EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Four of the top five teams in the Metropolitan Division take center stage here at MetLife Stadium this weekend with the 2014 NHL Stadium Series.
The first-place New York Rangers play the fifth-place Islanders on Sunday afternoon after the Philadelphia Flyers, who are tied for second in the division, skate against the fourth-place New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
No spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be earned or lost this weekend. But these outdoor games will kickstart an intriguing stretch run in the division and Eastern Conference, that includes the NHL trade deadline March 8.
So, where do each of these teams stand heading into the Stadium Series?
Let’s take a look.
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Where four Metropolitan Division teams stand ahead of Stadium Series, NHL trade deadline
New York Rangers
The Rangers are rolling, having won six straight games, tied for their longest streak of the season. They’ve won all five of their games since the All-Star break and are receiving solid goaltending from Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, as well as scoring throughout the lineup.
New York has increased its lead in the Metropolitan Division to eight points ahead of the Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes, who are tied for second place. Top to bottom, they are as good as any team in the League and are serious Stanley Cup contenders.
Expect the Rangers to be active ahead of the trade deadline. Blake Wheeler’s ugly lower-body injury in a 7-4 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday gives them more urgency to deal for a top-line right wing, possibly a reunion with Anaheim Ducks forward Frank Vatrano.
With Filip Chytil out for the season, the Rangers are likely hunting for a third-line center, as well.
An interesting side note, the Blueshirts have never lost an outdoor game. They are 4-0-0, including a 2-1 win against the Islanders at Yankee Stadium during the 2014 Stadium Series.
New York Islanders
Here’s what you need to know about the Islanders ahead of the Stadium Series: coach Patrick Roy bag-skated them following practice Wednesday. That came after a lackluster 2-1 shootout loss at home to the Seattle Kraken the night before, their second straight defeat after two wins in a row.
“The one part of our game that I think needs to improve in the compete level,” Roy said Wednesday. “If we want to go to the next level, that’s what’s missing in our game.”
Roy was more forgiving in his comments after practice at MetLife Stadium on Thursday. But the fact remains that the Islanders need more urgency and consistency in their game if they’re going to make a run at the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Islanders are 3-3-2 since Roy replaced Lane Lambert as coach Jan. 20. They are eight points out of third place in the Metro, though only three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card into the playoffs from the East. But they don’t have the feel of a real contender, unless goalie Ilya Sorokin can find another level or two in his game.
They have miniscule salary cap space ahead of the deadline, even with defenseman Robert Bortuzzo on LTIR, so the Islanders may have to find their answers from within, unless general manager Lou Lamoriello can pull a rabbit out of his hat.
It would appear hiring Roy will be their biggest in-season move.
The Islanders are 7-4-4 within the division and have 10 games left against Metro teams, including four against the Rangers, whom they’ve yet to play this season.
Related: Islanders captain recaptures past football glory at Stadium Series practice
New Jersey Devils
The Devils are a fun team to watch, unless you’re coach Lindy Ruff, that is.
New Jersey has some high-end offensive talent, led by center Jack Hughes, and is ninth in the League scoring 3.34 goals per game. However, poor goaltending and overall team defensive play has the Devils near the bottom of the NHL in goals against (3.42; tied for 26th).
The Devils dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday after winning two straight. Like the Islanders, they need to find consistency in their game and must string some wins together to leap back into a playoff spot. They are a point up on the Islanders and two behind the Red Wings for that final playoff berth in the East.
Injuries have played a major role in New Jersey’s struggles. They remain without defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler and now lost starting goalie Vitek Vanecek to a lower-body injury. He’s unavailable for the Stadium Series.
Rumors are circulating that the Devils have checked in with the Calgary Flames about a possible trade for goalie Jacob Markstrom, which would be a game-changer for them.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are one of the most pleasant surprises in the NHL this season. John Tortorella has his team tied for second in the division, and is a contender for the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year.
They arrive at the Stadium Series coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. But they had won their previous four games and scored twice in the third period to get another crucial point Thursday.
The Flyers don’t score a lot and their power play is 31st in the League (13.0 percent), but they are a sound, committed defensive team, 10th in the NHL allowing 2.85 goals per game.
The Flyers could add ahead of the trade deadline, perhaps a goalie since Carter Hart is on an indefinite personal leave of absence. But there’s more talk of them moving one of their veteran pending UFA defensemen – Sean Walker, Nick Seeler or Marc Staal – than adding a big piece.
Philly could be without injured forward Tyson Foerster and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen against the Devils, who are seven points behind the Flyers and Hurricanes.