New York Rangers Must Take Advantage of Remaining December Schedule
By Matt Stillwell
@MattNYR12
Candice Ward – USA TODAY Sports
Have the New York Rangers rounded back into form following three straight wins in Western Canada? It is certainly debatable, but one thing is for certain: the Rangers now have a golden opportunity to not only build off the success of their road trip, but finally establish themselves as true contenders in the Eastern Conference.
The opportunity is there because the remainder of their December schedule is soft, as every single game is winnable. It is imperative the Rangers take advantage.
The Rangers have six games remaining on the December calendar, all against either bad teams or borderline playoff teams. It begins with a home-and-home series this coming weekend against the NHL-worst Carolina Hurricanes, a team already looking ahead to the Connor McDavid/Jack Eichel draft sweepstakes.
The next two games are key divisional games against fringe playoff contenders the Washington Capitals, whom the Rangers have owned in D.C. in recent times, and the archrival New Jersey Devils at home.
Finally, they face the Dallas Stars, an ultra-talented offensive force but a brutal defensive team, and a pseudo-home game against the Florida Panthers, whom are quietly making a playoff push in the East.
Out of these six games, the Rangers should obtain no less than eight points out of a possible 12. Right now, the team is the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division, and the time is now to make a push toward the first-place Pittsburgh Penguins and second-place New York Islanders. It is also the time to separate themselves from the wild-card borderline and establish a playoff positioning cushion.
If they don’t take advantage, their brutal January schedule, in which they face at least seven legit contenders in the first three weeks, may play a more critical role in determining their fate in 2015.
Matt Stillwell is a New York Rangers contributor for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattNYR12!
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