The Rangers (21-11-4) are in Anaheim (26-9-6) tonight for the start of a three-game California road trip. I take you back a few weeks ago when the Blueshirts embarked on a three-game Western Canada swing. At the time, the squad was struggling overall and the hope was that trip would be a galvanizing part in the schedule for the team. That proved to be the case as New York swept the three games and have reeled off 10 wins in 11 contests.
You can say the Rangers took advantage of a "weak" slate to reel off those wins, and to an extent, you aren't wrong. As noted on the SNYRangersblog from Hockey Night Live, the 11 games included Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Carolina (2), Washington, New Jersey, Dallas, Florida and Buffalo. The average points, skewed by a few highs and lows was 37.36 as of Saturday night. The Rangers next ten opponents (Ducks, Kings, Sharks, Islanders (2), Boston, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Ottawa and Montreal) have an average of 47.50 points, which is an average of close to five wins per team, evidencing the level of competition.
The term thrown around by both the Rangers and the Ducks for this game is "measuring stick." New York has taken it a step further, saying the overall trip is a measuring stick against the a higher level of competition, which is true, as noted above. The win streak has put the Blueshirts in a much better place in the division and conference. New York has two games in hand on Washington (who is playing tonight) and are one point behind them. They have four games in hand on the Islanders and are now just seven points behind them for second in the division. The Rangers are seven points behind Pitt with three games in hand. While those numbers look good, New York doesn’t have a big cushion over the teams behind them, so a tough road trip or stretch of games could move them from in seventh place in the conference down the list, but the good news is they have games on hand on everyone who is chasing them in the standings.
The trip will also be a good test against bigger opponents than seen at times in the Eastern Conference. Anaheim, who leads the league at 58 points; Los Angeles, has 47 and it's a rematch of last year's Cup Finals, so we know what they can do; and San Jose has 49 points and this is a rematch of the 9-2 debacle from last year. Each team is big and can play the puck possession game while all three come into the contest on a role, so it's not as NY will catch anyone struggling. The Rangers have been very successful against the West so far with a 6-2-3 mark. That includes a 4-1-0 record against the Pacific Division with road wins already at Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary, though this is clearly a step up in competition.
For New York tonight, the one change is at the revolving door known as the sixth d-man. Tonight, John Moore, who sat the past two games, gets back in while Matt Hunwick who had been playing sat. It appears the strategy of proving your worth daily is at play while AV also doesn’t want players to get stale. For that reason, it wouldn’t shock me to see Tanner Glass play for Lee Stempniak tomorrow (though it better not be for Fast or Miller). Henrik Lundqvist will be between the pipes tonight while Cam Talbot will get the nod tomorrow in LA. For Anaheim, Ilya Bryzgalov rather than Frederik Andersen will be between the pipes. Selfishly, I am glad as I have Andersen in a fantasy league, so I don't have to worry about NY scoring on him. In addition, the Rangers will likely be happier facing the Universe rather than Andersen.
Win tonight and go into LA on a high note.