The Rangers have completed the first-half or pre-All Star portion of their schedule, going 30-13-4. New York sit tied for second in the Metro Division, one point behind the Hurricanes, who have three games in hand after a 4-3 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday and even with Pittsburghwho also have played 47 contests. Following Pittsburgh is Washington, five points shy of the Blueshirts with the Caps now having played 48 games after a 5-4 last-minute loss to Columbus on Tuesday, Unless New York absolutely collapses, the team is fairly locked into a playoff spot, seeding to be determined.
After an even greater disparity earlier in the season, the Rangers are to have five more home games than road contests the rest of the way. The gap was narrowed by New York playing six of the last eight games before the break at MSG. Home cooking has been on full display with the Blueshirts sitting 15-4-2 at MSG as compared to a very solid 15-9-2 on the road.
Six of eight contests are at the Garden coming out of the break beginning next Tuesday against the Bruins. Eight of the last 11 on the schedule are also at home. This means that the middle stretch of 16 games will see a handful more games on the road away from MSG.
The prevailing view is that the Rangers have built their first half on beating the teams they should beat and trying to become a team that throws fear into everyone. But, as we have seen, New York has been able to defeat Florida, beat Tampa, and other than contests vs. the 'Canes, pretty much gone toe-to-toe with the other contenders in the East and West, save for Calgary and Colorado. Upcoming will be 35 games in about an 80 day span with the most days off three. In that stretch is four back-to-backs, including one the final week when the Blueshirts play three games in four days.
During the 35 games, the Rangers will face Washington twice, Pittsburgh four times, New Jersey thrice, the Islanders three times, Carolina three times and Philly twice. That's 17 of the last 35 games of the season contested within the division. New York also faces Boston twice, St. Louis twice, Minnesota once, Dallas once, Anaheim once and Tampa Bay once, meaning eight of the remaining 18 are versus teams firmly in the playoffs or playoff contention. (The other contests are against Detroit (3x), Ottawa (2x), Winnipeg (2x), Montreal, Vancouver and Buffalo). What this means is the road to hoe to maintain the current placement in the division and conference will not be any sort of walk in the park.
In terms of travel, the only time New York leaves the eastern time zone is during a four-game road trip from March 6-12, when they visit Winnipeg, Minnesota, St, Louis and Dallas. None of the four will be easy wins. To add on, the Blueshirts then come home to face the Ducks (3/15) and Isles (3/17, like the crowd won't be rowdy at home on St. Patrick's Day) followed by back-to-back road games at Tampa (3/19) and Carolina (3/20). If the team can weather that gauntlet , they should be in decent shape. To add to the intrigue, the trade deadline is the next day, March 21.