New York Rangers Daily: Blueshirts pushed to brink; Alex Ovechkin’s historic 895th goal
The Montreal Canadiens are doing something the New York Rangers have been incapable of doing all season — put a meaningful winning streak together.
Not only have the Canadiens won five in a row, after edging the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Sunday, they’ve done so at the most important time of the season. Thus, they’re beginning to pull away from the Rangers, who wasted a month’s worth of chances when no one could seize hold of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
This is Montreal’s second five-game winning streak this season, and second since February. You know who hasn’t won five games in a row this season? The Rangers. In fact, they’ve won at least three straight just two times. Two. As in in one more than one. As in their last three-game winning streak was Nov. 14-19.
The Rangers’ inability to string together victories is one of their major undoings this season. They needed some serious winning streaks after that crushing 4-15-0 stretch in November and December. But they didn’t haveit in them. Their latest attempt at winning three consecutive games was a 4-0 faceplant of a loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
As such, the Rangers fell from two points out of the second wild card to six back this weekend.
Against all odds, the Rangers need to reverse course immediately, likely needing to win out over their final six games, beginning Monday at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stay tuned … but don’t hold your breath.
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You may have heard — Alex Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal in a 4-1 Washington Capitals loss to the Islanders, passing Wayne Gretzky for most in NHL history.
Peter Laviolette coached Ovechkin for two seasons in Washington and said Sunday that he’s “really happy” for The Great 8 after he became the all-time goals leader.
Here’s a breakdown of the Rangers week ahead, when they probably need to win all four games with their playoff life hanging in the balance.
Gabe Perreault said he’s feeling “more settled in” after playing his first two NHL games with the Rangers.
Here are our winners and losers from the Rangers latest loss, 4-0 to the New Jersey Devils.
The Rangers were shredded by four different NHL analysts Saturday, including three who once played for the organization.
NHL news and rumors
Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin, who allowed Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking 895th NHL goal, gave The Great 8 his goalie stick upon request after the game. What did he get in return from his fellow Russian comrade? “Respect,” said Sorokin, who stopped the other 28 shots he faced in the Isles’ win. Full story in NYI Hockey Now.
Lane Hutson’s assist Sunday against the Predators gives him 64 points this season, tying Chris Chelios for most points by a rookie defenseman in Canadiens history.
Aliaksei Protas, who has 30 goals this season, is week to week for the Capitals with a lower-body injury.
The banged-up Minnesota Wild are now without defenseman Jake Middleton, who’s day to day with an upper-body injury.
The Detroit Red Wings kept their slim playoff hopes alive — and pulled even with the Rangers for ninth place in the Eastern Conference — with a 2-1 win over the visiting Florida Panthers. Next up? A showdown with the Canadiens on Tuesday.
Going the opposite direction are the Columbus Blue Jackets, who’ve lost three in a row, — the last two by shutout. They were blanked 4-0 by the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, Ottawa’s second shutout win this weekend.
Marco Rossi’s goal 58 seconds into overtime lifted the Wild over the Dallas Stars 3-2.
The Vancouver Canucks look to be running out of time in the Western Conferenec playoff race after losing 3-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Watch: NHL.com compiled every single one of Alex Ovechkin’s 895 regular-season goals.
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