New York Rangers Daily: Mediocrity vs. parity; Gabriel Landeskog makes strides with Avalanche
Is it parity? Is it mediocrity? Or is it both?
Probably more a case of “You say tomAto. I say tomAHto”! It’s really semantics and all the same when it comes to the state of the race to secure the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
I say that the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings (go ahead, throw the Islanders and Boston Bruins into the argument, as well) are mediocre teams stumbling their respective ways down the stretch of the 2024-25 NHL season.
None of those teams suck. They’re simply not very inspiring, each making uninspired runs trying to capture the final postseason berth in the conference.
The Rangers can’t win more than two games in a row, they’re last three-game win streak coming four months ago, Nov. 14-19. The Canadiens have lost three of five after a five-game winning streak resurrected their hopes. The Blue Jackets have lost four straight and six of seven, the magic wearing off after defying odds all season. The Red Wings have lost seven of nine. The Islanders and Bruins? Really? Do I need to spell it out about those two failing veteran teams, who were sellers ahead of the trade deadline?
The Ottawa Senators have risen above this group into the first wild card on the back of a six-game winning streak. Of course, that offset a five-game skid to close out February.
Someone made the fair argument to me on social media that these teams are not mediocre, “it’s the exactly (sic) opposite. … Called parity.”
Shout out to @Striker0777 for the social media dialogue with me. Love the opinion and feedback!
But i think we’re saying the same thing. Mediocrity creates parity, or perhaps parity lends itself to mediocrity. Either way, I think we basically agree.
The Western Conference is full of terrible tanking teams. Right now, the East is not. Each of the playoff contenders have decent skill, combined with a host of warts. Ottawa, Montreal and Columbus (maybe Detroit too) are exciting teams on the rise. The Rangers are redefining who they are. I’ve stated time and again that it’s my belief the Rangers will find a way in and make the playoffs for a fourth straight season.
But they must figure it out moving forward. Because these other teams are on the way up.
It’s just right now, mediocrity — parity — reigns in the playoff logjam in the East.
Subscribe to the RINK RAP podcast on the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page
New York Rangers news
Here’s a breakdown of why the switching lines for Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafreniere is working for the Rangers so far.
The Rangers week ahead includes three games at home before a California road trip next week.
Brendan Brisson didn’t exactly have a great start with the Rangers organization after he was acquired in the Reilly Smith trade. But things are picking up for the Hartford Wolf Pack forward.
Here are our three takeaways from the Rangers latest loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, including an inability win three games in a row.
Plus, we ‘ve got winners and losers from that game Sunday, including the Rangers power play.
NHL news and rumors
Gabriel Landeskog remains determined to return to the Colorado Avalanche, despite last playing an NHL game on Jun 26, 2022, when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with a Game 6 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Knee issues, including cartilage transplant surgery, have held him back, but he practiced with the Avalanche on Monday and will travel with the team on its coming road trip, though is not in line to play any time soon.
Former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba avoided supplemental discipline after another controversial hit that blew up St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou on Sunday.
It’s being reported that the Utah Hockey Club has finally settled on its nickname. But there’s no announcement imminent.
The NHL general managers meetings began in Florida on Monday with much time spent on videos reviews after coach’s challenges.
The Buffalo Sabres expect injured forwards Josh Norris and JJ Peterka to return to the lineup before the week is over.
Jake Allen and the New Jersey Devils did the Rangers a solid with a 2-1 road win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Allen finished with 45 saves to hand the Blue Jackets their fourth straight loss and keep them two points back of the Rangers in the East standings.
The Calgary Flames will limp into Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, 24 hours after they were hammered by the Maple Leafs 6-2 up in Toronto.
Former Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello scored the game-winning goal in the third period to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings.
Andrei Vasilevskiy earned his sixth shutout this season in a 2-0 Tampa Bay Lightning win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Boston Bruins can’t afford to cough up any points if they want to remain alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race. But they did Monday, losing to the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime.
Watch Alex Tuch score in overtime for the Sabres.
More About:New York Rangers News