Rangers Need Answers to Questions

Two months into this young NHL season, it is obvious who the weakest division is. 

The Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference has become the joke of the NHL right now. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been the only consistent team so far this season while the Washington Capitals have come on strong of late and may be finding their stride behind captain Alex Ovechkin. 

So who wants that third spot in the Metropolitan Division? The New York Rangers would seem to be the odds on favorite to secure the third spot, but have had trouble putting back to back wins together and have lost three in a row to under achieving teams. 

After starting the season with a treacherous nine game road trip where the Blueshirts went 3-6, and a home opening loss to Montreal, it seemed as if the Rangers were in for a long season with their star goaltender in the final year of his contract. The Rangers struggled to find the back of the net while opponents were peppering the back of theirs. 

Then came a favorable stretch of games where the Rangers would begin to elevate their game to the level everyone expected. A three game winning streak against mediocre to bad teams was halted by the mighty Anaheim Ducks, but the Rangers bounced back with a blowout win against Pittsburgh and two more wins against the basement of the Eastern Conference. 

Winning five out of six helped this team regain their mojo....or at least everyone thought they did. 

Henrik Lundqvist's Quest Towards Immortality

Last night Henrik Lundqvist made a statement, hes ready to get his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. After an incredible shutout performance in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden Lundqvist topped it saving 35 shots, shutting out the Capitals again in Game 7 at the Verzion Center and sending his Rangers to the eastern conference semifinals.

After falling just short last year to the New Jersey Devils in the eastern conference finals and carrying his team all season to squeeze them into the playoffs Lundqvist looks more determined than ever to bring his team all the way this season. Lundqvist, who has a 1.65 GAA in the playoffs, carried his team through the first round of the NHL playoffs against the explosive scoring Washington Capitals led by Alexander Ovechkin.  Lundqvist looks this year that he is ready to quiet the naysayers who feel he cant win the big one. No one will ever question Lundqvist incredible playing in the regular season but they question his ability to dominate in the playoffs. However over the last two seasons Lundqvist is 3-0 in Game 7's and seems more focused than ever.

Best of the Rest Series: New York Rangers

Photo: tumblr.com

The New York Rangers are one of the most storied franchises in the NHL. They are an Original Six team that dates back to 1926. The Rangers are also one of the most disappointing franchises when it comes to Stanley Cup victories. The Blueshirts have just four Stanley Cups in their history, and one cup since 1940 when there were only seven teams in the league. 

The Rangers have also had some great teams that fell short of a Stanley Cup victory. This may be difficult for some Ranger fans to read. Aside from the teams that are on this short list, Ranger fans have also had endure some terrible seasons, and that includes the younger Ranger fans that had to watch the Blueshirts miss the playoffs for seven straight seasons between 1997 and 2004. 

So here are the five greatest Ranger teams to not win the Stanley Cup:

* I chose not to include any teams before 1967 when there were only six teams. 

Lundqvist Peaking At The Right Time

For the better part of the shortened 2013 season, the New York Rangers have been forced to do some soul searching. The constant inconsistency, no pun intended, and lack of scoring has the Rangers battling multiple teams for the final playoff spots. After a trade sent Marian Gaborik to Columbus, and the addition of Ryane Clowe, the Rangers are beginning to find their groove, and no one has elevated their game more than Henrik Lundqvist.

Since being blanked in back-to-back games against Ottawa and Montreal, the Rangers are 3-0-1 and have moved into seventh place in the east. It's only four games, but in these four games the Rangers are playing the kind of hockey that will get them to the playoffs. In the four games the Rangers have out scored their opponents 15-5 (shootout goals not included), including a 6-1 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rick Nash has continued to put points on the board, and Derek Stepan is finally performing at the level he was expected to.