Going into 2025, the New York Rangers were dead in the water. The Blueshirts were tied for last in the Metropolitan Division with 33 points, went 3-10-0 in the month of December and since November 19 were 4-15-0.
January Play
But, New York's play in January, where the Blueshirts are 8-2-3, have put them right back into the NHL playoff race. While the Rangers had their 10-game point streak ended on Sunday afternoon in a heartbreaking loss to the Colorado Avalanche, their play has made the team worth watching down the stretch.
During the 10-game point streak, which started on January 5 against the Chicago Blackhawks, New York went 7-0-3. The Rangers gained 17 out of a possible 20 points and clawed back up the Eastern Conference standings. Currently, New York is three points out of the second wild card spot, held by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Numbers such as wins and losses are key and at the end of the day, they are the only things that matter. The Rangers are producing results. But, there's more to take from this streak, which is the fact that New York is showing things that they haven't all season.
First, the Blueshirts are responding in both in-game and multi-game scenarios. Last season, where New York won the Presidents' Trophy, it led the NHL with 28 comeback wins. Whenever the Rangers were in a situation that seemed near impossible to overcome, they found a way back in. This was not only the case in the regular season, but the 2024 playoffs too. Chris Kreider's third period natural hat trick when the Rangers were down 3-1 in Carolina is something that will be remembered for a long time.
For the majority of the 2024-25 season, New York failed to throw punches back at teams that struck first. When the Rangers trailed in a game, instead of going on the front foot they stayed back, puck-watched and dug a bigger hole for themselves. Going into the new year, the Rangers did not have one third period comeback.
But, over the 10-game point streak, the Blueshirts showed the idea of "response" that they became so well known for over the past year. They fell behind against the Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers; they came back in all of them and took nine out of a potential 10 points when trailing.
Even in the regulation loss against Colorado on Sunday afternoon, the Rangers came back from both a 2-0 and 4-2 deficit. It embodies what they have done for the past few weeks and they almost pulled it off. If the Rangers are going to put themselves back in the playoff race, they're going to need more results like this.
Also, Igor Shesterkin enjoyed some of his best play of the season since returning from the injured reserve. Before the game against Colorado, Shesterkin was 7-0-1 with a 1.93 goals against average and .948 save percentage.
The biggest element of the Rangers' success is Shesterkin: if he is playing at the top of his game, the quality of play in front of him can be worse The Rangers win the goaltending advantage. This does not mean the Rangers can give up defensively when Shesterkin is playing well, but rather he one of the best options to fall back on.
Shesterkin will be key down the stretch and into the postseason, if the Rangers are able to make it. Compared to the other teams the Rangers are fighting for the two Wild Card spots - the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins, to name a few - they have a significant goaltending advantage. This is also why if the Rangers make the playoffs, teams won't want to play them — they have a goaltender who can singlehandedly steal a series.
Combine the element of response that New York has found with the elite goaltending that generations of fans have become accustomed to and better defense all around, the Rangers have been a much better hockey team since the calendar turned to 2025. That's why they are getting results this month.
Due to the hole the Blueshirts dug for themselves, every loss — like a heartbreaker against Colorado — will hurt. But losses will happen, and that's part of being in a playoff push.
But, the Rangers have at least put themselves in the fight. If you asked in December, that's all they want: a chance.