New York Rangers Daily: Significant test vs. Hurricanes, Logan Thompson lands big deal with Capitals
The New York Rangers have done a good job this month turning their season around and surging back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. That they’ve done so against the soft underbelly of the League is worth noting, though the 19 points earned out of a possible 26 count no matter the opposition.
To be fair, the Rangers did knock off two solid playoff teams in the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights in consecutive games Jan. 9-11. But four of their five losses this month (8-2-3) were against quality opponents — the Colorado Avalanche (twice), Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals. That’s three teams with at least 60 points on the season, including the Capitals who are tied for first overall in the NHL.
The Rangers also lost 5-4 in overtime to a middle-of-the-pack Montreal Canadiens team. And that raises another key point, this one more positive. New York’s done an excellent job mowing down teams they are battling with to secure a wild-card spot in the East. They got a point against the Canadiens, and two against the Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers.
Of course, that they’re even in the mix with these mediocre teams speaks to that hideous 4-15-0 stretch to close out 2024. But, by and large, the Rangers handled business well against these teams, and used those victories to raise their stock in the East. Avenging early-season losses to a pair of weaker teams, the Chicago Blackhawks and Utah Hockey Club, also helped this month.
That all leads to this point: the Rangers host a really good Carolina Hurricanes squad Tuesday at Madison Square Garden to close out January’s schedule. A really good test against the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division. One that the Rangers bounced in six games in the Eastern Conference Second Round last spring, but have lost to twice already this season.
It’d be a massive step forward to defeat one of the better teams in the NHL, something the Rangers have failed to do consistently in their recent renaissance.
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New York Rangers news
Why did the Rangers rush to sign Will Borgen to a five-year, $20.5 million contract which begins next season? We wrote about one key (pun intended) theory shared by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.
In his first story for Forever Blueshirts, Ben Leeds writes about how there are no moral victories to be taken from the Rangers’ 5-4 loss to the Avalanche on Sunday, certainly not when “points are at a premium.”
John Kreiser took a deep dive into why this past weekend didn’t go so well for the Rangers in the playoff race, even aside from their loss to the Avalanche.
Here’s a look at the week ahead for the Rangers, who get some time off before a busy stretch begins.
In case you missed it, here are our three takeaways from the Rangers’ loss to the Avalanche.
NHL news
We wrote about the Islanders trying to plug holes on their injury-depleted defense by acquiring Scott Perunovich in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Monday.
NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg two games for interference (not to mention a hit to the head) against Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher on Saturday.
Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen remains miffed that the Avalanche traded him away last week after contract talks had picked up and the forward said he was willing to give Colorado a “significant discount” ahead of his pending unrestricted free agency.
The Washington Capitals signed goalie Logan Thompson to a six-year, $35.1 million contract Monday. Thompson, who’s a remarkable 22-2-3 this season with a 2.09 goals-against average and .925 save percentage, could’ve been a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of the season.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares is inching his way back from a lower-body injury. Coach Craig Berube said that Tavares could return to practice later this week.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel was placed on waivers by the Buffalo Sabres. The 2022 Stanley Cup champion with the Avalanche has two points (one goal, one assist) in 19 games this season.
Connor McDavid scored a goal in his return from a three-game suspension to help the Edmonton Oilers knock off the Seattle Kraken 4-2.
Lucas Raymond had four points (one goal, three assists) to lead the Detroit Red Wings past the Los Angeles Kings 5-2. With the win, the Red Wings jumped ahead of the Rangers in the East by one point, though they’ve played one more game.
Playing without injured goalie Jacob Markstrom and captain Nico Hischier, the New Jersey Devils were doubled up by the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2, and also lost forward Nathan Bastian to an undisclosed injury.
Evgeni Malkin was placed on IR with a lower-body injury by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who recalled Jesse Puljujarvi from the AHL. Malkin is week to week with the injury for the fading Penguins, who then went out and lost 2-1 to the San Jose Sharks.
Watch Macklin Celebrini score the game-winner for San Jose against Pittsburgh.
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