New York Rangers look good as they go 2-1 on difficult Western Conference road trip

Your New York Rangers took five possible six points from that road trip. They beat the Vegas Golden Knights and the Utah Hockey Club but lost to the Colorado Avalanche in overtime. Where this team was a few weeks ago is a massive improvement in the form of this franchise. If the Rangers are going to remember that they're supposed to be a Stanley Cup contender, this franchise can contend. However, they need to keep this going.

Peter Laviolette shared in his postgame thoughts after last night's defeat that the New York Rangers were still disappointed with the loss in Colorado that was so avoidable. They were disappointed they didn't take all six points on this daunting road trip against some of the Western Conference's best teams. While Utah admittedly wasn't one of them, the Blueshirts got revenge for the defeat earlier in the season and continue to show signs of a return to the mean for this franchise.

In Colorado, the Rangers got Filip Chytil and Chris Kreider back from injury. In Utah, Arthur Kaliyev showed a flash of the talent within him if Peter Laviolette can unlock him. In Las Vegas, the Rangers won big, and Igor Shesterkin showed the world why he is the highest-paid netminder in the NHL. Every game offered positives for this roster, and the franchise continues to take steps forward.

Since the turn of the year, the New York Rangers have been 5-1-2. They're looking like the team we all expected them to be at the beginning of the year. It was a difficult few weeks at the end of November and through December, but if the Blueshirts have turned the corner and are on the road back to the status they held at the beginning of the season, there will be a chance for them to compete for the Stanley Cup.