Analysis

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 04: Adam McQuaid #54 and Brady Skjei #76 of the New York Rangers confer before a faceoff against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at the Pepsi Center on January 04, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

New York Rangers: Playoff Picture/Lottery Look for Saturday, January 5

New York Rangers taken ten penalties and are thrashed 6-1 by the Colorado Avalanche

New York Rangers: Lundqvist out, Georgiev in as three game road trip starts versus Colorado Avalanche

New York Rangers Playoff Picture/Lottery Look for Friday, January 4

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: Members of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after a goal in the second period against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers thoroughly outplayed in a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins

VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 30: Vitali Kravtsov #14 of Russia celebrates with teammates Dmitri Samorukov #5 and Alexander Romanov #26 after scoring a goal against Switzerland in Group A hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship action on December, 30, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

Playoff Picture/Lottery Look/WJC update for Tuesday, January 1, 2019

ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 31: New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues during a stoppage in play at Enterprise Center on December 31, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers steal their second win in a row vs. the St. Louis Blues 2-1

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 04: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 4, 2018 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 3-1. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers: What can be learned from the Buffalo Sabres?

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers skates past Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Nashville Predators for a breakaway chance during the second period at Bridgestone Arena on December 29, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

Playoff Picture/Lottery Look for New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 29: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal with Mika Zibanejad #93 against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on December 29, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers come from behind to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 (in regulation no less)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 29: The New York Rangers shake hands with the Tampa Bay Lightning after the Lighting defeated the Ranges by a score of 2-0 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

New York Rangers Playoff Picture/Lottery Look for Saturday, December 29

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 18: The New York Rangers celebrate after defeating the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 at Madison Square Garden on December 18, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers: How many roster spots will be open next season?

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: The Columbus Blue Jackets celebrate an overtime win against Henrik Lundqvist #30 and the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

Another blown lead, another overtime loss as Columbus beats the New York Rangers 4-3

BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 26: Chris Kreider #15 of USA carrirs the puck during the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship Group A game between USA and Finland on December 26, 2010 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

New York Rangers: Former prospect performance at WJC

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 23: Adam McQuaid #54 of the New York Rangers knocks down Jakub Voracek #93 of the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on December 23, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers lose to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in a game they should have won

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: A general view of the New York Rangers draft table is seen during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers: Taking a look at their draft record and thoughts about the future

SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 8: Vladislav Namestnikov #90 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on December 8, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers playoff picture (it’s not that bad)

MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 1: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on December 1, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers: Comparing Scoring Distribution to the Top Teams

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 6: Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers prepares for a face-off against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on October 6, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers: How much should Kevin Hayes get paid?

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 6: Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers prepares for a face-off against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on October 6, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images)

Who has better trade deadline assets than the New York Rangers?

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 17: New York Rangers Left Wing Chris Kreider (20) works the puck through the neutral zone during the first period of a regular season NHL game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers on November 17, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

New York Rangers: Expectations for a crucial weekend

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: Matt Beleskey #39 of the New York Rangers skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers shut out the Rangers 5-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Matt Beleskey’s odd journey to the New York Rangers

TORONTO, ON- William Nylander's new contract has been signed and he looked happy about it.(Rene Johnston/Toronto Star) (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

New York Rangers: What can be learned from the William Nylander situation

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 23: Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers battles for the puck under goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers with Tony DeAngelo #77 on November 23, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Just how lucky are the New York Rangers this season?

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers stretches during warmups before the game against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on November 24, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers roster moves: Tokarski up, Georgiev, Lettieri & Beleskey down

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 Rangers: Ranking the Metropolitan Division

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 Rangers: How many goals does it take to make the playoffs?

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 06: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against Charles Hudon #54 of the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden on November 6, 2018 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 5-3. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

New York Rangers: Mika Zibanejad proving consistent as top center