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New York Rangers Entering Vital Road Trip For Playoff Hopes

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The New York Rangers have been one of the most consistent teams in the league for months, and not only do they have a great chance to win the Metropolitan division, but also the entire Eastern Conference. New York leads the NHL in goal differential with a plus-43, but an upcoming road trip may define how high they can climb.

Tonight the Rangers begin a five-game road trip, which is the longest of the season for New York. Four of those five games feature very tough opponents, all of which should make the playoffs this season. It won’t necessarily define the Rangers’ season altogether, but it could determine whether or not they have a shot to win the Eastern Conference. New York is three points behind the conference-leading Montreal Canadiens and have one game in hand on the Habs.

What’s more important than topping the conference is that the Rangers must post a winning record on this trip and stay in strong position in the standings. The conference is so tight that the Rangers could still finish anywhere from first to seventh in the East. The road trip starts with the Detroit Red Wings and the Rangers are aiming for their fifth win in the last six road games.

Thinking a little ahead, the upcoming games are vital because you have to be able to get some wins on the road in the playoffs. The teams that play well on the road in the postseason are at an advantage and it’s not an easy thing to do. In order for the Rangers to be successful on the road over the next five games, a few things have to improve.

First and foremost, New York needs to revitalize the power play. Keith Yandle will play his second game as a Ranger in Detroit and is tied for the league lead in power play assists. He should help the Rangers move the puck quickly in the offensive zone and try to set up quality power-play chances. The Rangers have 19 regular-season games left to get the power play in order. New York is going to need it to produce in the playoffs, something that didn’t happen last season.

Another thing that will define the road trip is New York’s overall defense. Cam Talbot has played great in goal with Henrik Lundqvist on the shelf, but the defense in front of him could be much better. Three of New York’s five upcoming road games are against teams in the top 10 in goals for. It will be a huge test for them in terms of team defense, with some high-powered offenses on the horizon.

Finally, the Rangers have two huge divisional matchups included in the road trip, with the biggest one being the final regular season meeting with the New York Islanders. The two teams have jockeyed back and forth between first and second place, and that game could be pivotal as to who comes out on top in the Met.

Overall, the Rangers can’t afford to hit a slump. Although it seems unlikely, it could happen and the upcoming road trip will once again test New York’s resilience and composure. The trip will be tough, but success is vital to the Rangers’ position in the Eastern Conference.

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