SPORTS TALK (OK JUST THE RANGERS)
WITH ERIC TAMMERO- DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
30-13-4, 64 points. Comfortably in the playoff mix and contending for the division title.
This is where the New York Rangers stand at what was supposed to be the Olympic break. Would I have signed for this before the season started? The answer every Rangers fan should give you is a resounding “yes”!
Most would have said that making the playoffs was a mandate, and most were confident a playoff appearance was very possible, but not many would have believed the team would be in this position in mid February. Now I’ve never been a proponent of the NHL players going to to the Olympics- disrupting the season and putting top players at risk mid year never sat well with me. Thankfully the league and players did the right thing by not going to Beijing.
They really had no choice… the scheduled break had to be used to reschedule all the postponements from earlier in the season. The Rangers only had a few games postponed so they were able to get a two week break from games. The break has been important to the Rangers for one reason: get Adam Fox healthy.
Fox sustained an injury just prior to the break and while it was deemed minor, it’s always concerning when your best player misses games. The Rangers managed well in his absence but it’s certainly noticeable when he’s not in the lineup. As they head into the final third of the season, the tests for this Rangers team will increase. There will be a lot to learn still about how much of a true cup contender this team really is. The final 35 games will feature tons of matchups against division rivals, who are also some of the top teams in the league.
Confidence is high, but there’s a long way to go.
ERIC TAMMERO
Distribution Manager