Here’s your daily dose for Thursday, New York Rangers fans.
Ranking the NHL’s Power Play Units for 2015-16 – Bleacher Report
At one point last season, the New York Rangers could have passed on going on the power play and we would’ve been glad for it. Their 5-on-4 was just that horrible then.
Somehow the puck would find the post more than it would the net. Six times the Rangers would give up a shorthanded goal. Any cycling in the offensive zone would evoke a lot of cursing and urges to yell “shoot the puck!” Things just weren’t clicking on the man-advantage to say the least.
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It did seem to improve later on in the season as the Rangers finished 21st in the league with a 16.8 power play percentage. In the Playoffs, they jumped up to a much better 21.0 PP% with 13 goals in 62 opportunities and only 1 SHG against.
Where do the Rangers fall this year? Bleacher Report places them a bit towards the bottom of the league at the number 21 spot. Shocking news, I know, but there’s still hope.
Chris Kreider was the Ranger with the most power play goals last season with seven PPG and he is getting better every year. Derick Brassard is also coming off of a personal best season, and he led the team in power play points with 18. There’s no doubt both will tremendously help the Rangers’ power play when October rolls around.
You Won’t Want to Miss This Stadium Series Game – NHL.com
On February 20, 2016, the Minnesota Wild alumni will team up with the Minnesota North Stars alumni to face former Chicago Blackhawks in what will be a highly anticipated match up. And, as part of the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, the game will be played outdoors at the TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.
New York Rangers
Got to love a good ol’ outdoor game. Especially one of the heated rivalry variety.
The North Stars, who became the Dallas Stars after the 1992-93 season, were the biggest adversaries of the Blackhawks in the 80’s. Troy Murphy, who will be on Chicago’s team, says the rivalry was one to never forget: “The way that the emotions were involved in those series and in those games, every fan and every player in that era that played in those games, they remember.”
It was such a big rivalry then, that their upcoming contest is likely to include a few scuffles, maybe even a full out line brawl. As Lou Nanne, a former player/coach/general manager for the North Stars puts it, “I remember one night playing an old-timers game in Chicago and I hit Keith Magnuson. He told me, ‘Louie, this is supposed to be no-checking,’ and I said, ‘Sorry, I just forgot.'”
From that statement and the fact that Nanne will help coach Team Minnesota, you can tell this is going to be a fun game to watch.
And that’s all for today. See you next time on the daily dose.
Next: Why the Rangers Need to Win This Year
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