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The Rangers and the playoffs: Go for it

By Curtis Jetter

Artemi Panarin #10, Marc Staal #18, Brett Howden #21, Ryan Strome #16 and Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers celebrate after a goal during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on December 31, 2019, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
Artemi Panarin #10, Marc Staal #18, Brett Howden #21, Ryan Strome #16 and Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers celebrate after a goal during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on December 31, 2019, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 06: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes the second period save against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on November 06, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Red Wings 5-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 06: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes the second period save against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on November 06, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Red Wings 5-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Long live the King

Whatever your thoughts are about Henrik Lundqvist and the three-headed goalie monster currently in play, the King will be here for as long as he wants to be here. The Ranger organization is well aware of that, and knowing that they have played the season perfectly to this point, setting up the King for another chance to claim his throne or step aside gracefully.

The first half of the season saw the Rangers playing well enough to be in the playoff hunt.  The team also banked some high quality wins against some of the elite teams in the league.  This had to be encouraging to team leadership, so why not set the team up to be in the best position possible to make a playoff push during the second half of the season.

That would mean a well rested Hank.

Look at the way the schedule sets up for the team.  A nine-day layoff just before they really need to make the tough decisions.  Management had to see this break as the tipping point. If the team was in contention at the halfway point, that nine-day rest period could really be used as a springboard toward the playoffs.  How?  By giving Lundqvist a minimal workload so he is as fresh as possible for the playoff push.

This little sabbatical would also give the team a chance to showcase Georgiev and get more than just a passing look at Igor Shesterkin. But this whole three goalie thing is less about Georgie and Shesterkin than it is about Hank and setting him up to be the King once again.

Hank has a history of coming out of the gate fast and fading as the season went on.  So why not just re-set, and essentially start his season over at the end of January and allow him to be at his best for the playoff run.

If heavy lies the crown, then that too answers so many questions for the team. It may even answer some questions for Henrik himself.

Lundqvist has barely played in over a month, he’s primed and ready to go.  The Rangers will give him this last chance to carry the team to the playoffs.  He deserves the chance, and the outcome will bring with it a clearer vision for next season.

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