The New York Rangers have been playing some quality hockey lately and with April quickly approaching lets take a look at the chances of a deep playoff run.
By Chris Wengert
That is encouraging not only because it shows that they have finally turned the page on their awful December-January slump, but it seems like the Rangers might be collecting the tools necessary for a playoff run.
But can they realistically make another deep playoff run?
Before the season began you would have most likely assumed that the current roster is more than capable of not only making the playoffs, but playing deep into the spring.
The defense was arguably the strongest in the league on paper, players like Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes were ready to take the next step, and Henrik Lundqvist…well, is Henrik Lundqvist.
If the season ended at Thanksgiving, the Rangers would have won the President’s Trophy.
Many fans made the rookie mistake of discussing the playoffs only two months into the season. Hey, you can’t blame them for dreaming.
But December taught all of us that what you see on paper and what happens in reality are two very different things.
It was a sobering and rude awakening.
The bottom completely fell out, the wheels came off of the bus- pick your cliche to describe the terrible slump the Rangers fell into.
But here we sit in mid-February, and the team has since stabilized their play.
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Hank is playing better, the defense has improved (mostly), and some players have stepped up to fill roles that were not being filled.
If you have watched any playoff hockey, especially in the past four years, you know that it is a different beast. A team’s attributes in the regular season may not prove successful in the post-season.
In the playoffs, players take risks and often find an extra gear that they wouldn’t in the regular season. Dreams of big shiny cups dance around in their heads.
I always like to compare the Rangers to the 2014 Los Angeles King because, well, I’m still bitter about it.
If you compare the current Ranger’s season to the 2013-2014 Kings the trends are eerily similar. Both teams went through prolonged slumps and dealt with injuries to key players at times.
So can the Rangers experience an outcome similar to that 2014 LA team?
I say yes.
This New York Rangers team can make a deep playoff run and even win the Stanley Cup, but it will take some production from players who are not currently producing and some good ole fashioned luck.
Let’s take a look as what needs to happen for the Rangers to make another run.
The Chris Kreider/Kevin Hayes Problem
Listen, I have given both of these players a hard time, especially Kevin Hayes.
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These players deserve to be criticized because if the Rangers are going to make a run in the spring, these two players need to produce.
Chris Kreider is on his way.
He is going to net more, taking shots rather than passing, and is using his physicality to gain possession of the puck. That is the Kreider the Rangers need in the playoffs. If he keeps up this play the production will continue.
Kevin Hayes has scored some goals lately, but I’m still not convinced he is back to his 2014-2015 self.
That Kevin Hayes would use his physicality to score goals. Efforts like what we witnessed in this Rangers/Islander game have been almost non-existent this year.
Hayes has amazing hands, but more often than not he holds onto the puck way too long which results in a turnover. His shot doesn’t seem to be what it was last year, most likely due to the fact that he just isn’t shooting enough.
These two players need to be serviceable if the Rangers are to go deep in April and May.
Injuries
This one is tough because it all stems from luck, but I still say that if the New York Rangers were healthy last May they would have made another Finals appearance.
Every team has their bumps and bruises going into the playoffs, but the Rangers need to avoid serious injuries, such as Ryan McDonagh‘s broken foot from last season.
Speaking of McDonagh, both him and Rick Nash need to be healthy when April comes around. While the Rangers have been playing surprisingly well without two of their top players, this lack of depth will be exposed in a seven game playoff series.
Cross your fingers folks.
The X-Factor
Every playoff team needs a “dark horse” to step up in the playoffs; that unsuspecting player who hasn’t produced consistently in the regular season but finds their stride in the playoffs.
Who were the King’s x-factors in 2014? Justin Williams and Marian Gaborik.
Who could be the Ranger’s x-factor? J.T. Miller.
Miller can be the guy who scores an important goal here and there when the usual suspect are not producing. His current hot streak will eventually subside, but if he can produce in the playoffs it would be invaluable.
The Antti Raanta Problem
Every athlete will lose their confidence at some point, but what Antti Raanta experienced after last Friday’s loss to the Kings was a whole new level.
That is not good.
Raanta will not start in the playoffs, but the Rangers need him to be serviceable in the regular season to keep Lundqvist fresh.
If Raanta cannot be reliable moving forward it will put a lot of strain on Lundqvist. In the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils we all witnessed what happens when Hank is fatigued.
He had a couple rough games.
Raanta needs to get over his issues and fast. It is way too late in the season for the Rangers to worry about head-cases.
Special Teams
The Ranger’s special teams don’t need to be stellar, only serviceable. The penalty kill needs to be solid and the power play needs to produce from time to time.
The frustrating part of the power play is that outside of a couple stinkers here and there, it hasn’t looked all that bad. The problem? Well you know it by now:
Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, TURNOVER!
The if the Rangers can move the puck like they have been but actually put the puck on net, the power play could make all the difference in a playoff series.
So what are your thoughts? What do the Rangers need to make another deep playoff run?