Two teams played their 40th game Tuesday, but they both played in one city. That city would be New York. This time around, the Rangers are up. Here is their story so far.
New York Rangers: 27-9-4, good for 58 points:
The Rangers used to be the poster boy for poor spending practices. Now, two pricey players, alongside some good draft picks and an elite goaltender, have New York as one of the best teams in the league. They have the most points in the league right now, and nobody can catch them with their 40th game. I'm not going to say they have been the best team in the league so far, their goal differential compared to Boston's isn't close, but I'd certainly say they have been the second best. By the way, they do have a great goal differential, plus-35, and they are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, with a five game win streak to boot.
Marian Gaborik is leading the team with 23 goals and 34 points. Big money man Brad Richards is next with 31 points. Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh, and Dan Girardi have all been top notch on defense, but Del Zotto has been particularly impressive. He not only has 23 points, but he is also a plus-25. Plus, now they have Marc Staal back. There may not be a better defensive corps in the league. There are few goalies better than Henrik Lundqvist as well. He has a .939 save percentage, third best in the league. Meanwhile, Martin Biron has been more than a reliable backup, as he has a .922 SV%.
New York is going to make the playoffs, and I like their chances to win their division as well, given Ilya Bryzgalov's struggles and Pittsburgh's injuries. They have great defense, great goaltending, and just enough scoring. I don't know if I would consider them one of the top two or three Stanley Cup contenders, but they are certainly up there. The Rangers have certainly emerged as a formidable team this season.
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