It was a frustrating weekend for the New York Rangers. Right out of the 4 Nations Faceoff break, New York had two opportunities against bottom Eastern Conference teams in the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, and it was dominated in both games. On Sunday, the Rangers were lucky to escape with a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh in a game where they were outshot 39 to 16.
Next up is another playoff contender and arch rival, the New York Islanders. The Islanders (25-24-7) have lost four out of five games and sit three points behind the Blueshirts. For both teams, there will be a lot of desparation in what will be their first of three matchups down the stretch.
Here are three storylines to follow if the Rangers are going to go on a run.
1. Can Igor Shesterkin win the Rangers more games?
Before Sunday's matchup against Pittsburgh, Shesterkin was 1-5-0 with a GAA over 4.00 and a save percentage under .900 in his last six starts. But, against the Penguins, he had 36 saves on 39 shots.
Shesterkin kept the Rangers in the game, especially in the second period when all the play was in New York's defensive zone. While the Rangers did not have a shot until less than five minutes to go in the second, they were able to win the period 1-0 due to Shesterkin's heroics.
Down the stretch, Shesterkin is going to need to win the Rangers more games. Against all other wild card teams, he provides a significant goaltending advantage. But, the 29-year-old needs to find his elite consistency night in and night out.
2. Can J.T. Miller make the Rangers tougher to play against?
For the majority of both games, Buffalo and Pittsburgh outplayed and bullied the Rangers, and if this is the case against bottom competition, why should people have belief about the Blueshirts?
The Rangers core needed a shakeup, especially after losing two harder-nosed players in Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow, and it came through J.T. Miller. Miller had two goals in Sunday's win and has eight points in seven games.
Miller is known for being this hard-nosed player that will bring his teammates into battle. He led the team in hits on Sunday and provides the toughness the Rangers need. But, other members need to live up to this as well.
The 31-year-old is a superstar and one of the premium centers in the NHL, and he'll make an impact for New York on and off the ice.
3. Can the Rangers core wake up?
It's been a storyline the entire season and it's absolutely one to follow every game. Most of the Rangers core has not performed well this season. Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Adam Fox, Alexis Lafreniere, Artemi Panarin and others have all slumped at some point in the season. This is vastly different from what we saw in New York's Presidents' Trophy campaign.
The Rangers are going to go as far as their core takes them, plain and simple. Miller is a great addition, but he can't be the only one.
These players need to care and take a step forward. It's on this core, who has been together for north of five years, to make it happen.