After winning the 2023-2024 Presidents' Trophy by earning 114 points in 82 games, the New York Rangers faced the Washington Capitals, who entered as the 2nd Wild Card team, in the first round of the playoffs. Although the Capitals and Ovechkin were rejuvenated past the mid-season mark, a comparison of the two teams' statistics suggested that the Rangers would not have a tough series ahead. In contrast to the Bruins, who did not meet expectations last year against the Panthers in the first round, the regular season champions swept the Capitals to advance to the second round of the playoffs as the first team and established themselves as one of the main contenders this year.

New York Rangers performance from April 20, 2024 to May 1, 2024

Team

15

Goals

104

Shots

6

PPGs

4

Game Played

7

Goals Against

101

Shots Against

2

PPGs Against

In this article, we will review New York Rangers performance in different areas of their plays including offense, defence, special teams and goaltending

Offense

The Rangers have demonstrated their potential to score goals in various ways. They are fast and strategize to score at different stages of the game. With strong and physical forecheckers, savvy players intercepting the puck in the neutral zone, and fantastic puck distributors like Mika Zibanejad, they are adept at finishing plays.

Face-offs are a significant part of their strategy. They excel in this area and capitalize on it effectively. Winning face-offs is one of their key methods for creating scoring opportunities.

They enter the zone rapidly, either by fast skating or making long, accurate passes that lead to rushes.

Their proficiency in forechecking has forced the Capitals to turn over the puck numerous times, with the best example being the fourth goal in Game 2, where Ovi lost the puck and, in a flash, the Rangers were on full offense.

Mika Zibanejad performance from April 20, 2024 to May 1, 2024

Goals: 1

Assists: 6

Shots: 12

PPG: 1

Hits: 3

Defence

They conceded 7 goals in 4 games which is a strong goals-against average in playoffs. Most of the goals were due to tip-ins or deflections. There were limited number of times that they gave up an odd man rush for Capitals. They were great at the blue line and apart from Adam Fox, they have a new face, Matt Rempe, on their defensive pairs. Known for his height, physicality, and fighting ability, Rempe is a fan favorite who brings a lot of energy to the team when he's on the ice. He also demonstrated his offensive capabilities by scoring the first goal of the series.

Special Teams

They scored 6 power play goals and conceded only 2 while short-handed. This clearly demonstrates their strength in both power plays and penalty kills. Additionally, in this series, they excelled at creating short-handed opportunities. They pass the puck across the ice, generate numerous excellent shooting chances, frequently use one-timers, play behind the net, and engage in numerous give-and-go plays. At the center of most of these plays is Mika Zibanejad, who notched 6 assists in this series and was particularly effective on the Rangers' power play unit.

Goaltending

Sweeping a team in a series isn't possible without a reliable goalie. Igor Shesterkin proved to be both flexible and dependable throughout the series, making numerous critical saves. Apart from the lone goal he allowed in Game 3, he was a solid presence in net for the Rangers. He made countless saves stretching from post to post and executed numerous pad saves. The Rangers are pleased with his performance, boasting a 0.93 save percentage, and are hopeful he continues in this vein.

Round 2 against Canes

The second round of the playoffs starts today, with the Rangers facing off against the Hurricanes after a few days of rest, thanks to their sweep of the Capitals. Considering the Rangers' capabilities, they have high hopes for this upcoming series. However, this matchup might present a tougher challenge for them and provide a good opportunity to identify their weaknesses before advancing to more critical matchups.