Rangers Led by Lundqvist Ready for Run in the Postseason
The New York Rangers began their NHL season with 16 wins in their first 21 games prior to enduring a stretch of two months where they did not win two straight games.
The Rangers have not been a consistent team all season, but have not dropped outside the top three at any time in the Metropolitan Division.
With a win of 4-2 over Columbus on Monday night, the Rangers were able to clinch a berth in the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. The last time they reached the postseason for six straight seasons was when they qualified 10 straight seasons from 1977-78 to 1986-87.
The Rangers reached the finals of the Eastern Conference the last two seasons losing to Tampa Bay in seven games last season.
Two seasons ago, they beat Montreal in six games prior to losing in five games to Los Angeles in the Stanley Cup Finals.
One of the key reasons the Rangers reached the postseason once again is Henrik Lundqvist the veteran goalie. He recorded his 350th win in the NHL this season and became the first NHL goalie with 20 or more wins in each of this first 11 full seasons.
The Rangers netminder has allowed just two or fewer goals in 38 of 63 games this season and yet again has been the team’s MVP.
Derick Brassard is New York’s key on offense. He has excelled as the center for the top-line when put in the role. He has career highs this season in goals with 27 and his point total of 58 is just two shy of his career high that he set a season ago.
Brassard has averaged more time on the ice and has more points on the power play and game-winning goals than a season ago making him the biggest catalyst on the offense for the Rangers.
What the Rangers need now, is to remain healthy for their run in the playoffs. Dylan McIlrath the team’s seventh defenseman has returned to their lineup and on Monday, the Rangers had a full healthy roster prior to Ryan McDonagh leaving with an injury early in the game Monday.
Although players have been in and out of the lineup with injuries such as Rick Nash missing 20 games and McDonagh six, the Rangers have lost just 88 man games to injuries, which are fewer than 130 for their regular season during 2014-15.
