Are the Rangers really ready to make jump to contention?

I should have seen the result of this game in Boston coming. The second Jaro Halak was named starter I should have expected a shutout. But could someone please explain to me how this team once again came into a game looking flat and ill-prepared? No Artemi Panarin tonight was questionable at best, you hope he is in Saturday, but even he wouldn’t have been able to save what was just an all-around back night for the Rangers. It was a microcosm of a roller coaster season, which has me questioning if the Rangers can make the jump to contention.