The New York Rangers entered Friday coming off of a huge win over the Carolina Hurricanes, a team sitting in one of the top spots in the Metropolitan Division. Even though the Rangers sit near the bottom of the division, they are still in the thick of what is a crowded playoff picture. If they stack win, especially when the matchups are favorable, they can climb back up the standings.
On Friday, the Rangers were on the road to take on the Boston Bruins. Before the game started, the Rangers had an immediate advantage, as the Bruins were without top forwards David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha due to injury. Not to mention that top defenseman Charlie McAvoy is on the injured reserve after undergoing facial surgery. Given that, this was a game that the Rangers needed to win.
And the Rangers did just that, as they won 6-2. The Rangers took a 4-0 lead at the end of the second period behind two power play goals by Mika Zibanejad. The Bruins did make things interesting in the third period, cutting the Rangers' lead to 4-2 behind goals by Casey Mittlestadt and Morgan Geekie. But an empty net goal by Aleis Lafreniere and a quick score from Vladislav Gavrikov less than a minute later clinched the victory.
The Rangers can celebrate, as they are now set to begin a brutal schedule in the next couple of weeks.
Rangers pick up much-needed win before brutal schedule begins
To say that the Rangers schedule is tough is a massive understatement.
First up for the Rangers are the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that has a decent first place lead in the Atlantic Division. The Rangers did pick up a 7-3 win back on Nov. 12, but the Lightning showed they could cut into an opponent's lead with ease.
Next Tuesday, the Rangers face a Dallas Stars team that is not only one of the best in hockey, but also one of the best road teams. The Stars are 9-1-3 in away games, and are entering Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers struggle (2-7-1). Following that up is a road matchup on Thursday against an Ottawa Senators team that just got back star Brady Tkachuk after an early-season injury.
On Dec. 6, the Rangers once again face the best team in hockey, the Colorado Avalanche. The Rangers seemingly were giving them a fight on Nov. 20, where they took a 3-2 lead over Colorado, before they surrendered four unanswered goals to lose 6-3. The team can score at will, and their goaltending tandem of ex-New Jersey Devils Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood is virtually unbeatable. Oh, and one day later, they face the Vegas Golden Knights, who have all the star power to be a major threat to any opponent.
Their following three games will be against the upstart Chicago Blackhawks, a game Montreal Canadiens team, and the Anaheim Ducks, starring former Rangers Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba.
Picking up a win in Boston on Friday was much-needed considering the gauntlet they have coming up. The more losses they pile up, the further they'd fall out of the playoff picture. For now, it seems as though the Rangers are in decent shape after two big wins following a four-game losing streak. Now, let's see if they keep it up.