How the New York Rangers can stack up wins following the All-Star break
After an eight-day hiatus, the New York Rangers are back playing meaningful hockey games, and on Monday, they face one of the best teams in the NHL in the Colorado Avalanche. New York's slate this week is a tough one, starting with the Avalanche, and then playing the surging Tampa Bay Lightning before heading to Chicago to play the Blackhawks on Friday night.
Before the NHL All-Star break, New York was slumping; in January, they had a record of 5-7-2 and saw their lead on the Metropolitan Division slip. Going into Monday's action, the Rangers are only two points up on the Carolina Hurricanes.
As it seems to be every year, every game will matter for teams as they vy for playoff position, home-ice and the opportunity to be playing meaningful hockey games come the end of the season. For the Rangers, it starts with getting back to winning ways. Here's what needs to happen for New York to take the next step this month.
Igor Shesterkin rediscovers his form
This has been the case for the Rangers ever since Shesterkin made his debut four years ago against the Avalance: when he is playing well, New York has a chance to win every single night. Everyone knows what he is capable of and he still holds the title of one of the best goaltenders in the league.
Before the break, Shesterkin was slumping and currently has the lowest save percentage of his career at .899, and his GAA of 2.86 is also the highest of his career.
The Rangers' success in the second half starts with Shesterkin, as if he is able to play better on a nightly basis New York will have a chance to win every single game. If not, they are going to have to rely on other pieces to get the job done.
Zibanejad and Kreider perform better at even strength
One of the major storylines of the first half of the season for New York was Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider's play at 5v5. For some games, they have failed to have offensive production at even strength, regardless of who was right wing.
There's no doubt that Zibanejad and Kreider are part of the engine that keeps New York going, and both have to become consistent threats at even strength. While both are weapons on the power play, New York cannot rely on the man-advantage or one line -- such as Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere -- to carry the load at 5v5.
Expect Blake Wheeler to be the top-six right wing on the Kreider-Zibanejad line for the next few games, but there is also speculation that Chris Drury will make a trade for a right winger. No matter what happens, the goal is to get 20 and 93 going. If they are able to pick it up at even strength while also continuing to produce on the power play: watch out.
Artemi Panarin continues to do everything right
At the start of the season, not many expected the Rangers to be leading the Metropolitan Division after one half, and the reason New York is in this position is because of Artemi Panarin. Panarin is playing at a Hart Trophy-like pace and has 66 points already.
Panarin has also made his two linemates, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere, exponentially better. Trocheck was just in Toronto for the All-Star game, his first time as a Ranger and second in his career, and Lafreniere leads the Rangers in scoring opportunities and looks leaps and bounds better than he did just a few years ago. It starts with these two at even strength, but Panarin does it all -- he is also tied for the team lead in power play goals with 9.
If any doubts were going into this season, Panarin has proven he is one of the best players in the NHL. The Rangers will go as far as he goes, and if he continues to make the team better, New York will continue to excel. Moreover, if Panarin keeps this up, expect his name to be thrown around in the Hart conversation.
The second half is here
While January did not go the way the Rangers or their fans wanted, they still sit in a prime position at first in the Metropolitan Division. But, as the Rangers know and players have stated over the past few years, getting into the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the primary goal.
In a division as competitive as the Metropolitan, every game is going to matter, and if the Rangers are going to stay at the top and become a true contender in the East, they need these three things to happen, along with some other unexpected catalysts. New York has the pieces to go on a run, but it still is unknown how far they can go.
We're about to find out a lot about the Blueshirts starting Monday. Buckle up.