Boston College ex-mates attend Gabe Perreault’s Rangers debut

The Boston College hockey players who ventured to TD Garden to watch their former teammate Ryan Leonard make his NHL debut with the Capitals on Tuesday night were in attendance for their other former teammate, Gabe Perreault, as he did the same with the Rangers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Rangers prospect Drew Fortescue and Canadiens goalie prospect Jacob Fowler were among the contingent of eight teammates in Boston and New York.

“It was pretty cool for them to do that,” Perreault said after an optional morning skate, before he posted three shots on goal in 13:38 of ice time in the Rangers’ 5-4 overtime win. “I’m pretty excited that they’re coming to mine, too.”

Gabe Perreault posted three shots on goal in 13:38 of ice time in the Rangers’ 5-4 overtime win over the Wild on April 2, 2025.

Along with his BC teammates, Perreault also had both his parents, his brother and sister in attendance for his first official NHL game.

Perreault is fresh off the No. 1-seeded Boston College’s season-ending loss to No. 3 seed Denver on Sunday in the NCAA Manchester regional Final.

“It’s definitely a quick turnaround,” he said. “Obviously, been a crazy couple of days, but kind of just trying to flip the switch as fast as I can and be ready to help the team.”

The 19-year-old made his NHL debut on the Rangers’ second line next to Alexis Lafreniere and J.T. Miller.

“Super fun,” Perreault said of his debut. “Playing in this building is something I’ve never done before, and to finally get to be able to do it was unreal.”

Gabe Perreault looks to control the puck and keep it away from Frederick Gaudreau during the Rangers’ overtime win over the Wild.

With a goal and two assists, Artemi Panarin posted his sixth three-point effort of the season, as well as his 60th since the 2019-20 season (fifth most in NHL).

Panarin cashed in on a breakaway at the end of the second period to notch his 34th goal of the season and give the Rangers a 4-3 lead going into the third period.

Matt Rempe missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury.

He served as a scratch alongside Zac Jones (healthy), Juuso Parssinen (healthy) Calvin de Haan (healthy) and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (healthy).

Chris Kreider was bumped to the fourth line alongside Sam Carrick and Brett Berard.

That left a third line that featured Will Cuylle, Mika Zibanejad and Jonny Brodzinski.