The New York Rangers ended February with a loss, which could pose long-term challenges, a fact that Ryan Lindgren acknowledged after witnessing his team fall to the Toronto Maple Leafs at home.

Ryan Lindgren of the New York Rangers

Ryan Lindgren knows that every victory counts as the New York Rangers fight for a Wild Card spot to secure a place in the playoffs. However, with the recent 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the situation could become complicated towards the end of the regular season due to the points issue.

According to Lindgren’s recent statements after the Rangers’ loss to Toronto at MSG, he was very clear, saying, “We need to win games right now and we didn’t. That’s all that matters,” as a kind of message about the team’s primary focus following the defeat.

Toronto struck first with a power play goal by Oliver Ekman-Larsson at 1:47 in the first period, assisted by Max Domi and Morgan Rielly. The Rangers equalized with a goal from Mika Zibanejad at 13:08, assisted by Will Borgen and J.T. Miller.

In the second period, William Nylander scored unassisted at 0:51, followed by a shorthanded goal from Will Cuylle for the Rangers at 3:47 in the third period, assisted by Mika Zibanejad. Finally, Matthew Knies scored the game-winning goal for Toronto at 6:21, assisted by Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Current situation for the Rangers

The current situation in the Eastern Conference is highly competitive, especially in the NHL Wild Card race. The Rangers are currently positioned outside the Wild Card spots, sitting in fourth place with 62 points from 59 games. The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets hold the Wild Card spots with 66 points each.

Their February results have been mixed, with notable wins against Vegas (4-2), Boston (3-2), and Pittsburgh (5-3). These results reflect the team’s inconsistency, which they must overcome to improve their standings. Looking ahead, the Rangers have a challenging schedule in early March, with games against Nashville, New York Islanders, Washington, Ottawa, and Columbus. These matchups are crucial for the Rangers as they seek to gain ground in the Wild Card race.

The Rangers need to capitalize on these opportunities to secure vital points and improve their playoff chances. Consistent performance and strategic wins against key opponents will be essential for the Rangers to make a strong push for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Lindgren’s stats for the 2024-25 season so far

Ryan Lindgren’s overall stats for the 2024-25 season show that he has played 54 games, scoring 2 goals and providing 17 assists, totaling 19 points with a plus/minus of 1. In his most recent games, Lindgren had 2 penalty minutes and a time on ice of 18:40 against Toronto, 24:13 against the New York Islanders, and 22:14 against Pittsburgh.