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New York Rangers: Five things the Rangers need to go their way

By Nicholas Zararis

VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 9: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 9, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 9: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 9, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 18: New York Rangers Goalie Ondrej Pavelec (31) in goal during player warm-up prior to the start of a pre-season NHL game between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers on September 18, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 18: New York Rangers Goalie Ondrej Pavelec (31) in goal during player warm-up prior to the start of a pre-season NHL game between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers on September 18, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Ondrej Pavelec is passable-

The Rangers superb backup play has spoiled the team the past several seasons. Both Cam Talbot and Antti Raanta have moved onto greener pastures as NHL starters.

Enter Ondrej Pavelec, a borderline NHL goalie who’s struggled to maintain a 900 career save percentage. Last season got ugly for the Czech goalie in Winnipeg, in eight games last season he had an .888 save percentage.

Since Henrik Lundqvist is no longer a spring chicken, Pavelec will have to play at minimum 25 games this season for the Rangers. In a hyper competitive Metropolitan division a backup goalie who’s under 500 could be the difference between a playoff birth and watching the playoffs on the couch.

Benoit Allaire, the Rangers goaltending coach, and certified goalie whisperer will need to work his magic on Pavelec. At age 35, Henrik Lundqvist playing more than 65 regular season games would be a kiss of death for post season success.

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