The Rangers are feeling the heat in a packed Eastern Conference race, and Vincent Trocheck didn’t mince words after their nail-biting 3-2 win over St. Louis on Monday.
“We need wins,” Trocheck said bluntly. “The East is so tight right now. Any win, you jump four spots, and a loss, you drop four spots. We needed this one.”
He’s not kidding about the stakes. Every game feels like a playoff matchup these days, with zero room for error.
“There is no cushion, and every point carries weight like in April,” Trocheck added.
The Rangers can’t afford to wait around hoping for a hot streak. They need something more reliable – a game plan that works whether it’s a prime-time Saturday showdown or a tired Tuesday night in the middle of a road trip.
That’s where head coach Mike Sullivan comes in.
Sullivan’s biggest challenge? Building a system that can weather the ups and downs of a grueling NHL season. It’s about getting back to basics and fixing some key issues:
* Fewer risky long passes
* Better puck support from both sides of the ice
* Smarter plays at the blue line to avoid turnovers
The team needs to be smart about how they use their players too. The grinders should get the tough minutes, while the skilled guys need to be ready to strike after the other team scores.
Their special teams could use some tweaking as well. The power play needs to be more direct, less fancy. On the penalty kill, they’ve got to be aggressive right from the start and keep those passing lanes clogged up.
When things get tough, the Rangers need to play it smart – use safe chip-outs to relieve pressure and make quick line changes to keep fresh legs on the ice. When they’ve got the momentum, that’s the time to push hard with wave after wave of attacks.
But most importantly, Sullivan needs to drill good habits into this team:
* Smart line changes
* Strong starts to each period
* A defensive-minded approach when protecting leads
If they can nail these fundamentals, they won’t need to worry about draft lottery odds – they’ll be too busy planning for the playoffs.
