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Some new respect for the Rangers in the latest power rankings

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: The New York Rangers celebrate the win over the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2021 in New York City. The New York Rangers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: The New York Rangers celebrate the win over the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2021 in New York City. The New York Rangers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawksat Madison Square Garden on December 04, 2021 in New York City. The New York Rangers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawksat Madison Square Garden on December 04, 2021 in New York City. The New York Rangers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Our rankings

Okay, this is Blue Line Station and we are Ranger fans, but it is not farfetched to rank the Rangers as the top team in the league right now.  Here’s why:

  • They have the best points percentage in the NHL.
  • They have lost only one game in regulation at home.
  • They have won nine games on the road, behind only Calgary and Carolina and their road point percentage (.714) is better than Calgary’s (.686).
  • Their four losses have to come teams in top eight in points percentage (Calgary, Washington and Toronto).  Minnesota has lost to Seattle, Nashville and San Jose, all teams that the Rangers have beaten.
  • The Rangers, along with Edmonton and Calgary, are the only top ranked teams in the top ten in both power play and penalty killing percentage.
  • The Rangers have gotten points in 11 of their last 12 games and in 17 of their last 19 games.  None of the contenders can top that.

Based on some overwhelming evidence, it’s a no-brainer, the Rangers are the number one team in the league right now.

The real test will come when the Rangers play some of the other top teams in the league. They have yet to see Carolina, Tampa or Minnesota.  They lost their only game to Washington and both games to Calgary. They beat Florida,split with Toronto and lost in OT to the Oilers.

The Rangers play Colorado twice in December and will also play Florida, Tampa and Vegas so we will know more when 2022 rolls around.   In the meantime, enjoy the ride and the heck with some of those so called experts.

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