NHL Predictions: Are the New York Rangers the Real Deal This Year?

The New York Rangers are currently one of the hottest teams in the NHL. They are in the middle of a six-game win streak that they hope to extend tonight against the New York Islanders. This win streak has gotten the attention of many fans and critics of the Broadway Blueshirts.

After starting the season with an abysmal first four games, the Rangers have found a way to make the team click.

Each player in the lineup appears to be pulling their equal weight. Some are exceeding expectation, and others have been a bit disappointing, but if they weren’t meeting the mark, they wouldn’t be in Tortorella’s lineup. However, there are players that Tortorella has put together that have really clicked.

If someone had told you that Derek Stepan would be successfully centering the top line in August, you would probably have broken out in laughter. After all, wasn’t marquee free agent signee Brad Richards brought in to make sweet music with Marián Gáborík?

The two star forwards have found early success, despite being separated. Gáborík has benefited from playing with the youthful duo of Stepan and Anisimov. 

The line chemistry cannot be explained in words, but watching the trio on the ice is something spectacular. All three know their role and seem to be a threat whenever they are on the ice. The best part about the separation of Gáborík and Richards is that by having a balanced offense, the opposition can’t shut the team down by shutting down the top line.

The Rangers in actuality have two first lines, a third line and a fourth line. The 1a line is obviously made up of Anisimov-Stepan-Gáborík, and the 1b line consists of Brandon Dubinsky-Richards-Ryan Callahan.

For today's matchup against the Islanders, Tortorella has decided to give Sean Avery and Ruslan Fedotenko a shot, but for all intents and purposes, these are the lines the Rangers have rolled with during their streak.

Further down the lineup, players like Brandon Prust, Andre Deveaux and Sean Avery have performed in the role that is assigned to them. Prust and Deveaux are the resident tough guys, and Sean Avery is Sean Avery.

When Richards was signed, it was a move that benefited the Rangers on many fronts. One front was Richards as a mentor. So far this year, Richards has been a mentor to Michael Del Zotto and Derek Stepan.

He advised them to stop over-thinking their games and to play loose. So far this has worked, as Del Zotto is starting to look like the defenseman fans grew to love during his inaugural year on Broadway. This has since carried over to power-play success.

The Rangers' top power play unit consists of Callahan on the off wing, Gáborík down by the hash marks, Stepan at center and Del Zotto and Richards on the points.

Richards has brought some movement to the power play. The Rangers still make too many passes for most fans' liking, but then again, Rome was not built in a day.

The Rangers are a team that always makes fans either overly optimistic or overly pessimistic. This is evident in the fact that fans are dreading the day the streak ends. Fans are concerned with when the Rangers’ next loss will be. 

However, fans should be happy with what has allowed the Rangers to continue the streak. The team is displaying some characteristics that suggest they might move beyond the first round of the playoffs this year.

One of the reasons the Rangers appear to be for real this year is their goaltending and stellar young defense.

Statistically, the Rangers have the best defense and goaltending in the league. They lead the league in average goals allowed per game, at only two per game.

This is a striking and surprising stat, considering that the Rangers are without top defenseman Marc Staal. The Rangers have been led by Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Del Zotto and Michael Sauer. The bottom pairing has been a melting pot of different defensemen that has included Brendan Bell, Jeff Woywitka and Steve Eminger. 

Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron have also done a great job between the pipes. Lundqvist continues to display why he is one of the league's top goalies with his athleticism, poise and work ethic.

Biron continues to exceed expectations. Biron does this because he is an above average backup. His even-keeled attitude helps the team and fans relax. How many fans clench their fists during tight games because the backup goalie is in net?

Biron is a valuable part to the team because he has been a starter before. He has won 30 games in a season before, so he is accustomed to the pressure and expectations put on a starting goalie. In his backup role he can be just as good with less pressure and responsibility.

When you look at the whole body of work, the Rangers are a good team. They have some areas they could improve upon, but they are still a small fish compared to the whales of the Eastern Conference. Teams like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston and Tampa Bay still would pose a huge threat to the Rangers as they are.

It is too early to say how far the Rangers will go this year, because there are a lot of variables. If the Rangers get Marc Staal back, have balanced offensive production and make some moves that give them solid depth, the sky is really the limit for them.

What is your opinion on the Rangers’ current streak? Is it a fluke? Are they finally for real? What seed do you think the Rangers will be come playoff time?

Leave a comment in the section below to get the conversation started.

Tom Urtz Jr. is an NHL Featured Columnist. For more NHL free-agent news, updates and alerts about players: