin, stopped 29 shots in his fifth straight start since Shesterkin’s season-ending injury. Garand has allowed two or fewer goals in nine of his 10 NHL appearances, dating back to his debut last spring, providing vital stability for New York during the early part of the campaign. The Rangers improved their overall record to 7-3-1 with the win, a sharp contrast to last season when they struggled at home, winning only five of their first 22 games there and eventually missing the playoffs after finishing last in the Eastern Conference.

New York received additional offensive contributions from captain J.T. Miller and rookie Gabe Perreault, who each scored a goal, while Alexis Lafreniere added two assists. Oliver Bjorkstrand netted both goals for the Ducks, who fell to 4-4-0 with the loss. Anaheim’s Ville Husso faced a challenging night behind the net, particularly as his team committed several turnovers that put him under pressure.

The Ducks appeared worn down after enduring a taxing 15-hour travel ordeal from Southern California to the East Coast, including multiple flight delays. Their late arrival at the hotel, around 2:30 a.m., and a morning skate less than nine hours later seemed to affect their performance. Anaheim was held scoreless until the final 69 seconds, when Nick Jensen and A.J. Greer—each scoring their first goals with the team—spoiled Garand’s bid for a shutout.

Pavel Dorofeyev, acquired by Anaheim in the offseason and seen as a promising addition, had several scoring opportunities but remained at two goals for the year. The Ducks will aim to rebound from their road struggles as the schedule continues. Meanwhile, the Rangers look to build on their home success despite the absence of Shesterkin, maintaining momentum early in the season.