Jan Levine: Rangers clinch playoff berth on off day, now focus on positioning/health Nine games remain in regular season

Jan Levine: Rangers clinch playoff berth on off day, now focus on positioning/health
Nine games remain in regular season
- airjan23

While home ice helps, being healthy and playing good hockey is what really matters.

Hopefully they continue to shore up their defensive gaps and hit the postseason running.

While home ice helps, being healthy and playing good hockey is what really matters.

Hopefully they continue to shore up their defensive gaps and hit the postseason running.
- climbdenali12

Agreed that the most important thing is to continue to play hard and be resilient. But, I also agree with Jan (and Jim's) take that we would be much better served to have home ice for 4 games against NJ. The wrong match ups with their speed would make things much more difficult.

Agreed that the most important thing is to continue to play hard and be resilient. But, I also agree with Jan (and Jim's) take that we would be much better served to have home ice for 4 games against NJ. The wrong match ups with their speed would make things much more difficult.
- Tonybere

Obviously if we can get home ice get it, but NJ is one of the best road teams in the league. They’ve only lost 7 times in regulation on the road. 26-7-4

Obviously if we can get home ice get it, but NJ is one of the best road teams in the league. They’ve only lost 7 times in regulation on the road. 26-7-4
- nyrangers9479

Devils absolutely insane in overtime this year, but, it wont be 3 on 3 overtime in the playoffs

Obviously if we can get home ice get it, but NJ is one of the best road teams in the league. They’ve only lost 7 times in regulation on the road. 26-7-4
- nyrangers9479

True. And I recognize that we are really good on the road, too. This is really specific to this one aspect of being able to have the last change and keep our slower players away from Hughes, etc.

Agreed that the most important thing is to continue to play hard and be resilient. But, I also agree with Jan (and Jim's) take that we would be much better served to have home ice for 4 games against NJ. The wrong match ups with their speed would make things much more difficult.
- Tonybere

Certainly not discounting home ice, but I'd settle for not having "disaster" periods. Where they are pinned in their own zone and fail generate almost anything in the offensive zone. My opinion, start with that. Then worry about the matchups.

True. And I recognize that we are really good on the road, too. This is really specific to this one aspect of being able to have the last change and keep our slower players away from Hughes, etc.
- Tonybere

NJ is no doubt a good team. They kinda snuck out of no where from last year to be this good this quick. 27-46-9 last year to now being one of the top teams in the league.

Congrats on making the playoffs. You guys will be a lot to handle.

Still hate you.

NJ is no doubt a good team. They kinda snuck out of no where from last year to be this good this quick. 27-46-9 last year to now being one of the top teams in the league.
- nyrangers9479

Dougie Hamilton had a very meh first season with them but he's been pretty incredible this year

Dougie Hamilton had a very meh first season with them but he's been pretty incredible this year
- jimbro83

Let's see if he continues to shy away from contact in the playoffs like when he played against Ovi. Tarasenko might be able to get that going.

NJ is no doubt a good team. They kinda snuck out of no where from last year to be this good this quick. 27-46-9 last year to now being one of the top teams in the league.
- nyrangers9479

You could tell last year they would be this good with avg goaltending. They have a great young core. It’s pains me to say this

Jan, I believe the first tie-breaker now is RW - Regulation Wins, so if we win tonight, and beat the Devils Thursday, we would have the tie breaker, at least at that moment

Jan, I believe the first tie-breaker now is RW - Regulation Wins, so if we win tonight, and beat the Devils Thursday, we would have the tie breaker, at least at that moment
- ELew11

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts...

Jan, I believe the first tie-breaker now is RW - Regulation Wins, so if we win tonight, and beat the Devils Thursday, we would have the tie breaker, at least at that moment
- ELew11

Thanks Lew, thought it was still ROW. I see it is just RW, then yes, two straight wins and they would have the tiebreaker. Will update the blog

You could tell last year they would be this good with avg goaltending. They have a great young core. It’s pains me to say this
- nyrangers2

Do you think their young core/prospects (L. Hughes Nemec J Hughes Mercer etc) is better than the Rangers (Laf Kakko Chytil Othmann Schneider etc)?

Do you think their young core/prospects (L. Hughes Nemec J Hughes Mercer etc) is better than the Rangers (Laf Kakko Chytil Othmann Schneider etc)?
- nyrangers9479

If you include Kakko then I think you have to also in Jack Hughes so I would give the edge to them.

Edit...I see it in there. apologies

Let's see if he continues to shy away from contact in the playoffs like when he played against Ovi. Tarasenko might be able to get that going.
- JRR1285

when he was with Canes, he handled the Islanders well. And they were somewhat physicals. He's odd player figure out.

If you include Kakko then I think you have to also in Jack Hughes so I would give the edge to them.

Edit...I see it in there. apologies
- climbdenali12

Jack Hughes is arguably the best player in the Eastern Conference already, but, we got a pretty good #1 center of our own

Jack Hughes is arguably the best player in the Eastern Conference already, but, we got a pretty good #1 center of our own
- jimbro83

And he’s got frosted tips

And he’s had frosted tips
- TPC

fixed

And he’s got frosted tips
- TPC

this version of Kreider was nuts

this version of Kreider was nuts



- jimbro83

Thats the Frank Zappa version of Kreider.

Certainly not discounting home ice, but I'd settle for not having "disaster" periods. Where they are pinned in their own zone and fail generate almost anything in the offensive zone. My opinion, start with that. Then worry about the matchups.
- tomburton99

For sure. I see it as two sides of the same coin, though. Having the ability to avoid the worst match ups should help us not get hemmed in out zone so much.

this version of Kreider was nuts



- jimbro83

Lol so great