New York Rangers Daily: Streak continues despite another lost point, Connor McDavid discipline upcoming

NHL: New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens
Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

It’s kind of a weird spot the New York Rangers are in right now. They should feel good about their overall better play and current eight-game point streak (5-0-3), their longest of the season. On the other hand, they coughed up three points — one in each of their recent overtime defeats when they blew third-period leads.

Those three points are the difference between sitting where they are now in the Eastern Conference standings and being tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card.

The latest bitter OT defeat was Sunday at Bell Centre against the Montreal Canadiens, a team they are in direct battle with for a playoff berth in the East. The Rangers let four one-goal leads slip away in a 5-4 loss, when Patrik Laine scored in overtime.

Now, no NHL team is perfect and holds on to every lead to win every game. But certainly the Rangers should’ve locked down at least two of those third-period leads, right? It’s a disturbing recent trend amid a much better stretch of hockey for the Rangers, especially compared to their unwatchable 4-15-0 play in November and December.

Big week coming up, starting with a clash against the Ottawa Senators, the East’s top wild card, on Tuesday at MSG.

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New York Rangers news

NHL: New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens
David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Here are our three takeaways for the Rangers loss in Montreal, including a third straight failed bid by the valiant Jonathan Quick to earn his 400th NHL win.

To keep in mind how thin the line of winning and losing is, let’s also revisit our three takeaways from the Rangers narrow 1-0 shootout win against the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

You can see it in their play, but the Rangers do also believe “confidence is coming back” during this extended point streak.

NHL news

NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks
Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Superstar center Connor McDavid will have a hearing with NHL Department of Player Safety at a date to be determined for his cross-check to the headof Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland on Saturday. McDavid received a match penalty on the play.

Tyler Myers of the Canucks will also have a disciplinary hearing for his cross-check Saturday against McDavid’s teammate Evan Bouchard.

So, you think you want all the glory that goes with being an NHL reporter? Well. maybe you should this recent post by my friend Dan Kingerski at Pittsburgh Hockey Now first.

Charlie McAvoy will miss his third straight game with an undisclosed injury when the struggling Boston Bruins play the San Jose Sharks on Monday afternoon.

The Buffalo Sabres will be without goalie Ullo-Pekka Luukonen when they visit the Seattle Kraken on Monday. He’s day to day with an undisclosed injury. Devon Levi was recalled from the AHL and is expected to start.

Anthony Stolarz isn’t ready to play or even practice in full yet. But the Toronto Maple Leafs goalie, who’s out with a knee injury, did face some shots before their morning skate Monday.

The Senators are surging and the New Jersey Devils are sagging after Ottawa grabbed a 2-1 road win at The Rick on Sunday.

The Rangers caught a break when the Detroit Red Wings stumbled again, losing 4-1 to the Dallas Stars. The Rangers are now two points clear of the Red Wings in the East.

Watch Zack Ostapchuk score his first NHL goal for the Senators against the Devils.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of ... More about Jim Cerny
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