The Rangers record against teams within their own division is 10-3-0. We get up for games against our closest rivals. We still have 15 more in the remaining 36 games. If that trend continues we could make it very close on a playoff run. But anyway our D has improved a bit from last year but it still needs to tighten up a bit. In the years to come that should happen naturally. The other part of that equation though is the Rangers D is very mobile and attack oriented and if we deepen out our forward depth--get enough that our 4th line can become decent contributors then that attacking style of our D should be even more productive.
You make a good point that the Rangers get up for teams within the division. We also seemingly play our best hockey vs the more elite teams in the league outside the division as Rangers have wins vs Boston, Tampa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Nashville, Vegas and Colorado thus far during the first half of the season.
That said, I just think there are too many teams better than us who are signifcanty ahead of us who are in our way of making a playoff spot.
In the Metro alone you have 3 locks already...Caps, Penguins and yes the Philes are going to make it in despite their mini-slump they are in. Nipping at their heels are the Jackets, Canes and Flyers. One if not two of those teams are getting into the dance....just the way it is.
Than you go over to the Atlantic, if we can concede the Bruins, Lightning and either Florida or Toronto are in either/or, you still have the loser of the Panther/Leaf battle for 3rd in the Atlantic as a very viable WC entry. And you even have teams like the Sabres and Canadians who have more points than we do tho we do have some games in hand on them.
Bottom line, as I said previously, sure I'd love for the Rangers to make the playoffs...who wouldn't, but it's not happening IMO when you realistically look at the landscape here in the East.
If we can just hang around the playoff bubble, that will be good enough for me for this year and I'd bet secretly and deep down, it would be satisfying for Gorton and JD as well.
Now next year the playoffs are a whole different story...a whole new animal. Next year there will be no doubt that there will be expectations to not just hang around the playoff bubble but burst thru it and win a WC at the worst if not win one of those top 3 spots in the Metro.
I'm not talking challenging for a Cup but playoffs should certainly be a realistic goal next year. Cup contention will hopefully come maybe 2 years from now 3 at the most.
But yes expectations next year will rise exponentially as they should as the team should be better. But for now, at least for me, I'm more than satisfied where the team is at in the scheme of things!
if he does it to us tonight. He's been playing out of his mind lately. 8-2 in his last 10 games, only giving up 15 goals in that span, and 3 shutouts in his last 4 games.
