The Rangers have maintained a consistent record about their games throughout the past few weeks. While their standing and outcomes haven’t dramatically changed, they have shown noticeable progress from their lowest points during the season’s decline.
Following a successful three-game West Coast trip where they earned five out of a possible six points, the Rangers finally have results to validate their claims.
They’ve managed to collect points in seven of their last eight games, heading into Saturday’s matchup against the Blue Jackets with a six-game point streak.
This stretch marks the beginning of a four-game series against teams they can compete with as they pursue a playoff position.
A Surge in Performance
Reilly Smith shared his thoughts after a 5-3 victory against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday, stating, “It seems like ever since Christmas, we’re playing a different brand of hockey.”
This indicates that the Rangers are gaining momentum compared to earlier in the season and have the opportunity to surpass teams in the standings if they can continue to accumulate points and wins.
Currently, the Rangers trail the Bruins by four points for the second wild-card spot. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets, who have secured six consecutive wins, are just five points ahead but started the year with a record of 16-17-6.
This weekend marks the Rangers’ first encounter with the Blue Jackets during the 2024-25 season, and they have won five of their last seven meetings against Columbus.
Following this game, the Rangers will face the Canadiens, Senators, and Flyers, all of which currently sit ahead of them but outside the playoff picture.
Against these teams, the Rangers hold a 4-1 record this season and are trailing them by two points, two points, and one point, respectively, in the wild-card race.
Even during their toughest stretch, the cluster of teams around the Eastern Conference wild-card spots offered the Rangers a potential pathway to salvage their season.
This opportunity could allow them to make necessary adjustments as they approach the trade deadline, putting them in a position to reshape their roster for a final push toward the postseason with their current core players.
While they still have a long way to go to reach that goal, the Rangers have made strides in the right direction following their recent performance.
Future Prospects and Team Dynamics
As they prepare for the upcoming games, maintaining their current surge could facilitate their ascent in the standings.
Artemi Panarin emphasized the importance of their recent success, saying, “That’s important for sure. It’s a great road trip for us, and we’re gonna be ready for the next game. Pretty important game against Columbus.”
After Arthur Kaliyev scored on Thursday for his first point since joining the Rangers, it’s noteworthy that the team has seen contributions from 26 different players this season, tying for the highest in the NHL.
Kaliyev, who was signed off waivers last week, has also logged at least 12 minutes of ice time in two of the last three games.
As the Rangers face a back-to-back challenge this weekend, goaltender Jonathan Quick is likely to have another opportunity to become the first U.S.-born goaltender to achieve 400 career wins. Quick remains at 399 after losing his last two starts.
