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Rick Nash shows Rangers he still has what they desperately need

It wasn’t a coincidence that the Rangers’ best performance in weeks coincided with one of Rick Nash’s most productive performances of the season. There was a connection between the eight-time 30-goal scorer snapping his 12-game scoring drought and his team responding in kind to seeing their top gun come alive with a responsible, smart and […]

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Islanders get one of their All Stars back at crucial time

Islanders fans, breathe a sigh of relief. Josh Bailey is back. After missing the last four games with a lower-body injury, the Isles dynamic winger is set to rejoin the top line Thursday night alongside John Tavares and Anders Lee against the Bruins at Barclays Center. Bailey — second on the team in points (50) […]

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Injuries could force Rangers to make a move

Defenseman Marc Staal will miss Thursday’s game against the Sabres after not practicing Wednesday, and center Kevin Hayes likely will be out, too. With the Rangers leaving for a four-game road trip out West on Friday, a move may have to be made to add depth to the active roster. Coach Alain Vigneault said he […]

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Islanders fall again, swept by Bruins

The Islanders had a golden chance to get a small measure of revenge Thursday night. And they failed to take advantage of it, falling to the red-hot Bruins, 5-2, at Barclays Center. Boston (26-10-8) completed its season sweep of the Islanders (23-20-4), winning all three meetings by a combined score of 13-4. The Bruins, who […]

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Rangers found their optimal blueprint in Flyers win

You’ve heard it from Alain Vigneault whenever the Rangers have run into rough patches this season, including this past weekend when the coach used one of his favorite expressions between discouraging defeats to the Islanders and Penguins in which his team surrendered 12 goals on 84 shots. “We’re going to have to simplify our game,” […]

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Josh Bailey picks up right where he left off in Islanders return

After missing the previous four games with a lower-body injury, All-Star winger Josh Bailey rejoined the top line alongside John Tavares and Anders Lee in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Bruins at Barclays Center. Bailey — second on the team in points (50) and fifth in the NHL in assists (38) entering the game — […]

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A Rick Nash breakout creates this Rangers’ trade dilemma

This is the conundrum facing general manager Jeff Gorton as the Feb. 26 trade deadline approaches: The more productive that Rick Nash is, the more substantial chance the Rangers have to make the playoffs. But at the same time, the more productive he is, the more substantial a package the Rangers can acquire in exchange […]

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Rangers lose Kevin Shattenkirk indefinitely to torn meniscus

The cloud hovering over the injury-beset Rangers has a silver lining. Because though Kevin Shattenkirk will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time following Monday’s scheduled surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, there are both a painfully obvious explanation for the defenseman’s disappointing opening run on Broadway and justifiable anticipation […]

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Rangers will be without key defenseman to start road trip

Marc Staal has been ruled out of the weekend back-to-back in Colorado on Saturday afternoon and Los Angeles on Sunday night that kicks off the Blueshirts’ four-game western swing leading into the All-Star break. As such, the Rangers will be obligated to summon a defenseman from the AHL Wolf Pack to serve as a spare […]

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Putting friends in charge of player safety is an NHL gaffe

This is understandably a difficult disconnect for players to fully grasp, but it literally has their well-being at risk. The fact that a recently retired player continues to be in charge of player safety is detrimental to the league. The immediate argument from the NHL Players’ Association is that they need someone in that position […]

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