The New York Rangers are the most popular crew within the NHL proper now. The Blueshirts presently sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 79 factors and maintain a six-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Rangers are effectively past their rebuild. Their younger guys are enjoying effectively, the celebrities reside as much as their names, whereas the veterans are holding all of it collectively. New York has received 9 straight. With a win tomorrow over the Flyers, the Rangers will tie their longest profitable streak of 10, set in 1939-40 and 1972-73.
All in all, this crew should not have any bother qualifying for the postseason. Nevertheless it’s what occurs as soon as they get there that must be of concern to followers.
We’ve seen this earlier than: A terrific common season, the place all the things seemingly goes proper — just for it to unravel come the postseason.
Take final yr’s marketing campaign for instance. New York went 47-22, solely to lose in seven video games within the first spherical to the rival New Jersey Devils. The yr earlier than that, the Rangers put collectively a 52-win season, however couldn’t get previous the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated the Blueshirts 4 video games to 2 within the Jap Convention Finals.
However these groups that got here up brief are completely different than this present bunch — even when among the names are the identical. One thing about this Rangers squad feels completely different. So how does NY win a fifth Stanley Cup?
The offense wants to supply
The offense has been there throughout this win streak. The Rangers have the perfect report within the sport when having a lead (38-16-3).
Artemi Panarin is fifth within the league in factors (78). He’s adopted by Chris Kreider — who’s approaching 30 targets — Mika Zibanejad, and Vincent Trocheck, who’ve all recorded 54 factors.
Nevertheless, we noticed the offense stall at occasions in that sequence in opposition to the Devils. New York was shut out twice — in Video games 5 and seven. The Blueshirts additionally solely managed to attain a single purpose in each Video games 3 and 4 — losses that negated goaltender Igor Shesterkin’s stellar play by many of the sequence.
Religion within the fourth line
Jimmy Vesey is the king of clutch. You heard that proper. At present, the previous Hobey Baker winner is enjoying on the primary line. He’s quick to the puck, he’s bodily and most significantly, he scores targets. He might not stay there — he might return to the fourth line — however he’s been making an influence.
Talking of that fourth line, it’s anchored by Barclay Goodrow at heart, and rookies Adam Edstrom and Matthew Rempe, who’ve made some instant impacts thus far. Each guys are enormous, being six-foot-seven and six-foot-eight respectively. Rempe dropped the gloves in his NHL debut on the Stadium Sequence, and has performed bodily, high-pressure hockey since becoming a member of the crew. Edstrom scored a purpose in his first sport with the Rangers, and has since been enjoying sensible hockey when it comes to getting pucks in deep, utilizing his dimension to his benefit, and naturally, the physicality. The Rangers have wanted a bodily presence since they’ve traded Ryan Reaves, and have discovered it in these two rookies.
Goodrow is a two-time Stanley Cup Winner with Tampa Bay. Not solely is he robust as nails for powering by his jaw harm from earlier this season, however is aware of what it takes to go deep within the playoffs.
Talking of going deep…
How about Jonathan Fast? He joined the Rangers after a Stanley Cup-winning season with the Vegas Golden Knights. Earlier than that, he had secured two with the Kings. And regardless of his age — 38 — he’s 13-4-2 when filling in for Shesterkin.
Kreider additionally boasts playoff expertise, having been on the Rangers crew that reached the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals. Although he solely managed one purpose in that sequence, the winger has discovered the again of the web 40 occasions in his postseason profession.
