Rangers’ Noah Laba Returns After Taking Nasty Puck To Face

Fans inside Madison Square Garden grew concerned when New York Rangers center Noah Laba reached to block a shot and left the ice with a trail of blood during Monday's contest.

While on the penalty kill, the 22-year-old rookie forward reached out his stick to impede Minnesota Wild right wing Vinnie Hinostroza’s shot. The puck deflected into Laba’s face.

Thankfully, the scary-looking incident wasn’t as serious as initially feared. Laba would later return to game action.

"Yeah, that's scary," Sullivan told reporters following the game. "Any time a player gets hit in the face like that, it's really scary. Fortunately, it wasn't too serious. He got stitched up. The fact that he came back, I think, just speaks to his competitiveness, his toughness. But that was a scary moment, for sure."

Scary scenes as Noah Laba takes a puck to the face on the penalty kill #NYR pic.twitter.com/ynyjAc6EbI
— Dan Godlewski (@Danthfc_) October 21, 2025

Laba went to one knee while being looked at by training staff before he was helped off the ice with a towel covering his face. The incident occurred near the seven-minute mark of the second period.

Sullivan confirmed after the game that Laba received stitches.

After being attended to in the dressing room, he returned to the Rangers’ bench toward the end of the second period wearing a full face shield. His mouth appeared swollen even after he received treatment inside the home dressing room.

Young Center Has Impressed Early Into Rookie Season

New York Rangers center Noah Laba (42) skates against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images

Laba has recorded two assists through his first seven career NHL games and averaged 11:28 time on ice per game. He has won 59.5 percent of face-offs.

The Rangers selected Laba in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL entry draft. He spent three years at Colorado College of the NCHC. Laba made his NHL debut on Oct. 7, 2025 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 214-pound forward is currently centering the Rangers’ third line alongside Juuso Parssinen and Taylor Raddysh. He has seen limited opportunities on the power play and penalty kill.

Laba has averaged 16.9 shifts per game during his rookie campaign. The 6-foot-3 center has quickly become a fan favorite due to his industrious style of play.

He skated for 7:19 time on ice in Monday's contest, registering two shots and three blocked shots.

The Rangers ultimately lost 3-1 to the Wild. Danila Yurov scored the game-winning goal for Minnesota. It was the rookie right wing's first career goal.

After eight games, the Rangers have begun the 2025-26 season with a 3-4-1 record in Sullivan's first season behind the Blueshirts' bench.

Jonathan Taylor: "IJonathan Taylor: "I'm Here to Dominate, Win Games, and Prove Why I'm the Most Dangerous Weapon in the League"'m Here to Dominate, Win Games, and Prove Why I'm the Most Dangerous Weapon in the League"

"I’m not here for the MVP talk—I’m here to dominate, win games, and prove every week why I’m the most dangerous weapon in the league. As long as I stay healthy, this team is going all the way." — Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are currently 6-1, holding the top seed in the AFC, and their success this season can be attributed largely to the explosive playmaking of Jonathan Taylor

. While quarterback Daniel Jones has garnered attention for his resurgence, it’s Taylor who has been the true star, dominating on the ground and in the air, making a strong case for the

NFL MVP.

Taylor is having a career year, racking up 697 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, and 23 catches for 185 yards and a touchdown. He’s leading the

NFL in rushing and is the league’s most dangerous weapon in the backfield. As Taylor said, he’s focused on domination, not the MVP conversation—"I’m here to dominate, win games, and prove every week why I’m the most dangerous weapon in the league."

Taylor’s Historic Impact on the Colts' Offense

The Colts offense is built around the power running game, and Taylor has been the centerpiece. With the Colts' offensive line opening holes for him, Taylor’s ability to break through defenses has been remarkable. Not only is he

leading the NFL in rushing, but he’s also leading in yards per game (99.6) and first downs (37). His ability to break long runs—five 20+ yard runs
and two 40+ yard runs—has made him an irreplaceable asset in the Colts’ offensive system.

MVP Frontrunner: Taylor’s Case

Typically, the MVP award goes to the quarterback of the

best team. But this season, with no standout quarterback, Jonathan Taylor has emerged as a legitimate MVP contender. He is the best offensive player on the best team

through the first seven games of the season, and his dominance on the field makes him a strong contender for the coveted award.

In the last 20 years, only three running backs have won the MVP:

Shaun Alexander (2005), LaDainian Tomlinson (2006), and Adrian Peterson (2012). Jonathan Taylor could become the next in that line, especially with the Colts’ success and the lack of a dominant quarterback

this season.

Colts’ Success and Taylor’s Future

As long as Taylor stays healthy, the Colts are positioned to continue their success. He is the key player for the Colts’ offense

, and his dominance has been the driving force behind their 6-1 record. If Taylor keeps up his production, the Colts could make a deep playoff run, with Taylor

leading the charge.

While the MVP award is nice, for Taylor, it’s about winning games and proving every week why he’s the most dangerous running back in the league. With his current performance, there’s no question that

Taylor is one of the most dynamic and influential players in the NFL.

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