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DENVER — The Rangers are in the midst of a rough patch, having lost two of their last three in regulation for the first time this season.
It could be due to playing their last six games in 10 days, including two sets of back-to-back matchups, or the fact that star goalie Igor Shesterkin has been on injured reserve. Though facing two of the top four teams in the Central Division in the Avalanche and Predators certainly had something to do with it as well.
The 18-6-3 Blueshirts, however, have also gotten away from their game in recent days. Aside from defenseman Jacob Trouba, the Rangers haven’t had that physical edge. The offense and the power play in particular have also cooled off a bit, which resulted in just their second shutout loss of the season at the hands of the Predators on Sunday night.
“You’re going to go through stretches where the puck doesn’t necessarily go in, but you want to generate momentum,” Chris Kreider said Sunday night. “We’ve got to continue to stick to the process, stick to the things that we’ve done that have given us success. Over the last few games, there have been moments where we’ve gotten away from that entirely.”
But with a significant rise in competition projected in the next month, beginning with a rematch against Colorado on Tuesday, the Rangers will not only need to get back to their game, but they will need to be at the top of it.
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The next two games in as many nights present an opportunity. Facing one team that is considered to be a Stanley Cup contender in the Avalanche before taking on another that is currently a mess of an organization, on and off the ice, in the Coyotes, the Rangers are set to square off against clubs that are at opposite ends of the NHL’s spectrum.
Colorado is the highest-scoring team in the league, while Arizona is the lowest. The Coyotes will enter Wednesday’s game on a five-game losing streak and with the fewest wins in the NHL (five). The Avalanche have won their last four and have just two fewer wins than the Rangers’ 18, which is tied for second in the NHL.
Considering how much coach Gerard Gallant has stressed the importance of playing the same way for 60 minutes, especially in wake of their dismal first-period performance on Sunday against Nashville, the Rangers have a chance to prove they can maintain their standard level of play against any kind of competition.
The Rangers were embarrassed on home ice when they played the Avalanche last week, losing 7-3 to snap an eight-game winning streak at Madison Square Garden. If a lopsided loss like that wasn’t enough to inspire, the Rangers can get back on track with a bounce-back victory over a high-scoring Colorado team.
Tuesday’s game is the last time the Rangers are scheduled to play the Avalanche during the regular season. The last time to prove that they can skate alongside a team that has made the playoffs the last four seasons.
The Rangers, who are 12-0-1 so far against teams under .500, need a statement win to continue building off their successful start. Considering the Rangers have gone 6-6-2 against teams with winning records, a victory over the Avalanche would surely echo around the NHL.
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