The Ranger returned to the ice on Tuesday to understand the work at hand that he was not involved in the four-country showdown.
Teams who have won the presidential trophy with the most points in the league in the regular season and reach the Eastern Conference Finals know that there is something they need to do just to get back in this postseason.
“We're in a dogfight,” coach Peter LaViolet said after a brief practice at the team's facility in Tarrytown. “We have to keep fighting. We'll depend on everyone.”
The players who appeared in the international tournament have yet to return, so it was a smaller group in Westchester on Tuesday, but attendees said they were ready to run late in the postseason.
After winning three of the last four games before the break, the Rangers open their final stretch in the face of a three-point deficit with three teams, earning a wildcard spot in the east.
It starts on Saturday as the Rangers visit Buffalo for the first game of 27-game stretches, which determines the season.
“I like our chances,” said the newly arrived Will Borgen. “We've dropped a few games, but that's going to happen. Playing as close as the rankings and many teams nearby, it's playoff hockey.”
That's nothing new for the Rangers team, who continue to feel the effects of the 4-15 stretch that lasted from November to December.
A solid run in January led them to the cliff of wildcard locations, but they were unable to maintain the consistency they needed to return to the top eight.
“We have to go to games by game,” Rabiolet said. “It's the same as it came out in January. [in the standings]. We caught up a bit, but we're not there yet. We are not where we need it yet. ”
This next stretch could help the Rangers get over the hump. The match against the Sabres is the first of a nine-game stretch where the Rangers play against six teams outside the playoff picture.
“It's going to be a lot of fun,” Will Quill said. “It's a lot of games in a short period of time. It's ready.”
They need to be, as they can hardly afford more slips.
Just a month ago, the Rangers had scored four of the five and looked ready to continue their run that puts them in a solid postseason position.
But that was followed by three consecutive losses before they turned things around again before the break.
“We want to be in the playoff spot, but we're not there right now,” Cuylle said. “But you can't see the past. We need to move forward and take as many games as possible. All games are huge in the rest of the way. As it can really hurt you in the rankings, it can really hurt you. , you can't rest overnight. We've learned that it's a difficult way several times. We have to go hard after that.”
Borgen, arriving from Seattle in December, arrived on a trade involving Kaapocacco. That's why we play. Otherwise, it's pointless all year round. We need to accomplish that. Our confidence is pretty tough right now. ”
