Rangers Daily: Ex-Blueshirts break out; vultures circling struggling Devils
The busy NHL schedule Tuesday night proved to be an excellent example of just how volatile a position the New York Rangers are in when it comes their quest to make it back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
The Rangers had to a day off to lick their wounds following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth the night before, not to mention the brutal double-barreled injury updates on Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox. But 10 other Eastern Conference teams were in action.
That’s significant because each outcome either had a positive or negative effect on New York’s playoff hopes. And that’s particularly so because every team in the East has games in hand on the Rangers.
Not that Mike Sullivan and Co. ride the emotional rollercoaster that comes with intently examining each and every result, each and every night. The Rangers must focus on taking care of their own business. But yes, they’re aware of what’s going on around them, and the position they put themselves in with their 20-18-6 record.
So, they wake up Wednesday and remain three points out of the second wild card, though they are 15th out of 16 teams in the East when it comes to points percentage. The Pittsburgh Penguins hold the final playoff spot in the East, and didn’t play Tuesday. They have three games in hand on the Rangers.
The Buffalo Sabres held on for a 5-3 home win against the Vancouver Canucks; and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Anaheim Ducks. Those results weren’t good news for the Rangers in the tightly-packed conference.
And that 9-0 Islanders thrashing of the New Jersey Devils? Good and bad for the Blueshirts, though probably more good since the spiraling Devils remain tied in points with the Rangers, and the Islanders are further up the food chain, sitting second in the Metropolitan Division.
The Florida Panthers lost and remain one point ahead of the Rangers with two games in hand. That’s good. But they lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who jumped the Rangers in points and also have two games in hand.
But, hey, the Boston Bruins lost and remain equal in points with the Blueshirts, and only have one game in hand now.
You get the picture. You can drive yourself mad getting too far into the weeds with each result, especially with so much hockey left to be played. But this is the tough spot the Rangers find themselves in. Though the Blueshirts focus must be lasered in on their next game, Thursday at MSG against the Sabres. That’s the only one that matters right now.
New York Rangers news and analysis
Here’s our story on the latest Rangers injury updates, with Fox surprisingly landing on LTIR and Shesterkin placed on IR, though still being evaluated.
Rangers owner James Dolan did a rare interview on WFAN two days ago and expressed confidence in general manager Chris Drury and coach Mike Sullivan, preaching patience as they instill a new culture with the organization. Here’s our breakdown of what Dolan said.
NHL news and rumors
New York Post: Former Rangers forward Anthony Duclair broke out with a hat trick to help the Islanders blow out — and shut out — the Devils 9-0.
NHL.com: Duclair wasn’t the only former Blueshirt to have a big night Tuesday. K’Andre Miller recorded his second two-goal outing for the Carolina Hurricanes in their 6-3 home win over the Dallas Stars.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Back to the Devils. They’re in a crazy freefall right now — taking pages out of the Rangers’ book from 2024-25, perhaps? — and James Nichols does a great job here dissecting whether Sheldon Keefe remains the right coach for this team. He also breaks down why general manager Tom Fitzgerald deserves to be on the hot seat.
The Athletic: Aaron Portzline analyzes the Columbus Blue Jackets addition of Egor Zamula, and the defenseman’s winding path through three Metropolitan Division teams in the past week.
TSN: Chris Johnston reports that the Vancouver Canucks are trying to re-sign rugged forward Kiefer Sherwood, though with an eye on the March 6 NHL trade deadline.
Sportsnet: In a scary scene in Winnipeg, Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury was stretchered off the ice and taken to the hospital after he crashed hard into the boards.
Philly Hockey Now: Trevor Zegras got a measure of revenge against the Anaheim Ducks, scoring two goals against his former team in a 5-2 Flyers victory.
Florida Hockey Now: Do the Panthers have another key injury to worry about? George Richards examines what’s next after Brad Marchand leaves game against the Maple Leafs early with unspecified issue.
