Surging Rangers Primed for Playoffs

    The hottest team in the NHL right now is arguably the New York Rangers. They are 10-0-3 in their last 13 marking the longest streak without a regulation loss since their 93-94 cup season. The Rangers are looking to repeat their spring playoff push of last season when they went 13-3-4 to clinch the playoffs. Interesting enough there was no Sean Avery type trade to catalyze this year's spark. Instead it has come down to character. With leaders like Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, and Brendan Shanahan it is not surprising that the Rangers finally put their house in order.

    One cannot ignore the contributions of coach Tom Renney who has all season long shuffled lines struggling to find even one line combination that was consistent, especially with the ever so inadaptable Jaromir Jagr. Suprisingly it was super-pest Sean Avery and rookie center Brandon Dubinsky that has gotten #68 playing good hockey again. Renney has also found chemistry that has produced an additional two scoring lines. The line of Dawes-Gomez-Shanahan make sense as Gomez works best when put together with a hot potato type sniper like Shanahan, while Dawes has shown similar attributes as well as a keen play making ability that has supplemented Gomez well. So that has left Drury centering Straka and Callahan in what has become a speedy, gritty combination. Callahan looks like the same hard-nosed player as last year since he has been recalled from the Hartford Wolfpack. Drury's hand continues to be hot as he had eight goals in 12 Februrary games. Straka has also played his typical hard forchecking game that has created ample opportunities for the line to capitalize on. Since the formation of the new combinations the Rangers have jumped from 28th in scoring to 22nd while continuing to have the 6th best GA per game in the league.

    Which brings us to Henrik Lundqvist. After being nominated for the Vezina twice in his first two seasons and starting off hot this year he has struggled much of the last 2 months. Yet during the recent streak he has seemed to return to form with each passing game, capped off with what may have been the save of the year again the Bruins last Sunday when he made a sprawling arm save to stop a 2-1 open net goal followed immediately with a head scratching kick save on Glen Metropolit who thought he had taken advantage of the then out of position Lundqvist.

    In his first year as a NHL postseason goalie Lundqvist was playing his worst hockey of the season posting an .835 save percentage. Yet last year Lundqvist was one of the main contributors to a near upset of the Sabres. With still so little NHL post-season experience, critics still wonder if Lundqvvist can be a game-breaking goalie in the NHL. His history outside the NHL leads to believe that he can be so. He put up a staggering .962 save percentage in Swedish Elite League playoffs of 2005 allowing his team to win the championship. It is even more impressive that because of the lock-out that year many NHL players were playing in the Elite league when NHL players were participating. He has also led team Sweden to its first Olympic gold medal since 1994. So his pedigree proceeds itself. Under pressure he seems to be able to elevate his game. A huge playoff performance from Lundqvist this season could seal the deal for a possible Stanley Cup in New York.

    With few games remaining most of the teams are within striking distance of each other. The Rangers, who are in 6th place currently, are just five points away from the first place New Jersey Devils. This makes it hard to predict who the Rangers maybe playing in first round. As is currently is, they would be playing the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. With star Eric Staal on the Hurricanes top line playing against rising defensive star Marc, the brotherly feud would be sure to add some interest. The Hurricanes are a typical run and gun type of team. Coach Peter Laviolette has made it no secret he is not a fan of defense first tactics. As the Rangers young defensemen have grown a reputation to leave breakout wingers unmarked as being somewhat slow Lundqvist will need to be sharp. Nevertheless with the Rangers newly surging offense that strives on turnovers and transition in the neutral zone could easily take advantage of the Hurricanes system and weak defensive line up that has already lost Mike Commodore to trade.

    The Rangers would probably not mind playing against Carolina in the first round as the southeast division has shown the least depth and competition in the Eastern Conference. Instead the Rangers will most likely want to try avoiding a first round match up against the offensive powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins and the always troubling New Jersey Devils. The Rangers are in fact 5-0 against the Devils this season, but come playoff time, the Rangers would not find winning against them so easily. The upcoming match up against the cross Hudson rivals on March 19th will be more indicative of how the Rangers stack up against the East's leading team.

    The Rangers are now considered by many to be the cup contender everyone thought they would be before the season started. The Rangers are scoring and finding quality goaltending. Yet there is some concern that they are still turning the puck over way too much in their own zone and the power play that has struggled all season still isn't working. Also though Jagr has been better of late, he’s going to need to become at least as good as he was in the last post-season for the Rangers to have a run. Also the Rangers Defense still remains questionable with three players who have played no more than three years at the NHL level and another defensemen Marek Malik showing signs of age and limited mobility. Lundqvist looks primed for a strong performance, so that helps and having defensive minded forwards like Gomez, Drury, and Straka they can find ways to cover up their holes. And having big game player Chris Drury on the roster also helps. With no team shadowing the other in the East, the Rangers who have the pieces will have a great opportunity to make it to the finals.