The Rangers are trying to find some happy medium, one where they can glean confidence from big wins while at the same time not overvaluing them.
Following Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the mighty Blackhawks in Chicago, the 22-20-3 Rangers, finally two games over .500 for the first time this season, were rewarded with a day off Thursday. By the time the two-week Olympic break rolls around, starting on Feb. 9, this road win over the defending Stanley Cup champions may be nothing more than another step forward that was erased by two steps back — or it could be the harbinger of change.
“I don’t think we should blow this up into anything more than what it is,” defenseman Marc Staal told The Post after the game, in which he continued to roll into top form since returning from his concussion, notching two assists. “I think we played a good road game against a really good hockey team. We found a way to win, and absolutely it’s something we can build on.”
Staal may have shown the most overt bit of rational perspective, but the visitor’s dressing room at the United Center was not one where the Blueshirts acted as if they had won the Stanley Cup. It took their road record to 14-10-0, tying the Ducks for the most wins away from home in the league. Yet with 12 of their next 13 games — starting with the Stars at the Garden on Friday night — either at MSG or outside at Yankee Stadium, the Rangers are going to have to do better than their 8-10-3 record at home.
Although their coach might have changed, the leadership group of the team is still in place from the appearance in the Eastern Conference finals two seasons ago — no matter how long ago it actually seems — and taking victories in January and treating them as if they’re victories in May is not exactly something they want to become accustomed to.
What they would like to become more familiar with is the way they’re playing right now, having gone 7-3-2 in their past 12. They even have scored three or more goals for three straight games now, winning 7-1 in Toronto on Saturday and losing a 4-3 shootout at home to the Blue Jackets on Monday.
“I thought our effort the last few, we had a good emotional level,” Staal said. “We were into the game as a team and we were playing more desperate. And that’s good. If we can take that momentum and that effort, we’ll be good.”
Luckily for the Rangers, it has not just been their Metropolitan Division that has been awful this season, but the whole of the Eastern Conference. Leaving Chicago, they were behind just the Penguins and Flyers in the division, which also placed them tied for seventh overall in the conference. A run of any sort over the next month will solidify their place as a playoff entrant. By then, how much will a turbulent first three months even matter?
“I think we all understand the importance of every game right now,” said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, finally starting to resemble his past self, the goaltender who took home the 2012 Vezina Trophy. “We all want to win, always, but you can’t just snap your fingers and get it done. That’s how it always works, every season.
“The intensity goes up as you go down the stretch, you feel the importance of every game, it goes higher and higher. Sometimes that helps you keep your focus and pay attention to details, because you know that can be the difference.”