Blog Archives
Rangers close out season in Washington; Zuccarello a game time decision
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and the Capitals have always had a bit of bad blood, and they will close out the regular season together this afternoon at the Verizon Center. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
In the final game of the regular season, the Rangers (52-22-7) are in Washington D.C. to take on the Capitals (45-25-11) in what could potentially be a playoff matchup if both teams advance to the second round.
Although this game has no playoff implications for the Rangers, the Capitals could really use the two points here. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot, but a win would clinch home ice in their first round matchup against the New York Islanders. The Islanders are just one point behind them, so there are other scenarios that would give the Capitals home ice in the first round, but they’ll want to win to make it guaranteed, and render the Islanders game at 7 PM meaningless.
This game does have some meaning for the Rangers. One more win would set a new franchise record for wins in a season, and two points would set a new franchise record for points in a season. Henrik Lundqvist, who will be in net for the Rangers today, is just one win shy of 30 for the season. If he gets the win, that means that Henrik Lundqvist would have a 30 win season for every full season that he participated in. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers shutout by Ottawa at the Garden; Ryan Bourque makes NHL Debut
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers fell short in a battle against the Ottawa Senators, snapping their five game win streak. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
In the last regular season home game, the Rangers (52-22-7) were shutout by the desperate Ottawa Senators (42-26-13), dropping just their 22nd regulation loss by a final score of 3-0. Ottawa’s win wound up being huge, propelling them into the first wild card spot with, ahead of the Penguins and Bruins. Boston lost tonight, putting them in a lot of danger of missing the playoffs.
The Rangers really used this as a rest game, giving Rick Nash, Marc Staal, and Mats Zuccarello the night off. Zuccarello missed his second straight game with “general body soreness,” and Nash and Staal are day-to-day with undisclosed injuries.
That meant that Ryan Bourque and Chris Summers were recalled from the Hartford wolf pack, with Bourque making his NHL debut. Both played relatively well tonight in what was an otherwise meaningless game for the Rangers. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers take on desperate Senators team in last regular season game at MSG
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers will salute the crowd for the final time this regular season as they prepare to battle in the playoffs. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After clinching the Presidents’ Trophy on Thursday night, the Rangers (52-21-7) are back at Madison Square Garden for the last regular season home game, where they are set to take on the Ottawa Senators (41-26-13), a team still clinging onto their playoff hopes, and coming into tonight’s game with a must-win attitude.
Tonight will be a special night for both the players and the fans, as they get to cheer for their team, watch a special presentation before the game, and hopefully send them off to the playoffs on a positive note. This is just the third time in franchise history that the Rangers have won the Presidents’ Trophy, and the first time that they have done so since the 1993-94 season.
The Rangers have already tied the franchise record for wins in a season (52) set in the 199-3-94 season, and are just one point shy of tying their record for points in a season (112). Eclipsing both of those records would truly cap off an amazing regular season. Read the rest of this entry
What is wrong with the Rangers’ power play?
Bobby Bevilacqua
Ryan McDonagh and Keith Yandle combined for a power play goal in last night’s game, but what do they need to do to improve the Rangers’ numbers on the man advantage? Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Last night, the Rangers defeated the Devils 4-2 to clinch the President’s Trophy for the first time in 21 years, performing pretty well overall. They practically shut down the Devils at even strength, had 40 shots on goal, and were very solid defensively.
But despite that performance, there was one blemish in the game; the power play. The Rangers had multiple opportunities to bury the Devils early, with four separate power play opportunities in the second period alone, and a 1:27 five-on-three opportunity in the first period. Despite having seven power play opportunities, the Rangers managed to score just once.
After a string of success on the man advantage, the Rangers have fallen all the way to 21st in the NHL on the power play, sitting at just a 16.8% conversion rate.They have scored just three goals in their last 53 opportunities on the man advantage, despite having quality chances, good shooting lanes, and some bad luck when it comes to hot goalies and hitting the crossbar. Read the rest of this entry
The New York Rangers clinch the President’s Trophy with 4-2 win in New Jersey
Bobby Bevilacqua
Kevin Hayes and Cam Talbot celebrate after the Rangers win in New Jersey, clinching the President’s Trophy for the first time in 21 years. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Tonight’s win confirmed something that the Rangers and their fans have known for quite some time; the New York Rangers are the best team in the National Hockey League.
Despite playing last night, the Rangers (52-21-7) came out strong, outdueling the New Jersey Devils (32-35-13) early and holding onto their lead despite some late scares, securing their fifth straight win, first place in the Eastern Conference, and the President’s Trophy awarded to the team with the best record in the NHL.
The win was the Rangers’ 52nd of the season, tying the franchise record for most wins in a season, previously set in the 1993-94 season. With 111 points, the Rangers are just one point shy of the franchise record for points in a season, also set in the 1993-94 season. This is the first time the Rangers have won the President’s Trophy since, you guessed it, that magical 1993-94 season in which they won the Stanley Cup. Read the rest of this entry
therangerzone.com 