The New York Rangers are 2-0-2 so far in December, and they have beaten some good hockey teams lately. New York has scored wins over the Dallas Stars and Ottawa Senators, two teams that figure to be in playoff contention, while they also picked up bonus points against the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights.
This successful stretch of games means the Blueshirts have proven they can hang with anyone, despite their turbulent start to the season. As of Tuesday, The Rangers have a 15-12-4 record, with 34 points. That's good enough for a wild card slot at this point in the season, but the Rangers now have a golden opportunity to get back on track and catapult their way into the Metropolitan Division's top three.
Between Dec. 10 and Dec. 21, they will face the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators. That is more than a manageable stretch of games, and one in which the only surefire playoff contender is Anaheim, and even they are a relatively young team.
New York Rangers can take advantage of an easy upcoming schedule to right their season
The Blackhawks are a better team than last year, but they are coming off one of their worst stretches in team history, getting outscored 13-1 in their last two contests. If the Hawks are still out of sync on Wednesday, the Rangers should easily take this game if they can build on the momentum of their last four contests.
Like Chicago, the Canadiens are also better this season, and looked like they were on the verge of joining the NHL's elite. But injuries and bad goaltending have held them back, and there's a good chance they'll still be an ailing bunch when they play the Rangers.
The Ducks are the toughest team on this slate. Anaheim is currently leading the Pacific, and it won't be easy to beat thanks to what has become a resurgent season for the Ducks. But the Vancouver Canucks are getting worse as 2025-26 wears on and currently reside in the Pacific Division's basement. Vancouver's players have little to play for, especially since there could be a looming fire sale in British Columbia.
Then, there are the Blues, one team that has dramatically underperformed following a surprise playoff appearance. St. Louis ranks near the bottom of the league in scoring and goaltending, and injuries to key players haven't helped.
The Flyers have outplayed expectations so far, but they are still having a tough time finding consistency when they have the puck. And finally, there are the aging Nashville Predators, who are last in the Central Division and also struggling to put up consistent numbers when they have the puck.
The Rangers can't afford to waste this opportunity
This is the Rangers' chance to approach midseason as a contender for a top-three spot in the Metropolitan if they take advantage of this stretch of games. Games against weaker opponents also serve as major confidence-boosters if stronger teams like the Rangers can capitalize on those opportunities.
One thing they can't let happen is to fall into a trap and play down to any of the teams listed above. If they do, and end up with a mediocre 0.500 points percentage across this stretch, then chances are they'll end up playing for a wild card spot.
The Rangers must take this stretch one game at a time, avoid looking ahead, and build the consistency they have lacked since winning the Presidents' Trophy following the 2023-24 season. Great teams don't let opportunities like a weak stretch of opponents go to waste, so this is a moment of truth for the Rangers.