Callahan Proves N.Y. Rangers Power Play Troubles May Be a Thing of the Past

The New York Rangers have struggled (to put it politely) on the power play this season, but they seem to be figuring this last piece of the puzzle out.

This missing aspect to their intensive play is really one of the only areas where they are lacking. If they sort out their power play, they may become the most lethal team in the NHL.

And they very well may have.  

Blueshirts captain Ryan Callahan scored a power-play goal with under five minutes of play in the second period Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning to break the Rangers' drought in that department.

Then in Saturday afternoon's matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers, Callahan scored two more power-play goals for his team.

The Rangers captain was on fire yesterday, scoring a total of three goals and awarding him his second hat trick of his NHL career (coincidentally both times against the Flyers). His impressive game also awarded him the coveted Broadway Hat.

Marian Gaborik also scored on a one-man advantage with under five minutes to play in the first period.

The Rangers now have the fifth-worst power play in the entire league with 14.5 percent, but have already bumped themselves up from fourth-worst by yesterday's grand special teams display.

They were able to score on three out of the four power play opportunities during yesterday's battle with the Flyers, giving the Rangers a season-high record in power-play goals scored in a game.

The Blueshirts apparently have figured out the Flyers, defeating them in all of their last seven outings.

If they can keep up what they seem to have figured out on the power play, they make themselves an even more dangerous opponent than they already are. 

The Rangers are holding strong at first place in the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and are head-to-head with only one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for first place overall in the league.