Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko looks on against the Lightning in the third period of an NHL game at Madison Square Garden Jan. 2. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
With two weeks to go until the March 21 trade deadline, the Rangers are methodically rumbling toward their first playoff appearance in five years. Realistically, there are no worries anymore about actually making the playoffs this spring — not with a 17-point lead Saturday morning over the first team out of the playoffs in the East, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
No, at this point, Rangers GM Chris Drury can assume his team will make the playoffs and go from there.