The Rangers aren’t shopping for into the notion that if an NHL crew sits in a playoff spot by Thanksgiving, then stated crew will doubtless go on to qualify for the postseason.
At present third within the Metropolitan Division at 13-4-3 by way of their first 20 video games, the Rangers occur to be a kind of groups. The Rangers, nonetheless, aren’t letting themselves get comfy.
“There’s nonetheless a whole lot of hockey left to be performed this 12 months,” defenseman Adam Fox stated Saturday after apply in Tarrytown. “Clearly, we’ve put ourselves in place on this begin of the 12 months. There’s nonetheless a whole lot of hockey.
“I feel we need to proceed the momentum we’ve got proper now and put collectively a whole lot of wins. We all know we’re in a reasonably robust division, so I wouldn’t say you’re ever safe. I feel each level issues.”
The Rangers received’t have an opportunity so as to add to their level whole Sunday, nonetheless, as their game against the Islanders was postponed resulting from their rivals’ COVID-19 outbreak.
Whereas they could be tied with the Flames to spherical out the highest 5 groups within the league with 29 factors, the Rangers aren’t getting forward of themselves. Head coach Gerard Gallant has tried to instill a day-to-day method within the Rangers, particularly since issues change so shortly within the NHL.
“On this league, issues change in a single day,” Gallant stated. “COVID hits your crew, and the New York Islanders are an ideal instance. You simply obtained take it at some point at a time. We’re actual pleased with the best way issues are going as we speak, however tomorrow issues might change in a heartbeat.”
The Rangers bounced again from dropping the primary three video games of November to win seven of the subsequent eight. Their 29 factors mark the Rangers’ finest 20-game begin to a season since they went 14-5-1 to open the 2016-17 marketing campaign.
Fox stated he believes the Rangers have needed to discover ways to cope with their current success.
“I feel we’ve carried out a reasonably good job of not letting our lows be too low and the very best be too excessive,” he stated. “We’ve went by way of a whole lot of robust stretches these previous few years, and I feel we’re understanding learn how to win video games now just a little extra. Simply understanding that each sport is a brand new problem and we’re not likely dwelling on any losses or wins or specializing in the previous.
“I feel we do job of transferring on to the subsequent sport and attempting to concentrate on that. I feel we’re dealing with these wins good proper now and clearly obtained group of men in there to handle the feelings, too.”
With factors in 15 of 20 video games this season, Fox leads all NHL defensemen with 17 assists and 21 factors. Friday’s matchup in Boston marked Fox’s 145th NHL sport, making him considered one of 22 NHL defensemen to report 110 factors in his first 145 video games and considered one of eight to have 93 or extra assists over that very same span.
