Why the New York Rangers are a team to be feared when play resumes
By Steve Paulus
Offense
The Rangers have one of the best offenses in the NHL. They score goals in bushels and have the firepower spread over two forward lines, making them a challenge for any NHL team. The Rangers average 3.33 goals per game, good for fifth best in the NHL. They have accomplished that despite sitting at 19th place overall in the NHL in shots taken per game (31.1). They have the seventh best power play in the league, successful 22.9% of the time.
With Chris Kreider recovered from his broken foot, the Rangers will have two fully healthy and powerful forward lines. Mika Zibanejad was the hottest goal scorer in the NHL when play was suspended and there is no reason to believe that he won’t pick up where he left off. With a healthy Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich the team’s top line is formidable.
Artemi Panarin, Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast will be waiting in the wings when the KBZ line leaves the ice and there’s no reason to believe that Panarin’s Hart Trophy season won’t continue.
Can Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko and Brett Howden gel and contribute in the playoffs? Don’t forget what Kakko did for Team Finland at the World Championships a year ago. As an 18-year old playing with some of the best pro hockey players he scored six goals in 10 games.
The fourth line has the potential to do well, led by Greg McKegg who stood out in the playoffs last year for Carolina. As a whole, the forwards have been bolstered by the additions of Julien Gauthier and Phil Di Giuseppe and this Ranger team is deeper than you may think.