Messier stands by playoff guarantee

Last Updated: Thursday, January 11, 2001 | 5:32 PM ET

CBC Sports

Mark Messier is standing by his promise that the New Rangers, reeling at the midpoint of the regular season, will make the playoffs in April.

"Absolutely," Messier told the New York Daily News. "I haven't changed my mind at all. We've got half a season left, we're only a few points behind. We've got to get there."

The Rangers are 0-6-1-1 in their last eight games and have slipped seven games under .500, seven points out of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Mark Messier, who returned to the New York during the off-season, is confident that the Rangers will make the playoffs.(CP Photo)

"There's enough talent here," Messier insists. "That talent's on paper. You put those names in the same uniform, sometimes it's not the team you think. We have potential here to be much better, to be consistent."