It was a quiet trade deadline for the Rangers and for most of the NHL.
The biggest move the Rangers made was grabbing defenseman Anders Eriksson from Phoenix for goaltender Miika Wiikman and a seventh round selection in the 2011 draft.
They also traded AHL players Jordan Owens for Kris Newbury.
So the Rangers stand tied for the final playoff spot with less than 20 games left in the season, no significant help on the way, and Marian Gaborik out with a tweaked groin.
Still, having said all that, the Rangers can make a strong push into the playoffs. Here are five ways they can solidify their place.
5. Make Marc Staal and Dan Girardi the permanent shut-down defensive pair.
Staal and Girardi have occasionally spent time together as a shut-down pair, playing against opponents top lines and making sure no one gets too out of hand in terms of goal-scoring.
Coach John Tortorella doesn't always use the two defensemen together for purely defensive purposes. But with the Rangers struggling offense, it's time to admit this is a team that's only going to win games when they smother opposing teams defensively.
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steven Ovadia
After the NHL Deadline: Five Ways the Rangers Can Make It into the Playoffs
March 3rd, 2010 by Steven Ovadia Leave a reply »
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