New York Rangers Daily: Another must-win game for Blueshirts; Scary injury for Devils’ Jack Hughes
Time for the New York Rangers drop the hammer in their chase to earn a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season.
After shutting out the woeful Nashville Predators 4-0 Sunday at MSG, the Rangers must do away with the Islanders on Monday. These are games the Rangers must absolutely win, and if they can in decisive manner, even better.
They did so last week with a 5-1 road victory against the Islanders, and again Sunday against the third word-worst team in the NHL standings. Now, it’s the Islanders again, this time on home ice. Throttle them. Let them know this playoff race is about you, not them.
It’s right there for the Rangers (30-26-4). Despite trading away Ryan Lindgren this weekend and with a clear focus on the coming offseason, the Rangers can still — and probably should still — earn their way in to the postseason. And winning games against teams they should beat is a big part of that game plan.
Win Monday and the Rangers are tied in points for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. That’s no matter what the Ottawa Senators, even with the Rangers at 64 points, or Montreal Canadiens, one point behind New York, does in their respective games Monday.
The Rangers have won three of four and six of nine. A victory Monday and they carry nice momentum into a tough matchup Thursday at home against the first-place Washington Capitals. Keep in mind that the Caps have hit a rough patch, losing three straight. Then there are games with massive playoff implications against the Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets next weekend.
But first, next, just do what’s expected and knock off the Islanders on Monday.
Subscribe to the Rink Rap podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page
New York Rangers news
Here are three Rangers takeaways from their shutout win against the Predators, including how the new guys led the hit parade in a physical victory.
We handed out Rangers trade grades after they acquired Calvin de Haan and Juuso Parssinen from the Colorado Avalanche.
And those new Rangers were thrown right into the lineup Sunday, 24 hours after being acquired from the Avalanche.
The Hartford Wolf Pack allowed four straight goals in a 5-2 loss to Providence on Sunday.
NHL news
There wasn’t a lot of good news for the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, despite Jacob Marskrtom’s return from a long injury absence. The Devils lost 2-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights and star center Jack Hughes exited late in the game after crashing hard into the boards after a Jack Eichel hit that went unpenalized. That led to Devils coach Sheldon Keefe being ejected from the game for arguing with the on-ice officials.
Charlie Lindgren landed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Washington Capitals. The goalie could’ve been an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Matthew Tkachuk was placed on LTIR with a groin injury by the Florida Panthers.
Macklin Celebrini may not be able to play Monday when the San Jose Sharks visit the Maple Leafs because of a lower-body injury.
Jonas Brodin is week to week with a lower-body injury for the Minnesota Wild.
Without Brodin in the lineup, the Wild shut out the Boston Bruins 1-0, bringing to an end David Pastrnak’s 17-game point streak.
The Seattle Kraken recalled veteran goalie Philipp Grubauer from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their fifth straight game, a wild 6-5 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Watch William Nylander score the game winner in OT for the Maple Leafs.
The Dallas Stars continue to roll, following a 6-3 win against the St. Louis Blues.
Watch Wyatt Johnston record a hat trick in the Star’s latest victory.
Seabstian Aho scored his fifth overtime goal this season, when the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Calgary Flames 2-1.
More About:New York Rangers News