2010 Rangers Season Recap
All good runs must come to an end. The New York Rangers faced that sad realization during the 2009-2010 season that saw the franchise sitting on their hands come mid-April despite finding their way to the post season in each of the previous 4 go-rounds. Remarkably consistent over the prior 4 year span, the Rangers saw their seasonal point totals vary only marginally ranging from a high of 100 in 2005-2006 to a low of 94 in 22006-2007, while ending the year 3rd in the Atlantic Division for 3 straight campaigns before its 4th place finish in 2008-2009. This past year ended with the Rangers on the outside of the Stanley Cup chase looking in, despite putting up numbers not too different from its more successful predecessors. If this is the beginning of a decline for the Rangers, the Madison Square Garden faithful enjoyed only a moderate peak, culminating in a series of decent regular season performances and never advancing further than the Conference Semifinals in the Blueshirts’ Cup quest.After averaging nearly 43 wins in their earlier playoff seasons, the Rangers dropped to 38 wins a year ago, still good for 87 points and a decisively winning record. In fact, the last time the Rangers won 38 games, they made their way to the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals to square off against the Philadelphia Flyers. The series would begin an actual decline for the rangers, who did not see the ice after the regular season’s end until 9 years later (including the lockout of 04-05). Still there’s no definitive reason to fear the ship is sinking. The Rangers just signed Alexander Frolov to a contract and seem far from willing to throw in the towel and rebuild. Newcomer Marian Gaborik led the way with 42 goals and 44 assists in what amounted to a fruitless effort, though the Rangers’ 28-year old superstar looks to continue his success. Most importantly, the Rangers have a solid foundation between the pipes in Henrik Lundqvist, the first NHL netminder to win 30 or more games in each of his first 5 seasons.