The Rangers are unbeaten west of the Mississippi River. Count 'em. The Rangers have won road games at St. Louis, Colorado, Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles and Arizona. Add in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary and it is a sweep of the continental west. Not bad for a road weary team. What about Dallas you say? Well, Dallas is really an eastern city. The saying in Texas is that the west starts in Fort Worth, which is 30 miles west of Dallas. So, we'll ignore that trifling Dallas loss for the sake of a good headline.
This latest run which also includes a win at Toronto has shown off the Rangers offensive prowess, 16 goals in three games, and excellent goaltending. Cam Talbot played his finest game in relief of Henrik Lundqvist, who must really be thinking about coming back sooner rather than later. Cam stoned Coyote Tobias Rieder on a penalty shot enroute to a 34 shot save for a 4-1-1 record in Lundqvists absence.
The Rangers scored four goals in the third period to blow the game open. It was 1-1 going into the third with the one Ranger goal on a beautiful rush, by Chris Kreider, putting in a backhander. The other goals were by Nash, NHL best 35, Hayes, Stempniak and Staal. Nash and Hayes were highlight goals. Nash is now 6th in scoring with 55 points, 8 points behind Patrick Kane. The next Ranger is Derek Brassard who is 41st with 43 points. However lately, Kreider, Hayes and Zuccarello are starting to step it up. On the down side Stepan and St. Louis are really going south.
The Rangers are now 6th in the Eastern Conference with 71 points. They are two ahead of the Caps with two games in hand. They are one behind the Pens and Red Wings with one game in hand. They are three points behind Tampa Bay with three games in hand. They are four points behind the Isles with two games in hand. They are five points behind first place Montreal with one game in hand.
If the season ended today the Rangers would play Tampa Bay who has beaten us three out of three. Not good. I think The Stealth ought to find a way to keep the Dads at all the games. It sure helps. Keeps the players from carousing at nights, he says with a smile on his face. We should keep this going. If the fathers can't make it maybe we could get uncles and aunts and cousins. Well, you get the idea.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, it's the Islanders Monday night at the old, and I do mean old, Coliseum. Remember guys. Skate hard, have fun and get a big win. Let's Go Rangers!
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2 hours ago
Dude based on this article the Rangers would play Penguins first round. Top team in each division plays the two wild cards. Thus 2 plays 3 inside the division. With Rangers at 3 and Pens at 2 thus the first round match up.