Too Long a Rest

There is a certain quiet in Rangerland as the team enjoys (?) its fourth straight day off from game conditions. I'm sure they are practicing but let's face it, it is not the same. On five occasions this year the Rangers have played a four game in six night scenario. They have also played five back to back games. Suddenly there is a four day lull. Who makes out this schedule? The Long Island Rail Road? So tomorrow they get back on the ice against the Colorado Avalanche who play the Islanders tonight on the island. So the Av's should be tired right? Wrong. The Av's will probably come out flying and the Rangers could be flat. Hope not.

Two hockey publications have come out with their power ranking and the Rangers continue to surprise. The Hockey News ranks the Rangers fourth behind Ottawa, Calgary and the Flyers. The comment from Hockey News, "Somebody has to say it, these guys are for real". InsideHockey.com ranks the Rangers fifth behind Ottawa, Dallas, Detroit and the Flyers. The Hockey News has Dallas fifth and Detroit sixth so they are pretty close on the rankings. Needless to say the Rangers are getting more and more converts as the season progresses. They need to keep up the steady improvement they have made this year.

Currently the Rangers are two points behind first place Ottawa in the Eastern Conference and are eleven points ahead of the Devils who right now are in ninth place which would put them out of the playoffs. The Islanders have 32 points and sit in tenth place. Jaromir Jagr leads the NHL in total points with 50 and is tied for the most goals with 23. The Prince, Henrik Lundqvist I, is third in GAA with a 2.11 surpassed only by Hasek, 1.99, and Fernandez 2.06.

However, if the Rangers are going to pull off a trade now is the time to do it while they are riding high. If they start to slip, they would be dealing from weakness not strength. So if we are going to get Petr Sykora now is the time to do it. Strike while the iron is hot.

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