Rangers snap losing streak with overtime road win

RALEIGH, NC — The Rangers (35-21-4, 74 pts) went into the final game of the February desperate for a win. Desperation produced the result they needed.

Jacob Trouba scored four minutes into overtime, and the Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2 at PNC Arena, snapping a 3-game losing streak. Vitali Kravtsov and Chris Kreider also scored.

Up to date standings and team rankings

Entering the night, New York had followed a 7-game win streak with losses to the Capitals, Coyotes, and the Flames. 

The Rangers went 8-2-1 in the month and will enter March as the 3rd place club in the Eastern Conference, six points behind 1st place Toronto.

The mood in Philadelphia grows dimmer

Last season, the Flyers (25-29-7, 57 pts) missed making the playoffs by one point, ending the season in 9th place behind Detroit. After beginning the new campaign with a good October and November performance, their season began unraveling in December and now they have fallen to 15th place. Trouble in the crease is part of the problem. Goalie Carter Hart (2.76 GAA) has not improved much over his 2.78 GAA of last season. The team’s highest rated player, RW Travis Konecney (12g/20a/32pts) is under-performing.

EAST STANDINGS QUICK TAKES

• 🔥 Montreal has the biggest rise in the standings, 3 spots up to 11th place.
• 🧊 Pittsburgh continues to struggle, falling 2 spots to 11th. Three months ago, they were 3rd.
• Buffalo is on track for a playoff berth. They rose 2 spots to 6th place
• Detroit fell another 2 spots to 4th. They were once the conference leaders.

Chicago was electric in February

The Blackhawks (31-20-9, 71 pts) gave Western Conference observers whiplash. After beginning the month as the 13th place club, they went 9-1-1 and rocketed into 3rd place. Colorado’s meltdown helped — as the formally 3rd place team could only earn three wins (falling to 6th). Chicago saw improvement on both ends of the ice. Their GFPG increased from 2.73 to 2.80, and their GAPG dropped from 2.63 to 2.55. Patrick Kane’s return has proved to be key in Chicago’s competitiveness. Kane ranks 3rd in points (68), and is 2nd in goals (34). Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic ranks 2nd in GAA (2.35).

WEST STANDINGS QUICK TAKES

• 🔥 Chicago climbed 10 places to 3rd place after a phenomenal February performance in which they went 9-1-1. Credit Patrick Kane’s strong season.
• 🧊 Colorado stalled, winning just 3 games in the month and fell to 6th.
• The Ducks continued to slide down the standings, 4th to 7th.
• Edmonton fell out of the playoff picture, going from 8th to 11th.

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