New York Rangers Aiming to Tie Elusive NHL Record
By Ben Whitney
After a tough loss to the Devils in their last road game, the New York Rangers are still at a league-leading 26 road wins. The Detroit Red Wings of 2005-06 have the record for road wins in a season with 31. With five road games left, the Rangers still have a chance to tie that record. But with some tough games left on the docket, it is unlikely.
Kevin Hayes made a great move in overtime in the last road game against the Devils. He had Cory Schneider beat and just needed to poke it in with his outstretched right arm. Hayes couldn’t quite get knock it home and the Devils scored going the other way, taking the game and the New York Rangers’ chance of breaking the record.
The Rangers now head west for a three-game California swing. First up is the struggling but desperate Kings, followed by the Pacific Division leading Sharks and Ducks.
The Kings have been floundering when they can least afford to flounder, losing four of their last five (through Wednesday). This is the most winnable game of the three, as the Kings have not been playing well. Their post season aspirations are dwindling and they’ll have to play with desperation.
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On the other hand, the Ducks have won four of their last five and are 7-2-1 in their last ten. They are in a tight race with San Jose, Edmonton, and Calgary for the top three spots in the Pacific Division. The Ducks are 24-8-4 at home and Ryan Getzlaf is on fire. This will be a tough game.
The Sharks are clinging to their lead in the division, but have stumbled of late. They have lost four straight and are 4-6 in their last ten. With three pursuers within five points through Wednesday, the Sharks could drop all the way into a wildcard spot if they don’t right the ship. Still, the last game of a road trip on the West Coast against a tough team will not be easy.
If the Rangers do manage to get three wins in California, it doesn’t get any easier. The next road game is against Washington on April 5th. The Capitals are still the Eastern Conference leader, but Pittsburgh and Columbus are right on their heels. Through Wednesday, the Caps still lead the league with 102 points and a whopping +71 point differential.
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The Capitals have slowed down some since the acquisition of Kevin Shattenkirk, going 5-4-1 in their last ten. But games against the Caps are never easy for the Rangers and I don’t expect this one to be any different.
The final road game is an April 8th test against the Ottawa Senators, their possible first round playoff opponent. Montréal would need to stumble a bit, but it could happen.
Ottawa will be jockeying for position and both teams will want to finish the season strong. It’s likely that the game will mean little to the Rangers in the standings, but I still expect another tight one.
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The Rangers have struggled at the Garden this season, but have been dominant on the road. With a tough West Coast swing and then two road games against top Eastern Conference foes, the Rangers are unlikely to win all five and tie the record for the most road wins in a season. But their dominance on the road is a hopeful sign for the playoffs.