Blue Line Station
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Rangers looking to get back in the win column against San Jose

By Anthony Tornatore Jr

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on December 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on December 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 08: The New York Rangers stand at attention during the national anthem prior to a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on December 08, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 08: The New York Rangers stand at attention during the national anthem prior to a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on December 08, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /

About the Rangers

The New York Rangers are in the middle of the pack when it comes to everything in the NHL. When it comes to comparing the Rangers with the NHL league average, they are spot on in goals for and goals allowed, as well as, points and power play goals. They have been mediocre and inconsistent at best this season. The Blueshirts only have three players with 20 or more points and are led by Panarin and his 37 points on the season so far. The next closest is Ryan Strome with 26. The recent play of the Blueshirts has just been hit or miss. Unfortunately, Tuesday night was a miss against the Kings.

Rookie sensation Kaapo Kakko is finally starting to make the most out of his playing time and is easily on the verge of breaking out any day now. Kakko’s eight shots on goal against the Kings were the most by an 18-year-old in one game in franchise history. He also became the first Rangers rookie to record at least eight shots on a goal in one game since Brandon Dubinsky on March 25, 2008. It is just a matter of time before Kakko heats up and gets on a role.

New York Rangers Right Wing Kaapo Kakko
New York Rangers Right Wing Kaapo Kakko /

The bright side for the Rangers this year seems to be on the power play, whether having the one man advantage or not. They are tied for eighth in the NHL with 22 power play goals and are tied for the league lead with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Ottawa Senators with six shorthanded goals. The Blueshirts are also tied for third in the NHL with only allowing one shorthanded goal. The Rangers obviously seem to play their best hockey when their, or their opponents, backs are against the wall.

Defensively, the Rangers are looking for Marc Staal to get back into mid-season form. In his three games back after having surgery on his ankle to cure an infection, Staal has tallied just one point, and with the struggling Jacob Trouba, they really need him to get back and be the leader he was before his injury. Trouba has been extremely disappointing so far this year, only tallying 17 points, with five of those being goals. Once the Rangers defensemen are all on the same page, they will be lethal, especially adding Tony DeAngelo, Adam Fox and Brady Skjei to the mix.

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