Bantering Points: 3/21/17

The Rangers are back in action tonight, as they'll head into the Prudential Center to take on the New Jersey Devils at 7:00 tonight. With New York having won the first three meetings of the season, one more win will complete the sweep of the season series, and send the Devils a bit closer to the basement of the standings. Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Dan Martin believes that the Rangers are almost out of time to remedy their most glaring issue (NY Post)
• Steve Zipay notes that Henrik Lundqvist has started taking more reps in practice as he nears his return to the lineup (Newsday)
• Sean Hartnett writes that New York is primed to lose a valuable roster player to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Expansion Draft (CBS)
• Game Preview: The Rangers will look to continue their success on the road this season, and earn a sweep of their rivals from across the river (CBS)
• hayyyshayyy examines the age old test of grit vs skill, and how it applies to the Blueshirts in particular (Hockey Graphs)
• Jess Rubenstein delivers another prospect update with the CHL season coming to an end (Blueshirt Bulletin)
• Tom Dianora writes that a balanced attack will be New York's strength in the playoffs (The Hockey Writers)
• Robert Villa points out how the Rangers have picked a great time to get healthy, now that they have four games over the next six days (Elite Sports NY)
• Dave Shapiro wonders if trading Antti Raanta over the summer is the sensible thing to do (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Kevin Baumer thinks that New York has finally improved their defensive play (Blue Seat Blogs)
• David Bruce analyzes the moves Jeff Gorton has made through his first year and three-quarters as the team's genera manager (Blue Line Station)
• Derek Stepan goes around the locker room and asks the team about their March Madness picks (4:10 Video via Official Team Site)
• Post Practice Interviews: Alain Vigneault,(6:00) Kevin Klein,(0:50) Henrik Lundqvist,(3:32) Mika Zibanejad,(1:20) and Marc Staal (1:35) (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• Mark Spector thinks that after getting embarrassed by the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings "dynasty" has gone the way of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks "dynasty" (Sportsnet)
• Pierre LeBrun reports that both players and coaches are hoping that a resolution to allow NHLer's to participate in the 2018 Olympics will come to pass (TSN)
• Mackenzie Liddell hears that after a AA Bantam playoff game between the Calgary Buffalo Wranglers and Calgary Royals was decided on a coin flip, parents and coaches were not happy (Puck Daddy)
• The Hockey News staff debated which NHL team is the farthest from competing for a Stanley Cup (The Hockey News)/