{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/0fH0doxD.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Rangers Fall to Capitals 3-2 for Thirds Straight Loss", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/0fH0doxD-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0fH0doxD.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/0fH0doxD.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0fH0doxD-MekIZXV7.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 194678, "filesize": 8614519, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0fH0doxD-7QE9Jvzm.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 270, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 255332, "filesize": 11298467, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0fH0doxD-qqOg26QO.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 720, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 799224, "filesize": 35365665, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0fH0doxD-aEJFL7DH.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 113924, "filesize": 5041140 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0fH0doxD-stjsiaJR.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 360, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 290492, "filesize": 12854294, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/0fH0doxD-kbqqdTAi.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 540, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 453166, "filesize": 20052626, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The New York Rangers (26-13-2) are a team that established themselves as one of the best clubs in the NHL in the early goings of the season. Despite mediocre play as of late – with four straight losses – there’s a belief that even the Rangers play from earlier in the year wasn’t their ceiling." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Rangers have currently converted at the highest rate in the NHL on the powerplay (30.08%) and have the seventh-best penalty kill (83.19%)." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Speed at even-strength play was emphasized when Peter Laviolette was hired this past summer. Skating at 5-on-5, the Rangers have scored 81 goals (22nd in the NHL) relying on their power play far too much for a contender." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Ranger's cornerstone players have shifted a bit compared to the last two seasons. Artemi Panarin is a goal scorer, tied for fifth in the league with 26 goals, and sits tied for third in the league in points (58, 32 assists)." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Igor Shesterkin is not a deity, posting lows in every stat category in his fifth NHL season (16-10-0, 2.90 GAA, .901 SV%). The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner is still trying to find his game. " } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNTgyMTk2MzQ5NDEzMjM4/usatsi_21984152.jpg" }, "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Blueshirt's first game of the season was arguably their most complete effort in a new system. They scored in every situation, Shesterkin allowed just one goal, and the goat of the preseason, Alexis Lafreniere, scored to begin his torrid 2024 campaign. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "In their first four games, they went 2-2-0. It was a masterful exposition, like a perfect script. All the seeds for what was to lie ahead were displayed in early October." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Rangers would then make history on the long western road trip that spanned the first month of the season, winning a club-record five wins in a possible five games, never done before in the team's 98-year history. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "They would begin their campaign boasting a 7-2-0 record as they returned to Madison Square Garden for just their third home game of the season. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "That’s where the first page of the test began for the league’s best. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "In a benchmark game, the Rangers dug in and defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, losing Filip Chytil and Adam Fox to long-term injuries. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "At the end of the month, a Kaapo Kakko injury forced the Rangers to recall more help from the Hartford Wolf Pack, which included a brief stint from the highly anticipated prospect Brennan Othmann. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Rangers opened the season playing too good to be true and had small samples of how the team played when they lost. Those were ugly. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "In the team's 14 losses this season, they have surrendered four or more goals. In the 2023 portion of this season, the team was 25-7-1. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "To start 2024, they are 1-3-1. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Rangers are a team that, when they are on their game, are as much of a Stanley Cup contender as any other elite team in the NHL. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "When they are off their game, they can't stop the bleeding. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "So, who are these Rangers? " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "They're a major question mark as we sit here on Jan. 13. Yes, they've dealt with injuries but so does every team. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "While they have been able to tread water, in large part due to Hartford call-ups, it will be interesting to see that when healthy, they can refind their game from earlier in the season as their Metro leads continue to get slimmer by the day. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Blue Shirts are focused on righting their wrongs against the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon after falling to their Metropolitan Division foes Saturday 3-2. " } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "TOP STORIES", "level": 3 } } ] }

Rangers Rookie Will Cuylle Outperforming Season Expectations

Halfway Mark: Who Are These Rangers?