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New York Rangers: Ranking the Metropolitan Division

By Michael Delasandro

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 26: Rangers fans and players celebrate goal during the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers NHL game on November 26, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 26: Rangers fans and players celebrate goal during the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers NHL game on November 26, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 23: Scott Laughton #21 of the Philadelphia Flyers faces-off against Brett Howden #21 of the New York Rangers on November 23, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 23: Scott Laughton #21 of the Philadelphia Flyers faces-off against Brett Howden #21 of the New York Rangers on November 23, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Bad

The Metropolitan was once flooded with talent, brimming with at least six playoff worthy teams. However, this season that concept will very likely not stand true.

In the Metro, there are three teams that are more than likely not going to finish in the top 10 of the Eastern Conference:

Both the Flyers and the Penguins face a terrible dilemma allowing over 80 goals this season. The Penguins sit at a record of 10-9-4 seemingly due to their innate goal scoring ability. Three players on the Penguins have more than a point per game, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel.  The Flyers have a record of 10-12-2 and unfortunately, they do not have the scoring prowess of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Only boasting one player with more than a point per game, captain Claude Giroux. Both teams have a very big need for defense, much like the Rangers.

Both are also dealing with injuries in the crease.  The Flyers and Penguins lost respective goaltenders Brian Elliot and Matt Murray to injury in November. The Devils also are fighting a goal deficit, with a goal differential of  -11.  The Devils have a little more top line scoring than the Flyers in Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri, however, after that the depth thins out considerably. Backup goaltender Cory Schneider has a staggering record of 0-5 and a goals against average above 4.5.

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