Tuesday’s Garden matchup against the Capitals not only represents a challenge the Rangers intend to accept, it’s one that the Blueshirts need.
For despite a laudable 7-2-2 record, the Rangers have played way too much listless and mistake-ridden hockey for their own good, and they all know it. A continuation of this pattern would not bode well against 8-2 Washington.
“It’s one I’ve been looking forward to because they’re going to force us to raise our level of play,” Marc Staal told The Post following Monday’s practice.