3 Key Things the Rangers Need to Accomplish Before the Playoffs
The Rangers seemingly have the pieces to win the Stanley Cup, however prior to the playoffs there are a few things this team still needs to show.
The New York Rangers sit tied atop the NHL with 98 points tied with the Canucks for the best record in the league with just eleven games remaining. While the final eleven games will only matter for the team in terms of playoff positioning there are also a few things Rangers fans would like to see prior to the playoffs.
3. A Return to Full Health
The New York Rangers outside of losing Filip Chytil for the season have been relatively healthy until lately. The team has since seen Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, and Mika Zibanejad deal with injuries while the latter has been able to play.
In the playoffs, the Rangers will certainly need the physicality of Jacob Trouba in a potential series against Tampa Bay, Florida, and Carolina. Trouba's play shifted the 2022 series against Pittsburgh when a massive hit on Sidney Crosby took the Penguins star out of the lineup. The massive hits of Trouba provide huge momentum shifts at Madison Square Garden while they can also take the life out of opposing arenas.
Ryan Lindgren is a warrior that will play through anything however, his leg injury on Sunday looks like something that may keep him out long-term. Lindgren allows Adam Fox to be more aggressive in the offensive end while also providing toughness to the Rangers lineup. The early reporting says that Lindgren will be out for a few weeks which gives him time before the start of the playoffs in April.
The Rangers will make the postseason however, a winning streak sooner rather than later could be vital for the team. Clinching one of the top seeds would allow the team to begin resting some of its vital pieces rather than having to compete until the final week of the season. Having home ice advantage is important however, keeping the roster fresh is more important for this team.