New York Rangers: Comparing starting slumps, 2013-14 vs today

Scary Month of October

As Yogi Berra once said, “It gets late early”. A 2-5-2 stretch at any point during a season seems like it isn’t a death sentence. However, there is evidence that it just may be, when it comes at the beginning of a season.

As it is often referenced around this time of year, back in that same 2013 Elliotte Friedman noted that:

"Just three of 32 NHL teams at least four points out of a playoff spot on Nov. 1 recovered to make the playoffs from 2005-06 to 2011-12"

Since then, from 2013-14 through 2016-17, only the Philadelphia Flyers in 2013-14, and Anaheim Ducks in 2015-16 have made the cut.

In 2013-14, the Rangers ended October with a 5-7-0 record. However, owing to a similarly mediocre Metropolitan Division, the Rangers were only one point out of a playoff spot.

Currently, the Rangers’ six points leaves them three points back of the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings currently hold the second Eastern Conference Wild Card spot.

Despite their slow start, we know what happened to the 2013-14 team. For the rest of the year, the team compiled a 40-24-6 record. That vaulted them to second in the Metropolitan Division.

This season looks more dangerous.

Even if the Red Wings go .500 to finish October, their 16 points would require the Rangers to gain seven more points over the next four games.

That doesn’t mean that the Rangers couldn’t be the exception to the rule if that doesn’t happen. However, either way, the team has a tall task in front of them.