The New York Rangers have been on a roll lately and their Stanley Cup odds have been rising with each win. The Rangers have won six straight games and have an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games. The team is now third in the Metropolitan Division and three points behind the New Jersey Devils.
The Rangers’ success is largely due to the stellar play of Artemi Panarin. Panarin has averaged two points per game in February with six goals and six assists in his last 12 games.
However, the Rangers face an uphill battle to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. The East is stacked with six of the top teams in the NHL coming from the Eastern Conference. The Rangers would have to beat the Devils and then (most likely) beat the Hurricanes to make it to the Conference Finals.
The Boston Bruins remain the team to beat in the East with a +86 goal difference, which is miles better than the next best team in this category – New Jersey at +41. The Rangers have already made a splash on the trade market, but Vitali Kravtsov could still be active after making a trade request.
It will take a lot of skill, depth, and luck for the Rangers to make it to the Conference Finals. But with their current winning streak, the Rangers have certainly made their case as a team to watch.