Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY SportsSo, on Friday we wrote that all eyes from the New York Rangers are on top prospect Liam Greentree, whose taking part in the OHL conference finals. To that end, it was a quite start for Greentree, who was without a point in Windsor’s 4-3 overtime loss to Kitchener on Friday night in Game 1 of the best-of-7 Western Conference Final.The 20-year-old forward acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the Artemi Panarin trade was on ice, though not at fault, when Kitchener scored 7:18 into the first period to take a 2-1 lead.
On a better note, he was also on ice when linemate Jack Nesbitt scored late in the second period to give Windsor a 3-2 lead. ON that play, Nesbitt scored off a turnover and decided to shoot on a partial 2-on-1 with Greentree streaking to the net on right wing.That was the final goal for Windsor in this one. Kitchener’s Sam O’Reilly assisted on the tying goal with 11 seconds remaining in the middle period, and then scored the game-deciding goal in overtime to hand Windsor it’s first loss (8-1) in the 2026 OHL Playoffs.Greentree finished with two shots on goal and is now tied for second on the Spitfires with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in the postseason.
The hulking forward, who is Windsor’s captain, has one goal in the past five games.The Rangers also are keeping tabs on defenseman prospect Evan Passmore, who helped Barrie win its Eastern Conference Final series opener Friday, 5-3 over Brantford. Passmore is a member of New York’s 2025 draft class, a sixth-round selection (No. 171 overall).The 6-foot-5, 217-pound defenseman is an alternate captain with Barrie, and often pairs with New York Islanders stud prospect Kashawn Aitcheson. Passmore is a stay-at-home defnder, who has three assists in the postseason, though none in the conference final, which Barrie evened up 1-1 with the win Friday.Passmore scored three goals, had 10 points, and totaled 58 penalty minutes in the regular season.Rangers news and analysisDanny Wild-Imagn ImagesSo, Newsday beat reporter Colin Stephenson tells us that he’s “buying” Alexis Lafreniere’s strong play down the stretch of this Rangers season.
But there’s a catch. Because of course there is.It wasn’t all bad this season for the Rangers, right? John Kreiser breaks down their most memorable games, and the ones we’d most like to forget.NHL news and rumorsJames Guillory-Imagn ImagesTSN: Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson has a concussion and won’t play in Game 4 of their best-of-7 first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Even Senators owner Michael Andlauer went public with comments criticizing the League for failing to suspend Carolina’s Taylor Hall for the head-hit that caused the injury in Game 3.Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan Kingerski offers up three things the Penguins must do to avoid playoff elimination in Game 4 against the Flyers.Philly Hockey Now: Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said banged-up goalie Dan Vladar is good to go, when they try to sweep the Penguins out of the playoffs Saturday.TSN: A panel debates whether John Chayka or Scott White is the right choice to head up the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey operations department after general manager Brad Treliving was fired.Montreal Hockey Now: Marc Dumont takes us behind the scenes of the Canadien’s thrilling 3-2 overtime win in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Sportsnaut: John Kreiser provides three key takeaways after the Lightning fell behind 2-1 in the best-of-7 series against the Canadiens.NHL.com: Nick Cotsonika chronicles the amazing atmosphere for the first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff game in Salt Lake City, when the Mammoth edged the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of their series.Related HeadlinesRangers scribe ‘buying’ Alexis Lafreniere resurgence, but there’s a catchRangers Daily: All eyes on Liam Greentree; Red Wings GM blames rosterNew York Rangers centennial season: 5 games to remember, 5 to forgetRangers prospect named finalist for OHL most outstanding player award