With only 13 games left in the regular season for the New York Rangers, every game will be tabbed a "must win."
The Rangers blew an opportunity to kick off their Western road trip on a positive note, by coming out flat and subsequently getting crushed by the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
Unfortunately for New York, the road doesn't get any easier tonight. The Rangers will take on the San Jose Sharks on the road tonight, in their second game of this Western road trip.
The Sharks pose an immense test for the Rangers, who need the two points on the table badly. San Jose is first in the Pacific Division and have 85 points so far this season. They are also coming into the game red-hot, going 8-1-1 in their last 10.
If the Hurricanes win and the Rangers lose then Carolina will tie the Rangers in points. New York would still hold eighth place however, due to having more wins than the Hurricanes (the first tiebreaker after points) so far this season.
Notes:
- Henrik Lundqvist is expected to get the starting nod for the Rangers tonight.
- Both New Jersey and Carolina play tonight, the Rangers would love nothing more then to see both teams take regulation losses. Of course the Devils are playing the Atlanta Thrashers, so that game will act as a double edged sword for the Rangers playoff chances regardless of what happens.