Rangers Surge with Another Shutout Victory, Strengthening Playoff Push
The New York Rangers are heating up at the perfect time, now tied for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference after another dominant defensive performance. Following their second consecutive 4-0 shutout win on home ice, they’ve pulled even with the Detroit Red Wings at 66 points, continuing their climb in the playoff race.
Their latest victory came Monday against the New York Islanders, just 24 hours after blanking the Nashville Predators. This marks their second win over the Islanders in a week, having already beaten them 5-1 at UBS Arena last Tuesday. With a perfect 3-0-0 record against their bitter rivals this season, the Rangers have effectively put an end to the Islanders’ dwindling postseason hopes.
The Rangers (31-26-4) have been on a tear, winning four of their last five games and seven of their last 10. Since flipping the calendar to January, they’ve put together an impressive 15-7-3 run, leaving behind a brutal 4-15-0 slump to close out 2024.
Lindgren Trade? No Problem—Defense Stays Rock Solid
Since trading longtime defensive anchor Ryan Lindgren to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, the Rangers’ blue line has stepped up in a major way—shutting out opponents for six straight periods.
Their latest victory was a textbook low-event game, the kind that usually favors the Islanders. However, the Rangers flipped the script, playing smart, structured, and defensively sound hockey to stifle their struggling rivals. Even after an early Islanders goal was overturned due to an offside call, the Rangers never let up and controlled the game from start to finish.
Sure, the Islanders were missing star forward Mathew Barzal, but the Rangers’ defensive dominance cannot be overlooked. With momentum building, they now turn their attention to an exciting showdown against the first-place Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. A win there would further solidify their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff race and prove they are a team to watch down the stretch.
