The New York Rangers returned a familiar face this week to help bring themselves back into the playoff hunt. But, there were some growing pains losing to the Bruins on Saturday, 6-3.
If this team wants to try and make this drama-filled, roller coaster of a season into a successful one, some players need to step it up this month. If not, they will continue to plummet down the wildcard standings.
Let’s see who needs to make an impact this month.
J.T. Miller
We wanted him, and we got him. Now, let’s see if it was worth giving up a fan-favorite and a first-round selection for him.
J.T. Miller made an immediate impact in Saturday’s matinee against Boston. He scored two goals in his re-debut, although it wasn’t enough.
He got off to a good start, but can he keep up the consistency? That is why he was brought over to the Rangers, as he has shown over the past couple of years in Vancouver, he can be a reliable center man that puts up points. That is a desperate need for the Rangers as their once dependable center, Mika Zibanejad, is having a rough go at it this year.
Miller will be a crucial part of this team for not only February but the rest of the year and beyond.
Mika Zibanejad
Speaking of Zibanejad, we are approaching his magical month of the year. It is not yet “Mika March”, but perhaps he can get that mantra going a little early this season.
He has only scored a single goal over his last 13 games, which is not ideal for someone who has regularly been a top-tier goal scorer. The month of February has not been too shabby for Zibanejad, but it pales in comparison to March. In February he scored 48 goals and added 55 assists in 139 games, and in March he has 68 goals and 73 assists in 170 games.
At -26, only having nine goals on the year and using him as a revolving door in terms of what line he is centering has been devastating for Zibanejad in 2024-25. If anyone needs to play better in February, it is #93.
Igor Shesterkin
The Rangers are only as good as their goaltender. Igor Shesterkin had been on a great stretch about two weeks ago, going 6-0-1 before losing the last three games against Colorado, Carolina, and then Boston on Saturday. Even worse, the last three losses conceded 14 goals.
It has been like that all season for Shesterkin, as he goes on stretches of good and bad. But, that is not a recipe for a winning team and a team that is fighting for a playoff spot in February. With around two months to go, every game counts.
That said, Shesterkin has to have a solid month. The Rangers are doing what they can to add goal scorers, but that doesn’t do them any good when the goaltender is not keeping them in the game. That is why Shesterkin has to step it up this month.