Bantering Points: 3/24/17

Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks writes that unless New York can bust out of their recent slump, than they'll be a quick out in the playoffs (NY Post)
• Justin Tasch notes that after solving their power play struggles, the Rangers find themselves searching for a solution to their shaky penalty kill (NY Daily News)
• Sean Hartnett discusses how even without superstar-caliber stats, Rick Nash has continued his play as on of New York's best forwards (CBS)
• Josh Khalfin lists a handful of undrafted college free agents to keep an eye on as teams look to snatch them up (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Justin Rutherford offers his thoughts on the team as the regular season winds down (Blue Seat Blogs)
• John Williams believes that Rick Nash could be going on a hot streak as he plays his final games on Broadway (Blue Line Station)
• Karly Redpath dives into Derek Stepan's season, and how he's been making his presence on the ice known despite his low counting stats (Blue Line Station)
• You may know Joe Fortunato as a Quinnipiac University graduate who runs Blueshirt Banter. What you may not now is that he's given up the site in order to follow his dream as a long snapper in the NFL. Congratulations Joe, and best of luck in your future endeavors once the Colts cut you (Stampede Blue)/

Around the NHL:

• Greg Wyshynski passes along video if Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot getting part of his finger hacked off by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby. Methot was given five and a game for getting in the way of Crosby's stick. Not really, but Crosby wasn't penalized either (Puck Daddy)
• Damien Cox details if the NHL players want to participate in the 2018 Olympics as badly as they appear to, then they must take charge and be willing to make sacrifices (Sportsnet)
• Elliotte Friedman authors another edition of 30 Thoughts (Sportsnet)
• Travis Yost breaks down how the Calgary Flames' defensive pairing of Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton has quietly emerged as the best pairing in hockey (TSN)
• Ken Campbell thinks the NHL could take a couple of pointers from the World Baseball Classic if they want to make the World Cup of Hockey seem like a more legitimate event (The Hockey News)/