The key to staying relevant is the Rangers building win streaks

As it stands today, the Rangers are barely a wild card team. We can say what we want about expected goals, shooting percentages, injuries, and whatever else ails the Rangers, but they simply aren’t getting it done. All of the issues had led to the Rangers putting up just one three-game win streak and a pair of two-game win “streaks.” The Rangers need to make up ground, and the only way to do so is by the Rangers building win streaks.

Asking for a 13 game win streak like the Devils is unrealistic, but the Rangers do need to start building multiple win streaks to catch up to the rest of the division. A good start would be tonight, sweeping the home and home with Ottawa and getting just their third two-game win streak.

The Rangers then have Chicago on Saturday night, the second of a back to back. Usually the second of a back to back is a nice to have, but it’s the Blackhawks. This is a prime opportunity for a third win in a row before the schedule gets difficult next week. St. Louis represents a prime opportunity to make it four in a row.

After that, though, the Rangers face four straight playoff teams in Vegas, Colorado, New Jersey, and Toronto. Thus, the need to bank points and build a four game win streak is getting more urgent. Timely wins against the Devils and Toronto would be nice, but .500 would likely be a win for the Blueshirts in that stint. Again, highlighting the need to win the games they should be winning.

Naturally, the Rangers building win streaks is easier said than done. This is a team that can’t seem to get out of its way, starting from behind the bench to on the ice. The lines on Wednesday night in Ottawa seemed to work, with a more well rounded top-nine and perhaps a true shutdown fourth line. If this is the lineup that sticks, then that’s one less hurdle for the Rangers to clear.

The Rangers building win streaks is how they stay relevant and avoid digging themselves a hole too deep to dig out when the playoff push comes. They’ve passed up prime opportunities to build prior win streaks, and this is one they simply can’t miss. Anything less than six points from the games against Ottawa and Chicago is unacceptable for this team. They already have two, so it’s time to get four more this weekend.