New York Rangers vs. Canadiens: Possible First-Round Playoff Meeting
It’s hard to believe that the NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone. Up next, the run to make the postseason and fight for the Stanley Cup.
For the second time in a week and a half, the New York Rangers will play host to the Montreal Canadiens. If the standings remain the way the are now, Saturday’s game could be a first-round playoff preview.
Both teams were somewhat quiet during the Trade Deadline. Making small trades, but nothing that would drastically change either lineup. The biggest concern for the Rangers is the injuries to Jesper Fast, Dan Girardi, and Kevin Klein.
Both the Canadiens and the Rangers success for the rest of the season, and throughout the playoffs, falls on the play of their goaltenders. The two teams boast two of the best in the league, Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist.
Lundqvist, who struggled for a majority of the season, has seemed to be finding his game as of late. He looked back to Lundqvist form while keeping the Rangers in the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs a few weeks back.
Price, won the Vezina, Hart, Ted Lindsay, and the William M. Jenning trophies in 2015, has been the heart and soul of the Canadiens. Despite an injured 2015-16 season, Price started this season right where he left off, unbeatable.
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Playoff Standings
As of this writing, the Rangers are in the first wild card spot with 82 points.
One of the reasons the Rangers are in the wild card spot is the Division they play in. The Metropolitan Division will make up a majority of the Eastern Conference bracket. With the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets making up spots one, two and three. With the Rangers not far behind.
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In the Atlantic Division, the Canadiens are in first place with 78 points, with the Ottawa Senators not far behind with 72, as of this writing.
It would be smart of the Rangers to stay where they are in the standings. If they do, they will face the Atlantic Division winner, then, if they win, re-seeded with the Atlantic. Not that that would be a cake walk, but it would be easier than the Metropolitan.
As mentioned earlier, if the standings were to remain the same, the Rangers and Canadiens would face off in the first round. Despite having the more points, the Rangers would be the away team.
Being the away team is no problem for the Rangers, the team has been consistent on the road this season. Yet the Bell Centre hasn’t always been so friendly to this team.
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Last Playoff Meeting
If the two teams do meet in the first-round, it will be the first time since 2014 they play in the playoffs. As for the drama, well, some still complain about the Chris Kreider “taking’ out Price in Game One costing him the series. So there would be no surprise if the games were extremely physical.
Next: New York Rangers Trade Deadline Breakdown
As for Saturday, with some new additions the game should have all the makings of a classic. However, both teams must play to their full potential.