Rangers not fazed by massive Hurricanes trade haul

New York Post

The Rangers saw one of their Eastern Conference competitors — and their opponents on Tuesday — make a big splash Friday night when Carolina traded for Colorado RW Mikko Rantanen, as well as Chicago’s Taylor Hall.
“I saw it,’’ Chris Kreider said Saturday after the Rangers practiced in Tarrytown.
We’ll focus on that.” That continues Sunday, when the Rangers face Colorado, Rantanen’s former team, at Madison Square Garden.
“We’re showing when we do that, we’re a pretty good hockey team.” There’s around six weeks for the Rangers to alter their roster — with J.T.
In the meantime, the Rangers are firmly in the mix for the playoffs and perhaps they’ll get themselves into position for another lengthy postseason run.

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By trading for Colorado RW Mikko Rantanen and Chicago’s Taylor Hall on Friday night, the Rangers saw one of their Eastern Conference rivals—and their opponents on Tuesday—make a big splash.

They’re not letting the Hurricanes’ possible improvement deter them.

Chris Kreider remarked, “I saw it,” following the Rangers’ practice in Tarrytown on Saturday. Our concern is for ourselves. On Sunday, we have a game. “.”.

The Rangers have been arguably the best team in the league since the beginning of January, a run that has propelled them back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture after they were written off less than a month ago. This mentality has served them well lately.

It’s also possible that the roster will change prior to the trade deadline on March 7.

But head coach Peter Laviolette said, “That thought has never come into my mind,” in response to a question on Saturday regarding potential additions. “.”.

Instead, he continues to concentrate on his current squad, which has a 10-game point streak (7-0-3) and is searching for its first three-game winning streak since mid-November.

Laviolette praised the team’s drive from near the bottom of the East to the verge of a wild-card spot, saying, “This group of guys is playing really hard right now, doing their best to work our way up the standings.” There is still plenty of time to climb even higher.

“We’ve made some progress,” Laviolette stated. We have a great deal of work ahead of us. That will be our main focus. “”.

When the Rangers play Colorado, Rantanen’s old team, at Madison sq\. Garden on Sunday, that trend will continue.

Playing better defense overall has been the foundation of the season turnaround, helping the Blueshirts put their 4–15 run far behind them.

View the most recent NHL standings and Rangers statistics.

Regarding the better overall performance over the past three or more weeks, Kreider remarked, “I think we quieted down our game.”. “We’re protecting the front of our net better and giving up fewer high-danger opportunities in large quantities.”. We are in a position to win hockey games because of it. “”.

The Rangers are a team that could still meet its high expectations, which seemed unattainable before this recent run, because no one has done that better recently.

“I believe that every team has the same objective before the season begins, which is to qualify for the playoffs, give ourselves a chance, punch your ticket, improve your strategy, and get better every day,” Kreider stated. “That’s where we are at the moment, and we’ll keep improving and growing from our errors. “,”.

From that disastrous end to 2024, the consequences of those errors are still being felt.

“I believe it highlighted the necessity of strengthening certain aspects on the puck’s defensive side,” Kreider stated. When we do that, we demonstrate that we are a respectable hockey team. “”.

With J, the Rangers have about six weeks to change their roster. T. . Miller remains in Vancouver — following the team’s major December trades of Kaapo Kakko and captain Jacob Trouba.

The Rangers are certainly in the running for the playoffs in the interim, and they might even position themselves for a long postseason run.

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