Hello all you passionate Rangers fans that are reading this! My name is Andrew Chelney, and this is a new weekly segment that I will be putting out every Saturday for the remaining duration of the regular season. I’ll discuss all upcoming Ranger games for the next 7 days, and talk about key points the Rangers must pay close attention to if they want to win. Without further ado, let’s get started:
1) 11/8: New York Rangers (6-4-2) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (6-5-1) : The Blueshirts are coming off a 4-3 OT win against the Detroit Red Wings on 11/5, while the Leafs are looking to bounce back after a 4-3 SO loss against the Colorado Avalanche on 11/6. Special teams are going to be a HUGE part of tonight’s matchup. The Rangers have converted only 14.3% (24th in the league) of the time on the powerplay so far; Toronto is far better, at 20.4% (11th). If the Rangers want to spark their special teams and silence the crowd, they’re going to have to figure out how to put the puck in the net while up a man. Toronto’s PK is also better than the Rangers, operating at 83.7% (T-11th), as opposed to the Blueshirts 79.5% (19th). Also, if the Rangers can defend well without taking too many penalties, they’ll most likely win the game. Derek Stepan is making his season debut tonight, but don’t expect him to put up a hat trick; playing his first game in a while,. it’ll take a few days for him to get his skating legs back. Cam Talbot is making his 3rd start of the season tonight, still searching for his first win, and I think he’ll get it when the final horn sounds. Keep a keen eye for players attacking Dion Phaneuf, since some of the players wearing white tonight didn’t forget the infamous hit the Leafs’ captain laid on Michael Sauer on 12/5/11, ending his career with a major concussion. If we can keep our cool, expect a positive outcome. I think a 4-1 victory could very well occur.
2) 11/9: Edmonton Oilers @ New York Rangers: The Oilers come to the Big Apple rested, beating the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on 11/7, while the Rangers travel from Toronto less than 24 hours after a game versus the Leafs to suit up at home. Henrik Lundqvist starts in goal after resting against the Leafs, so look for him to be sharp, especially in the early going. Edmonton is a speedy team, and with the depleted blue line, that could pose a challenge to the Rangers. Although the Blueshirts have found a way to get points in 7 of their last 8 games (as of before the NYR/TOR game), I think the streak continue against the Oilers, but we don’t acquire the full 2 points. Of course I totally expect the Rangers to go 82-0 every season, but from a realistic standpoint, even though the Oilers aren’t the best team in the NHL, their speed and quick breakouts might be too much to handle for the top 6. I forsee a 3-2 OT loss, but I hope I’m wrong and we end up on the winning side.
3) 11/11: Pittsburgh Penguins @ New York Rangers: This will be the first game in 3 days for the Penguins, after playing the Buffalo Sabres on 11/8. Barring movement from today until 72 hours from now, the Pens are the top team in the Metropolitan division and have the hottest powerplay in the league by far, at a scorching 37.3%. Their penalty isn’t too bad either, good for 5th in the NHL at 87.8%. If the Rangers want a shot at winning this game, they NEED to stay out of the penalty box. With a powerplay that has an almost 40% success rate, not letting Pittsburgh have the man-advantage is absolutely crucial. No retaliation, no one-too-many hits or stick lifts (which might result in a high stick if the player isn’t careful), and certainly no trips. If the Rangers can keep their cool and play carefully, they’ll earn a 4-2 victory. If not, the Penguins retaliate after a second-round collapse versus the Blueshirts and escape MSG with 2 points and a 5-2 win.
4) 11/13: Colorado Avalanche @ New York Rangers: The Avalanche make a pit stop on Broadway in the middle of their Eastern road trip. The Rangers haven’t traveled in the past 4 days, so in that retrospect they should be able to have their skating legs for puck drop. Colorado has been pretty shaky to start off the year, and these next few games can very well decide the placement of this young team in April, as farfetched as that sounds. Was last year a fluke? Judging by their start, it looks like it was, but it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish (prime example being the 2013-2014 New York Rangers). Colorado’s PP is tenths of a decimal better than the Rangers, but their PK is tremendously good, 2nd in the league at 91.5%. Their young guns mixed in with veteran wingers can be a problem for the Rangers, but if played smartly, I think the Rangers can end the game with a 3-0 win. Hopefully the Avs don’t suddenly catch fire as they tour the Eastern part of the US.
5) 11/15: New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins: 5 games in 7 days for the Blueshirts isn’t going to be easy. Fatigue might start kicking in, and even though they won’t have to travel too far, there’s still that jet lag factor that can throw them off their game ever so slightly. Notes are similar to the 11/11 matchup, and since the games are only 4 days apart, I don’t expect too much to change. 4-3 win for the Penguins if the Rangers have no discipline, 4-2 Rangers win if they can keep their cool.