Rangers back to action with playoff-style hockey

NHL

by Molly Walker

On opening day, head coach Peter Laviolette challenged this Rangers team to play playoff hockey all season long to ease the transition into production after the postseason actually began on April 22nd.

The Blueshirts accepted that feeling and were able to get off to a great start with an 18-4-1 record.

The club may have gone through some tough times in December and January, but since the All-Star break, the Rangers have returned to their playoff-style ways.

Their record since February 5th is 16 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, with a goal difference of +27.

There have been many games with a playoff-like atmosphere, and teams have generally improved their standings each time.

“I like the way the guys compete,” Laviolette said earlier this week at the MSG Training Center. “I'm here watching practice. [Wednesday] And I was watching us, we finished the game and we were out for almost 30 minutes and the players were hitting each other fast and hard. I think it helps build identity and who we are. I don't know if you'll be surprised, but [that we’ve been in first place in the Metropolitan Division], I'm really happy to buy into the concept of competing every day. “You are what you eat, and if that's what you eat every day, that's who you are.” I thought that was good. ”

The Rangers' practice has begun, with high-intensity skating continuing through late March.

There has been a confident demeanor emanating from the locker room since the season began.

The Rangers' 46 wins and scoring percentage (.686) lead the entire NHL.

Furthermore, their 38 regulation wins are tied for second in the league with the Canucks, behind the Jets' 39.

Adam Fox, who scored the winning goal against the Bruins on Thursday, set a new career high with 13 points of the season.

The 26-year-old defenseman also extended his scoring streak to six games with three goals and five assists.

The Rangers will play the Panthers on Saturday and the Flyers at MSG on Tuesday. They prepare for their final multi-city road trip of the regular season at Colorado and Arizona on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.