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Rangers need McDonagh to find ‘another level’

New York Rangers v New York Islanders

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 06: Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers takes the shot against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on December 6, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. the Islanders defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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The New York Rangers are facing elimination tonight, so they’ll need their captain to bring his best.

Ryan McDonagh received a call-out of sorts from his head coach this morning, ahead of Game 6 against the Senators at MSG.

“When he’s on top of his game, I feel he’s one of the best two-way defensemen in the league,” Alain Vigneault said. “We need him to be on top of his game. I think the last two games were okay for him, but I know there’s another level. We obviously need that tonight.”

McDonagh is especially under the microscope given Ottawa has two-time Norris Trophy-winner Erik Karlsson on its back end.

Karlsson notched three assists in Saturday’s Game 5, a 5-4 Senators OT victory that put the Blueshirts on the brink.

McDonagh, meanwhile, had a goal and logged 26:41 of ice time, but finished minus-1 in the contest.

Related: Sutter calls McDonagh the Rangers’ Doughty