The NHL standings have the NY Rangers on top of the league after a fantastic run over the past two months and they currently are the number one team in the east after making it to the Stanley Cup finals last year and as the playoffs get closer, the league is starting to look at some changes to the game, including 3-on-3 play during overtime and the use of a coach's challenge during games.
The NY Rangers have been on a tear, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games while winning five in a row. Making all this more impressive is that the team has been doing it without Henrik Lundqvist, who has been recovering from an injury. Cam Talbot has been great for the Rangers and over the last 17 games the team is 14-1-2 and that has pushed them into the lead in the east.
When the Rangers lost Lundqvist, many wondered if the team would make a trade for another goaltender, but they felt comfortable with Talbot and the results show why. The team has only lost twice without Lundqvist and the team has gone 15-2-3 since he has been out. Rick Nash is having a strong season and he has been one of the leading scorers in the league. The Rangers are ranked fourth in goals per game and second in goals against per game this season.
The Rangers have a five point lead over the Islanders in the Metro division, while the Canadiens and Lightning are to points back in the overall standings. According to ESPN.com, the league has been discussing some new rules for the future, including 3-on-3 play in overtime to open things up and also the ability for coaches to challenge. The NFL has a challenge system and the MLB just introduced one last season.
"That's something we're going to discuss with the competition committee because, obviously, we want the players' association input on how we're going to approach it," Commissioner Bettman said Tuesday, according to ESPN.com.