Rangers send latest message to Eastern Conference foes in latest 2-1 win
When the Stanley Cup Playoffs roll around, a certain win usually heralds deep runs. The New York Rangers learned that last season.
Thanks to top-notch goaltenders, excellent special teams, and a balance of speed and power, the Rangers were able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating top offensive teams like the Hurricanes and Penguins. And while the 2022-23 season hasn’t gone as well as many had hoped, the blueshirts are playing their best hockey just before the playoffs.
And Thursday night’s win may have been the message they needed to send before the playoffs began.
In New York’s 2-1 win over Carolina, the Blueshirts were heavily overplayed for most of the competition. The Hurricanes beat the Rangers 30-16, won the faceoff by a 59-40% margin and didn’t allow a power play goal. At that point, the Hurricanes should have won on Thursday, showing that the blueprint Rangers had last season cannot continue this year.
Except somehow, the Rangers’ abundance of talent still triumphed. New York capitalized on a dominant final third third and a masterclass from Igor Shesterkin to record their third win of the season against rivals Carolina.
Rangers have an overwhelming amount of talent in almost every single line of forwards. Add in deadly defenders and one of the best goaltenders in the world, and there are very few hockey teams that can match the skills that Rangers bring to the ice every night.
It also means that even when New York isn’t at its best, it’s easy to come back and pick up victories. Their 14-2-5 record in two-thirds ties is the best in the NHL and shows they can win in countless ways.
And that should make any team taking on them very nervous.
Looking ahead to potential future playoff opponents, Rangers showed they can win where both teams are strong. The Devils like to play fast offensive play to disguise their average goaltending. The addition of Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane from New York balances this out. Carolina wants to bore teams to death at the forecheck and only Igor Shesterkin has shown that he can withstand it.
Even the Islanders and the Bruins, two teams winning in the postseason, all have to contend with the Rangers’ physical style and overwhelming offense.
In short, there isn’t a team in the Eastern Conference that should worry Rangers fans ahead of playoff time. New York found ways to win games in different ways.
That alone is crucial to being lethal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.