After an impressive 2014-15 season, New York Rangers are looking to challenge for their fifth Stanley Cup success in franchise history. Despite New York’s long-standing success and history, they have been crowned NHL champions just once in the post-war period. Since 1940, the Rangers have appeared in the Stanley Cup on five separate occasions – most recently in 2014 – but have only managed to win ‘the big one’ just once, back in 1994.
This season, however, New York’s fans are filled with renewed hope and optimism ahead of the new campaign. Rangers have been knocking on the door for quite some time and this could finally be their year. Here are just a few reasons why New York could go all the way and emerge victorious at the end of the postseason.
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To begin with, the Rangers have acquired former Los Angeles Kings star Jarret Stoll – who was recently arrested in Las Vegas. Whilst the off-field issues are an obvious and unwelcome distraction, Stoll remains an incredibly talented hockey player and has been part of two Stanley Cup winning sides. This experience could be crucial for New York this season, especially for the younger members of the squad.
Since joining the NHL back in 2002, the veteran has played in 790 matches, scoring 140 goals and 239 assists. Stoll’s addition has been questioned by some but others believe that he could be the player to take the Rangers to the next level, and many will consider checking out the NHL betting odds on New York to win the Stanley Cup this season.
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Statistically, the Rangers rank highly amongst the best sides in the National Hockey League. In 2014, they finished the regular season with 53 victories and 22 losses – the best record in franchise history. Meanwhile, they scored an average of 3.02 goals per game and conceded just 2.28 goals per game – with both figures ranking New York as the third best team in the sport. While statistics don’t tell the whole story, these numbers certainly suggest that New York will continue to win more matches than they lose and will entertain their fans throughout the season.
Rick Nash was instrumental for the Rangers last season, scoring 42 goals and assisting 27 others in the regular campaign. He had the best points per game ratio out of the entire squad (0.87), while his versatility means that he can line-up on either the left or right wing. Nash will be looking to make another huge impact on New York’s season this year and could be the difference as they hunt a fifth Stanley Cup success.
Without a doubt, New York Rangers are a talented side. Whilst the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning may have the sport’s biggest stars, the Rangers work exceptionally hard and are more than willing to put in the extra effort to ensure victory. New York’s division should be relatively straightforward but they will face tougher sides throughout the postseason. However, with a bit of luck, the Rangers are more than capable of defying the odds and winning their fifth Stanley Cup at the end of the 2015-16 season.
