As flawed as the New York Rangers are, they have a lot of company when it comes to the Metropolitan Division. Outside of the Washington Capitals who have built a five point cushion and sit in first place, there are only four points separating the next five teams in the standings.
With the Rangers facing a spate of injuries to key personnel and a bizarre schedule that saw them play only six games in nineteen days, it was a perfect opportunity for their competition to put some wins on the board and build some space between them and New York.