RALEIGH, N.C. — It was as if the first three wins were somehow worth less than the next two losses. It looked as if the Rangers, not the Hurricanes, were on the brink going into Game 6 on Thursday night.
This story is starting to dominate the conversation. It’s a story of the Rangers’ inability to shut out a series — after winning the first two games of a first-round series on the road last season before losing seven to the Devils. One year after they lost four straight to Tampa Bay in the 2022 conference finals after leading 2-0 against the Garden.
Interestingly, the team’s unexpected run to the top four in 2022 overcame a 3-1 deficit against Pittsburgh to win the first round in seven overtime games at the Garden, and then went on to win 2-0 and 3. I’ve always thought it was a good reflection of a team that overcame a 2-2 deficit. Defeat Carolina in Game 7 on the road.
But now, retroactively, the last four games against the then-two-time defending champions have come to define this team, two years removed from that experience and operating under a different head coach and staff. became.
Nothing is actually deleted from the record, right? There’s no benefit of the doubt for a franchise that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup in 30 years and has won one championship in the last 84 years.
The 2023-24 Rangers are a different team under head coach Peter Laviolette, but with losses in Games 4 and 5, and an arguably no-show in Game 5, things really changed. There are doubts as to whether that has changed.
And every time they’re at this kind of crossroads, whether it’s against the Devils last year, against the Lightning the year before, whether it’s against the Senators in 2017, against the Lightning in 2015, against the Devils in 2012. However, I am once again struck by how monumental it was. What a monumental year 1994 was with Mark Messier owning his 1940.
This series is not only played on the ice, but also between the ears of every player. I asked Laviolette if he needed a reminder that the Blueshirts are actually the team leading the series.
“I think that’s the nature of the playoffs,” the manager said, not really interested in getting into a philosophical discussion seven hours before the opening draw. “We know we are in a situation where the best-of-seven field is down to two games for him and we know we need to win one game.
“We’re focused on how we can play better and what we can do to make sure we’re ready to play and win hockey games.”
The Rangers scored four points on their first six power-play opportunities while operating at next-level ability. It was as if they were at the mercy of Carolina’s top-ranked penalty kill. The penalty kill was also an impressive feat, shutting down the league’s second-ranked power play.
But the Rangers have now lost 11 consecutive power play games since Vincent Trocheck’s double-overtime game-winner in Game 2. And even though the Canes only had one power-play goal and actually gave up two short-handed goals in this series, Carolina lost 16:49 of the third period in Game 4 with Brady Skjei’s They won the game with a power play goal and avoided a sweep. One more kill, after erasing his first 16 kills, it’s 17 kills in a row. And chances are you won’t be in Raleigh on this sunny day.
Carolina adjusted with a penalty kick. They were less aggressive on points and tightened up their coverage. However, the Rangers haven’t recovered as many pucks in the past three games as they did in the first two games. They did not have the same possessions. Their entry was interrupted. They haven’t been able to set it up. Game 6 required more pucks than in his previous three contests.
“When you’re 3-0, you can take it for granted a little bit,” Jimmy Vesey said. “We’re going through some adversity right now, but I think any time you make it to the playoffs, there’s going to be ups and downs along the way.
“This is one of those examples, but we’ve been a team that has responded and responded to every challenge throughout the year. This is an opportunity for us to address the challenges in front of us.”
Or, as Chris Kreider said, “We have a chance.”
