Monday, May 27, 2024

Are The Rangers Destined to Win the Stanley Cup?

 Is it inevitable that the New York Rangers are going to hoist the Stanley Cup in less than a month?

At times in this postseason, it certainly has felt that way. And considering the way the Rangers have pulled off their last three victories in this postseason, it feels even more like the Cup Final could be a coronation of the 2023-24 Rangers sheer greatness.


Granted, it's only 2-1 in favor of the Blue Shirts after three games. The Florida Panthers are the reigning Eastern Conference Champions for at least a little while longer. Anything can happen in a seven game series, just ask the Knicks, who most thought would trounce the Pacers.

But aside from health, which the Rangers have a lot of -- for the most part -- as compared to their MSG co-tenants, this team has had the "IT" factor for a while now.

 The New York Rangers love the comeback. Twice on Sunday, the Rangers watched their leads of 2-1 and 4-2 vanish, but they never gave in. A lot of that credit is to goalie Igor Shesterkin and this tenacious Rangers defense.

Over the final eight-plus minutes of Game 3, including overtime, The Florida Panthers were credited with 24 shot attempts. On six of those shots were on goal, and were stopped by the Rangers All Star netminder. The rest were either blocked or straight up missed. 

In short, no matter what the Panthers tossed at the Rangers they found a way to hang on. Then with 14:30 to go in the OT, the puck just so happened to find Alex Wennberg's out-stretched stick, and bounced back into the net for the game winner.

It's been that kinda run. A couple days earlier Barclay Goodrow netted the game winner on a slap shot at the Garden in overtime to send New York to a 2-1 victory, while tying the series a game a piece.

All of sudden people have long forgotten what happened in Game 1, when the Rangers scored on themselves.

And let, us not forget what happened in Game 6 in Charlotte when Chris Kreider went off for three-goals in the third period to send the Rangers to the East Finals.

It's been all comebacks all the time. 

(Article was also featured on Fox sports Radio New Jersey.com)

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