The New York Rangers will face the Washington Capitals in the upcoming playoffs after Tuesday night’s games concluded. The Flyers needed a regulation win to stay in the race for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference and pulled their goalie, but T.J. Oshie of the Capitals scored an empty-net goal, securing a matchup with the top-seeded Rangers.
As teams wait for the Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule to be announced, let’s explore three Rangers forwards who need to be key players in the postseason.
Rangers who must step up as key players
It’s been nearly three decades since the Rangers last won the Stanley Cup in 1994. Fans remember Mark Messier’s Game 6 guarantee and Stephane Matteau’s double-overtime goal in Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils, which sent them to the Stanley Cup Final.
Cup-winning teams need their star players to excel, but they also require other players like Matteau to elevate their game in high-pressure situations.
This year’s Rangers rely on Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, and Adam Fox for offensive power. However, to have a successful playoff run, other players must step up as well.
Here are three players the Rangers need to excel in the postseason:
Kaapo Kakko (RW, 61 games played, 13 goals, 6 assists, 19 points, +6, 91 shots on goal, 13:17 time on ice)
The 2019 second-overall pick has been playing well since the trade deadline. From March 9 to April 3, he tallied eight points (six goals, two assists) in 14 games, mainly on the third line with recently acquired center Alexander Wennberg. Kakko averaged 0.52 points per game during that stretch, a performance the Rangers will need in the playoffs.
Toward the end of the season, the 23-year-old winger hasn’t recorded any points in his last six games and has a -3 rating. Despite his line with Wennberg and rookie Will Cuylle showing solid defense and good offensive zone possession, they must produce better results to support a deep playoff run.
Kakko started the 2022-23 season on the top line but was quickly replaced by veteran Blake Wheeler (out for the season) due to offensive struggles. He also missed significant time with a lower-body injury. With the playoffs resetting all stats to zero, Kakko can move past a challenging season and make an impact in the postseason.
Jack Roslovic (RW, 19 games played, 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, -1, 31 shots on goal, 13:27 time on ice)
The 27-year-old forward, set to become an unrestricted free agent, responded well to a late-season healthy scratch. With the Rangers needing to win their last two regular-season games to secure the Metro, East, and Presidents’ Trophy, Roslovic stepped up.
In victories against the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators, he scored a goal on six shots, including the game-winner against the Islanders. Although his ice time was limited, Roslovic contributed to Zibanejad and Kreider’s solid 5-on-5 scoring chances, addressing one of the team’s few weaknesses.
“We started well, then had a bit of a lull,” Roslovic said. “Now we’re back to ramping it up at the right time. It’s just special to be contributing again.”
Roslovic has averaged 0.42 points per game with the Rangers. If he can increase this average in the playoffs, New York will have two strong lines in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
Alexander Wennberg (C, 19 games played, 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, -1, 10 shots on goal, 15:22 time on ice)
The 29-year-old center, also a pending UFA, has excelled defensively, particularly on the penalty kill. However, the Rangers will need more than his current 0.26 points per game for a successful playoff run.
Wennberg’s main challenge is his predictable play in the offensive zone—opponents expect him to pass the puck 95% of the time. Since joining the Rangers, he’s averaged only 0.52 shots per game in 19 games.
This wouldn’t be an issue if he were an elite passer like Adam Oates, but even Oates averaged 1.78 shots per game throughout his 19-year NHL career. Wennberg needs to vary his approach in the playoffs, shooting more to keep defenders guessing and potentially becoming a significant x-factor for the team.
