Previewing The Rangers Potential First-Round Playoff Matchups

The New York Rangers’ 2023-2024 campaign has been quite a success to this point.

That success climaxed on Tuesday night when an Adam Fox overtime goal against the Philadelphia Flyers officially punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, becoming the first team this season to do so.

The Rangers also became the first team to reach the 100-point mark, and outside of sitting in first place in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference, the entire NHL.

If the Rangers hold on to the top spot in the East, currently holding a slim three-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes, they would face the second wild-card team in the first round of the playoffs.

However. if the Hurricanes were to pass the Rangers, they would face the third seed in the Metro.

Here are three potential first-round matchups the Rangers could see:

The Washington Capitals (36-26-9)

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If the season ended today, the Rangers would host the Capitals in the first round.

After missing the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Washington mutually parted ways with former Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette and hired rookie bench boss Spencer Carbery.

The youngest head coach in the NHL, 42, has completely disregarded the outside noise that Washington was in for a tough season.

Though they have been without All-Star forward Nicklas Backstrom, a down season from Alexander Ovechkin (who has found fire of late), and a -26 goal differential, the Capitals have found a way to get into postseason contention.

With 81 points in 71 games, the Capitals have bought into what Carbery has been selling, especially lately, winners of three straight and seven of their last ten to get into a playoff spot.

The regular season series between the Rangers and Capitals has ended at two games apiece. The last time the rivals met in the playoffs was in the second round in 2015, with the Rangers winning Game Seven.

The Detroit Red Wings (36-29-7)

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The Red Wings are just outside the playoff picture, sitting two points behind the Capitals for the second wild-card spot.

It has been an up-and-down season for the Red Wings, which included a six-game win streak that was immediately followed by a seven-game losing streak.

Two helpful additions that have contributed to the Red Wings’ growth have been sniping forward Alex Debrincat, who was acquired from the Ottawa Senators, and the free-agent signing of Shayne Gothisbehere, a two-way defenseman, to a one-year deal.

But the biggest addition did not come until November when the Wings signed future Hall of Famer and former Ranger forward Patrick Kane. Kane inked a one-year deal after undergoing hip surgery this summer.

Kane has bolstered the Red Wings offense alongside Debrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond.

The Rangers currently lead the season series with the Red Wings 2-0, and they are set to face one final time before the regular season ends on Apr. 5th in Detroit.

The Philadelphia Flyers (36-27-10)

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Another team that many did not expect to be in playoff contention, the Flyers have simply found ways to stay in the race all season long.

Flyers head coach John Tortorella, who coached the Rangers from 2008-2013, may not have a team loaded with stars, but he has a team that seems to have fully bought into his system and culture.

The Flyers have had to deal with obstacles this season, but more often than not, they found themselves playing sound hockey, with forwards Travis Konecny, Joel Farabee, and Owen Tippett the key offensive contributors on a game-to-game basis.

The Rangers lead the season series 3-0 against the Flyers, and they are slated to meet one more time in the regular season on Apr. 11 at MSG.

The last time the two division rivals met in the postseason was back in the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, where the Rangers won in seven games.

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