The New York Rangers ended March on a high note, securing a dominant 6-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center. However, their triumph on the ice was overshadowed by an off-the-rink incident involving rookie forward Macklin Celebrini’s car. In an unexpected turn of events, the Rangers’ team bus accidentally backed into Celebrini’s Range Rover in the players' parking lot. Fortunately, he wasn’t inside the vehicle, and the damage was minimal.
Sharks’ players share their take on the best emergency bus driver
Despite the mishap, the Sharks proved they could take the incident in stride, responding with a lighthearted jab at the Rangers. On March 31, the team’s official X (formerly Twitter) account posted a playful dig, captioning a video, “We know firsthand the importance of a good bus driver.” The video featured a candid Q&A with Sharks players, who shared their thoughts on who among them would make the best bus driver in an emergency.
In the video, left-winger William Eklund wasted no time ruling out Will Smith as a potential driver, though he did suggest Carl Grundstrom might be up for the task. When Celebrini was asked for his opinion, he took the joke further, quipping, “No one.” Given his recent experience, he playfully admitted that walking or taking a cab to the arena seemed like a safer bet. Defenseman Lucas Carlsson, on the other hand, had more faith in Mario Ferraro’s driving skills.
The Rangers, staying focused on their playoff push, have yet to respond to the Sharks' playful banter—and likely won’t. With only 32.7% odds of making the postseason, according to MoneyPuck, their attention is set on improving their standings in the Metropolitan Division.
New York Rangers fight to keep playoff hopes alive
The Rangers' season has been a rollercoaster, with their recent 5-4 OT loss to the Anaheim Ducks serving as a painful reminder of their inconsistencies. They had lost five of their last six games before their dominant win against San Jose. Fans have expressed frustration over the team’s struggles, with one commenting, “I’m just viewing this season as a comedy. It’s much more bearable that way.”
Adding to the emotional weight of the season is the impending retirement of legendary broadcaster Sam Rosen. He has been the voice of the Rangers for decades, and he’s hoping for a playoff push to extend his final days in the booth. “I want to drag the Rangers into the playoffs and extend the career a little bit with some exciting playoff games,” Rosen shared in a recent podcast.
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“Absolutely cheap”: NHL faces backlash after fining Panthers’ Niko Mikkola for late-game slap shotAs the season winds down, Rangers fans are left wondering—can their team pull off a late-season surge and secure a playoff spot? Or will their campaign end in disappointment? One thing is for sure: whether on the ice or in the parking lot, the Rangers have had their fair share of bumps along the way.
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