We’ve seen this show before. It’s a new season, with a new cast and coach, but the plot is still the same.
For the third straight year, the inconsistency of the Rangers has them relying on a late-season surge to save their playoff hopes. And for the third straight year, it could work.
The Rangers went 12-3-3 at the end of the 2006-07 season, finishing three points ahead of ninth place. Last season, they finished 15-3-7, ending five points ahead of ninth place. In the midst of a 9-4-1 stretch, this year’s team sits in seventh place, but five of its remaining games come against teams currently in playoff spots.
“It’s kind of like déjà vu the last couple years,” Sean Avery said. “It’s right down to the stretch, and they’re all big games.”
Looking to carry the momentum from a huge win against the Devils on Monday, the Rangers will play at Carolina tonight, a team that’s won six straight games, along with nine consecutive at home.
“We’re not looking at five games. We’re looking at one game,” coach John Tortorella said. “Carolina is probably one of the hottest teams in the league right now. We need to find a way to get points.”
In the NHL’s version of “Chutes and Ladders,” the Rangers have the ability to climb as high as fourth in the Eastern Conference or completely slide out of the playoffs. They are three points behind the fourth-place Flyers and two points ahead of the ninth-place Panthers.
“If we have to motivate our players now for them to be ready to play hard then we have the wrong bunch of guys here — which I know we don’t,” Tortorella said. “They’ll be ready to play.”
Said Henrik Lundqvist: “We really need to remind ourselves how important the game is. We have to win. I don’t know how many we have to win of these last five, but we know it’s gonna be a great challenge for us. It’s a little more pressure, but I enjoy the games. It’s fun to play in.”
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Defenseman Michal Rozsival, who missed the last four games, participated in practice for the first time since suffering a knee injury. He is a game-time decision. howard.kussoy@nypost.com
