With just three games left in the season, the potential first-round matchups for the New York Rangers seem endless. The wild card race in the Eastern Conference has not been this close in a long time. Usually, the Rangers are the ones finding themselves in a tight race like this one. Not this year; as we stand, New York is comfortable, having clinched home-ice advantage for the first round, and potentially more.<\/p>\n
The Rangers have yet to clinch the Metropolitan Division title after falling 4-2 to the New York Islanders<\/a> on Tuesday. New York is one win away from clinching their first division title since doing so back in 2014-15. One trend that has become evident in recent history is New York having success with coaches during their first year in The Big Apple. Alain Vigneault<\/a> took the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals back in 2014. Gerard Gallant<\/a>‘s first year resulted in a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. What does New York have in store for Peter Laviolette<\/a>‘s first season? To parrot a phrase that I have been implementing all season long: only time will tell.<\/p>\n With the race for the two Eastern Conference Wild Card spots being as chaotic as ever, here is a breakdown of potential first-round matchups for the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n Well, well, well, an old foe has found themselves in the race once again. New York is very familiar with matching up against Jon Cooper and the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>. The last time these two franchises met, it was Tampa Bay getting the last laugh, defeating the Rangers in six games in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals. You have to play what is given to you, yet this would be the matchup the Rangers should avoid at all costs.<\/p>\n If the Rangers can clinch the division and the top spot in the Eastern Conference, a matchup with Tampa Bay<\/a> would be highly unlikely. Therefore, New York can match up with Tampa if they bottle their three remaining games. Currently, Tampa Bay would be headed to Boston for a first-round matchup with the Boston Bruins<\/a>.<\/p>\n To control the Lightning, you HAVE TO stay out of the penalty box (yes, I’m talking to you Foxy). New York cannot afford to have their penalty killers take penalties themselves. Players like Adam Fox<\/a>, Barclay Goodrow<\/a>, and Vincent Trocheck<\/a> need to control the breakout against a loaded offence like Tampa Bay<\/a>. A player like Nikita Kucherov<\/a> could single-handedly win a game for the Lightning after his career year. With that being said, this potential first-round matchup would go six games minimum.<\/p>\n Kucherov’s 94th assist of the season was an absolute beauty. \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8 pic.twitter.com\/mIUbMFhCjF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNew York Rangers Potential First-Round Playoff Matchups<\/h2>\n
Potential First-Round Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning<\/h3>\n
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