The Rangers are riding a season-high 10-game point streak with 11 days until the trade deadline and seven weeks until the start of the playoffs. This comes on the heels of four arduous road games.
This trip could not have gone any better than it did. The Blueshirts earned seven out of a possible eight points, falling short in the final game of the trip on the second night of a back-to-back. They outscored adversaries 19-13. There were three comeback triumphs, including the 1-0 deficit against the Canucks. In addition to the multiple-goal comeback to salvage a point against the Flames in a 3-2 overtime loss Saturday night.
At a pivotal time in the season, the Rangers locker room has seemingly reached its highest level of confidence. They trail the Devils by only two points and the Maple Leafs by only one point. After a slower-than-anticipated start, the Rangers are now third in the Metropolitan Division and fifth in an Eastern Conference that is becoming increasingly competitive as trades occur.
Vincent Trocheck stated on Saturday night, “When we are down — I’m pretty sure our confidence is pretty high right now — and anytime you have that confidence, it goes a long way to believe in ourselves to come back from a two- or three-goal deficit.” “I believe that is the difference between our current team and the team we had at the start of the year. At the beginning of the year, we had the exact opposite impression. When we were up by one or two goals, we lacked confidence, were on our heels, and were apprehensive about the opposing team coming back.
Now, if we fall down by one or two goals, we are confident that we will recover.
Recent outcomes have largely favored the Rangers, but their team play as a whole still requires improvement. This is a plus, especially when victories continue to pile up. The Rangers do not wish to attain their peak level of play until they are closer to the postseason.
There is still still time to iron out the kinks, like as their recent struggles with slow starts, as well as to further create chemistry with newly acquired forward Vladimir Tarasenko.
After the overtime loss to the Flames, Tarasenko commented, “We should have started better.” This was the second consecutive game in which we went behind, and we are aware of this. It’s good to win when you make a comeback, but you should play better from the beginning. It’s been a difficult period, with several back-to-backs and everything, but everyone is aware that we can play better. I do not believe everyone is pleased with the outcome.”
Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola, who were acquired from the Blues through trade 11 days earlier, had the opportunity to get to know their new teammates on the trip. Mikkola has been a physical addition to the defense despite taking a few too many penalties, while Tarasenko has provided the Rangers greater versatility in the top-six. He has experience on the first and second lines.
The 31-year-old Tarasenko, who scored his second goal for the Rangers on Saturday night, appears to be an all-in player.
“Scoring is enjoyable,” he stated. “But winning is better.”
With Sunday’s additions of Vladimir Tarasenko and Tyler Motte, the phase of experimenting with the line combinations continues. In the second period of Saturday’s game, head coach Gerard Gallant changed the forwards’ formation after using the same formation in three of the four road games. Monday will feature a new formation versus the Jets.
Kaapo Kakko was moved to the first line’s right wing alongside Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, while Tarasenko was placed between Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin. Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, and Barclay Goodrow, who rotated with Jimmy Vesey near the conclusion of the game when Gallant reduced his fourth line’s usage, comprised the third line. Vesey skated briefly on the left of Jake Leschyshyn and Julien Gauthier, who are no longer with the Rangers after being sold to Ottawa as part of the deal that brought back Tyler Motte. He will be replaced by Motte in the fourth unit.
Gallant stated, “Overall, it was a fantastic trip for us.” It would have been ideal to win, but we’ll settle for one point.
»Rangers confident in tight playoff race focused on improved starts«