The New York Rangers Improved, But…

2 years ago  /  Kuklas Korner

from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,


...the top six may have only five forwards who legitimately fit into that category, a fact of life exacerbated by the news that Kaapo Kakko will be out for at least the rest of March before the Finn might be able to return from the wrist injury that has sidelined him since Jan. 21.

Best-case scenario, Kakko might have a three-week runway to the playoffs in which to get into hockey condition and hone his timing while attempting to reach a playoff pace. That is going to be a challenge for him.

And it is going to be a challenge for the Rangers, who are so dependent on their marquee names up front but have scored the fewest five-on-five goals among the 16 teams currently in playoff position.

So for the immediate future, what you’ve seen the last three games is probably what you will get: Mika Zibanejad between Chris Kreider and Alexis Lafreniere with pending free agent Ryan Strome skating between Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano.

Is this the place to note that Panarin has scored once at five-on-five in the last 19 games and twice in his last 28 contests? Or that Strome has gone nine straight without a five-on-five goal with three in his last 23 matches? Or that Kreider has scored once in the last seven at full strength and that Zibanejad has gone eight straight without one, and with three in his last 26 games?


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