The Blueshirts start one of their difficult road trips on Sunday, with visits to the homes of the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, and Washington Capitals

Jan 18, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Rangers center Dominic Moore (28) and defenseman Kevin Klein (8) and center J.T. Miller (10) and defenseman Marc Staal (18) congratulate Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Rangers won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

As the season starts to wind down, teams in the playoff hunt will most likely be scoreboard watching. Even though they may not all admit, you have to think some Rangers players are.

They are probably paying special attention to their next opponent and checking out the upcoming schedule.

For the Rangers, one of their most difficult and demanding road trips is about to get underway on Sunday. With visits to Chicago all the way to the nation’s capital in D.C., this could determine the fate of the Rangers in Metropolitan Division. This will be no easy task.

They will need to overcome not just the quality of their upcoming opponents (Blackhawks, Islanders, Capitals), but the hometown crowds.