January 23, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left Will Cuylle (50) and New York Rangers Center Filip Chytil (72) celebrate the target of New York Rangers right -handed Reilly Smith (91) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images New York Rangers spent Saturday afternoon practicing for Colorado Avalanche, where they were looking for their next opponent to win a regulatory win over the Boston Bruins and prepared for two players slightly earlier than expected.
Locked in a tight race about a Wild-Card place in the Eastern Conference, Rangers will try to earn at least one point in an 11th straight match Sunday afternoon when they host Avalanche.
Colorado in turn plays its second match since trading star Mikko Rantanen.
Rangers have 7-0-3 on their last 10 games and 8-1-3 during their last 12. The hot Streak follows an ugly 4-15-0 slide that sent Rangers under the playoffs and forced the reigning presidents’ trophy winners to push with several other teams.
New York comes after a couple of skewed home victories.
Rangers followed up a 5-0 route by Ottawa Senators on Tuesday by pulling away for a 6-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers two nights later.
New York also comes after a very productive excursion from its six defenders, which combined for three goals and five assists against Flyers. K’Andre Miller and Adam Fox each gathered goals and an assist while Braden Schneider also scored, which is the first time since December 8, 2019, Rangers saw all six defenders gather at least one point.
“We know the team we have and we didn’t forget (how) we would play hockey in a couple of months,” said New York striker Filip Chytil. “Sometimes you have such distances during a season, it’s about the team and how it reacts. I think we have responded in a good way in the past month and that is why we win these hard matches. We have to continue like this.”
Rangers meet Colorado and Carolina Hurricanes in their next two home games, opponents involved in a best -selling trade on Friday. Colorado acquired Martin Necas and Jack Drury – a nephew of New York’s general manager Chris Drury – from Hurricanes in exchange for Rantanen, which they are unlikely to retain in the Free Agency after the season.
“We would have met them anyway, right?” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette told reporters at Saturday’s training. “We play against both teams. Nothing changes. They have just changed uniform.”
Colorado gathered for a 3-2 overtime victory at home against Rangers on January 14. Artturi Lehkonen made the receipt goal with 1:13 left in the regulation and defender Devon Toews registered the match winner 4:23 in overtime.
The Avalanche has 4-5-2 in their last 11 competitions since they scored 28 goals in a victory series in six matches December 19-Jan. 2.
In his first match since the change, Colorado allowed three straight goals and took a 3-1 loss against Bruins. Necas played on the top line with Nathan Mackinnon and Jonathan Drouin and took two shots on goal in over 21 minutes while they were on the ice for all three even goals.
“It’s pretty impressive to play with two of the best players in the world,” Necas said. “You can see that every day when you play against them. It’s fun to be out there with them. I just have to find my legs a little, sleep a little then I’m good tomorrow.”
— Field Level Media
