Back on Jan. 3, when the Rangers had dropped to 12-19-7-3 and were threatening the expansion-like Islanders for last place, a playoff berth seemed as likely as the Garden lowering ticket prices.
But instead of provoking a corporate panic, Garden president Dave Checketts remained composed, kept Neil Smith and John Muckler employed and held faith that the $61 million club would eventually produce.
Checketts’ instincts (prayers) came true. Since that season low-point, the Rangers have gone 11-4-0 and have pulled themselves up to 23-23-7-3 at this weekend’s All-Star break.
“If we hadn’t stumbled early, we wouldn’t have had the urgency to be so hot now,” Smith said in the Rangers’ locker room after his revived team battered the Thrashers, 6-3, Thursday night, at the posh Philips Arena. “It’s not wishful stuff now, hoping you’ll get a good game out of someone. We have legitimate people in roles they can handle.”
Muckler, whose job had been in serious jeopardy during the team’s troubled times, said he enters the All-Star break optimistic about the state of the team.
“I think we’re improving,” he said. “We had a good stretch there for seven games. I think we’re showing progress.”
The Rangers (6-1-0 in their last seven road games) are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Capitals, one ahead of the Penguins. From here, though, their schedule is brutal.
The Rangers have back-to-back games Tuesday at the Garden and Wednesday at the Meadowlands against the Devils, the NHL’s best team, whom the Rangers haven’t beaten in their last 17 meetings. Later, they play Philadelphia, Florida and Pittsburgh three times each, and Washington and Detroit twice.
But asked about the Rangers making the playoffs for the first time since 1997, Muckler said, “If we’re competitive every night, we have as good a chance as anybody else.”
Smith’s done his part, making two key moves during the season which have helped the team’s swing back to respectability. On Dec. 30, he acquired right wing Radek Dvorak (five goals, eight assists in his last 15 games) from the Sharks for Todd Harvey, and he picked up former Isles defenseman Rich Pilon (a plus-6) off of waivers.
Left wing Adam Graves, who’s in his ninth year with the team, said he feels the team’s headed in the right direction. But it must not take it for granted.
“Obviously with the start we had, we’re making a lot of progress,” said Graves, who registered two assists against the Thrashers giving him 29 points for the year. “We have two tough games coming out of the break. Every game is huge here on out.”
Said center Petr Nedved, who scored his 17th goal Thursday, “We almost wish there wasn’t any break. Hopefully the break won’t slow us down.”
Mike Richter, who made 27 saves to beat the Thrashers, is the team’s only All-Star representative.
Smith credits Muckler for the consistent way he’s used him this season.
“I really think that John, just by playing him so much, has basically handed him the keys to the city and said, ‘We’re going with you hell or high water.'”
