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A month or so ago, I wrote that the New York Rangers had to obtain at least 14 points in their next 10 games. They not only obtained 15 points, but in their 11th game since that time, a 3-1 thrashing of the Philadelphia Flyers, the Rangers made a major statement. The Rangers showed two things: that they are a team that truly cares for each other and sticks up for each other, contrary to popular belief, and that their defensive structure which has catapulted them on deep playoff runs the last few seasons is alive and well.
If the Rangers make another deep run this season, look back at this past Sunday’s win over the Flyers as the catalyst. Dylan McIlrath and Tanner Glass stood up to the Flyers and Wayne Simmonds for his cheap shot on Ryan McDonagh the previous weekend, and showed the rest of the league they will not be bullied around in crunch time. In last night’s pregame show on NBCSN, Keith Jones remarked about how the 1997 Detroit Red Wings came together and won their first Stanley Cup in decades partly because of the way they stood up to his Colorado Avalanche in some of the most physical battles of their era. That is what happened with the Rangers against an arch rival. Does it guarantee a Cup? Absolutely not. But if it does happen, you can’t help but think the Rangers would point back to that game against the Flyers in which they came together with one purpose.
The Rangers are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games, and it is more than just the record than inspires confidence. Besides the uptick in physical play and standing their ground, many Rangers have stepped up in the past month, especially Henrik Lundqvist and J.T. Miller. Lundqvist looks like the Lundqvist of old again, and Miller has seemingly single-handedly carried the Rangers offensively. Keith Yandle has become the Rangers’ most important defenseman. Also stepping up in a big way recently has been Dan Girardi, and after being called out by his head coach, Alain Vigneault, Marc Staal had his best game in a long time against the Flyers. The majority of these wins have come without McDonagh or Rick Nash. McDonagh may return from the concussion he sustained from Simmonds’ sucker punch this week, whereas Nash is now week-to-week with a knee injury and questions have surfaced about whether or not he will play again this season.
If both return healthy, it makes the Rangers a better team and gives them a greater sense of hope than what they have built the last month. Through all the turmoil and struggles they experienced, they currently sit tied for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Yes, a big addition is still necessary, but there is a reason this core of players has sniffed a championship the last few seasons.
So can the Rangers win a Cup this season? Surprisingly, yes they can. On paper, they do not look like a Cup winner, but one must never underestimate the intangibles a team can bring to the table come playoff time. In the NHL, the playoffs are a crap-shoot. Anything can happen. If the Rangers do pull it off, it will be because they’ve come too far and overcome too much over the last few years to fail again, and because they have a team that will stick up for each other in big spots and will not be intimidated and pushed around by elite teams.
Of course, a lot more has to happen, such as improving their abysmal special teams and ensuring Staal and Girardi bring their A-games every night. Puck luck has to go their way as well, and Lundqvist needs to be on top of his game as usual. The bottom line is, anything can happen, and intangibles can carry the Rangers a long way if all goes right.
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