New York Rangers: Predicting week-by-week record going forward
The New York Rangers have a very difficult schedule over the season’s remaining weeks. Let’s take a look at what their record could look like by season’s end.
Only four more weeks until the New York Rangers’ nightmare of a season is over. Over those four weeks, the team will play 13 games, nine are against teams currently in a playoff spot. Two of the other three are against the Carolina Hurricanes who are only five points out of the East’s last spot. 10 of the 13 are against Metropolitan Division teams and four of the 13 are against teams currently fighting for their divisions top seed (including three that are currently in it).
With that in mind, it appears that the Blueshirts won’t win many more games this season, thus (hopefully) ending the Alain Vigneault era on a extended losing skid.
Let’s take a look at each of the season’s remaining weeks and see how many wins the Rangers are realistically looking at going forward. Obviously anything can happen in any given game, but this is just an exercise in fun! (Or misery…).
March 11-17
In this stretch, the New York Rangers will face the Carolina Hurricanes, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the St. Louis Blues.
This week might be the most prosperous week remaining for the Rangers.
Let’s start with the Carolina game. The Rangers have won both matchups with Carolina so far this season. However, they have lost three of their last four to the Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden. The Hurricanes are playing desperate hockey as they find themselves in the eye of the playoff race. With that said, they have been struggling lately, posting a 3-5-2 record over their last 10. The Hurricanes are one of the best puck possession teams in the league, though, and that should give the Rangers some trouble.
Prediction: L
Next, the Rangers will face the Pittsburgh Penguins on NBCSN. No analysis is needed on this one, right?
Prediction: L
After that quick two-game homestand, the Blueshirts will travel to St. Louis to play the Blues. While they are still in the playoff race, they traded one of their best forwards in Paul Stastny to the Jets and have been reeling since. They defeated the Rangers at the Garden in October and they have a 20-14 record at home, but they have also dropped nine of their last 10. It is very likely that Blues free fall catches the Rangers on a good day, despite their record on the road. The Rangers could likely take their last contest against a Western Conference opponent this season.
Prediction: W
March 18-24
This week sees the Rangers play the Blue Jackets, Flyers, and Sabres.
The Blue Jackets are hot, winning four straight and seven of their last 10. John Tortorella has his squad playing playoff hockey as his new roster additions such as Thomas Vanek, Mark Letestu and Ian Cole get adjusted to a new system. The Blue Jackets haven’t seen the Rangers since November when they were a much different team. The Rangers are 1-2 in those games, and despite Columbus’ poor road record, will soon become 1-3.
Prediction: L
The Flyers are an extremely confusing team. Their top guns have played well all season while they have struggled to get production from their bottom two lines. They also are the team that goes on a 10 game winning streak and then goes on a massive losing streak thereafter, like the one they are currently riding. I think it will be a close game, but the Rangers road record is awful and the Flyers will need this one.
Prediction: L
Now this is a game that the Rangers should win. The Sabres are the worst team in the Eastern Conference this season. However, they have given the Rangers problems in their two meetings this season. The Rangers defeated them in both meetings, including the Winter Classic, despite getting shellacked in almost every stat in both games. The Sabres have gone 5-5 over their last 10 and are looking better. However, the Rangers should get the benefit of the doubt here. With that said, it wouldn’t be shocking if they lost this one.
Prediction: W
March 25-31
This week, the Rangers will play the Capitals (twice), the Lightning and the Hurricanes. It will most likely be the hardest week of the season.
The Rangers and Capitals have only faced off twice to date this season. The Caps won the first one at home and the Rangers won a 1-0 game in a shootout. The Capitals are a point out of first place with a game in hand on Pittsburgh. They will be very hungry for a victory and studs like Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie should dominate a young Rangers defense. These games could get ugly.
Predictions: L, L
Next is the game we’ve all been waiting for. Ryan McDonagh (and J.T. Miller) return to New York with the Lightning. If Thursday night’s affair in Tampa was any indicator of how this game is gonna go, it’s gonna be ugly from the get-go.
Prediction: L
The Hurricanes could pose some problems for the Rangers as mentioned above but the Rangers dominate in Carolina. The Rangers have won 15 of their last 16 in Raleigh. They could continue to build on that streak.
Prediction: W
April 1-7
The Rangers end the season against three hated rivals, all on the road.
Their first stop is in Jersey against Michael Grabner and the Devils. The Devils have been slumping of late, only winning four of their last 10 games. At the time of this writing, the Devils are three games up on the Panthers for the final wild card slot in the East. The Panthers have three games in hand, though, so the Devils need to really buckle down and win some games if they want to make the playoffs. They will get a great opportunity for two points against the Rangers. I expect them to win, but the Rangers could find motivation in knocking the Devils out of the playoff race and come ready to play.
Prediction: L
The Islanders have won 10 of their past 12 against the Rangers and the Blueshirts have never won at Barclays Center, going 0-4-1 in the few games they’ve played at that dreadful arena. This one will most certainly be a loss, although, the Islanders are bad too.
Prediction: L
The last game of the season is in Philly. The Flyers could very well have clinched a playoff spot at that point. They could also still be in the thick of the playoff race. If they are fighting for a playoff spot, expect them to win. If they have already clinched and have nothing to play for, then that would make two teams here. I think the Rangers will find a way to win if the Flyers already clinched.