With the race to the playoffs heating up in the NHL, the Rangers have suffered two key injuries at an obvious unfortunate time. As New York decided against moving any of its prime players at the trade deadline, the Rangers were closing in hard on a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Chris Kreider was playing arguably the best hockey of his professional career when injury struck. Kreider's broken foot followed some cracked ribs suffered by Igor Shesterkin in a car accident.

Without one of their most dangerous offensive threats and their young, starting goaltender, the odds are stacked against a Rangers team trying to make up some ground behind the Islanders and Blue Jackets in the wild card race.

ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose joined Big Board Sports to talk about the promising future of the Rangers and the top teams in the league; from Boston to Washington to the defending Stanley Cup champs in St. Louis.

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