A chilly Sunday brought in a team from the warm and sunny state of Florida. Familiar faces filled Madsion Square Garden on both sides, as Brandon Pirri faced his former squad for the Rangers, and defensemen Dylan McIlrath and Keith Yandle returned to their old stomping grounds. McIlrath did not play, but his return was his first time back.
While the Rangers lost Yandle to free agency, losing McIlrath via trade was a choice the Rangers did not have to make. Jeff Gorton moved the enforcer for a 7th round pick and Steven Kampfer, signaling the Rangers did not think highly of the former first round pick.