The Rangers have two games left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but what is their superpower and why they are the favorites to win the Presidents Trophy and drink from the cherished cup for the first time in 30 years? is obvious.
Depth is the Rangers’ superpower.
It was that depth that helped the Capitals take a 2-0 series lead over Washington on Friday night with a 4-3 win over the Capitals in Game 2 of the playoffs at the Garden on Tuesday night. Thanks to Sa.
Depth is why the Rangers look like the better team in this series.
Eight different Rangers scored eight points in those two games.
Jason Suzens, New York Post
The star of the show Sunday night was their fourth line, highlighted by rookie Matt Lempe, who has yet to play 20 games in the NHL.
Tuesday night, take your pick.
Vincent Trocheck, who scored the Rangers’ first goal of the game, the all-important first answer, after Washington swarmed out in desperation and took a 1-0 lead?
Mika Zibanejad was on the ice all night and gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the first period with an assist from Trocheck?
Midseason acquisition Jack Roslovic broke a 2-2 tie with a missile over the left shoulder of Washington goaltender Charlie Lindgren in the second period?
Or defenseman K’Andre Miller scored the winning goal with a short goal late in the second period to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead.
Add in the stars of the night in Matt Lempe, Artemi Panarin, Jimmy Vesey and Chris Kreider, the four who scored in Game 1, and you have a complete team.
“We can run the whole lineup, but it’s a challenge,” Washington coach Spencer Carberry said after the game. “They add some players at the deadline. Will Roslovic make a difference tonight? That’s top-notch, elite play that has to tip the cap.
“They’re a deep team. There’s a reason they won the Presidents Trophy. So we know that. They’ve got good players.”
The Rangers attack in waves.
Indeed, Panarin led the team with a career year that included 49 goals and 120 points. But the Rangers’ offense isn’t just about Panarin. He has scored one of Rangers’ eight goals.
In fact, on this night, Panarin’s physicality was more important than his artistic ability, as he repeatedly crossed paths with Capitals tough guys like TJ Oshie.
It was no less than his “Breadmans” teammates.
Jason Suzens, New York Post
Trocheck specifically praised the physicality of Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere (28 goals this season) as difference-makers on Tuesday night against the hopeless Caps.
“Every time you get a player like that, you get a more skilled player, a player who isn’t necessarily expected to go out there and be physical, but is just expected to produce offensively. Then when you get a player like that to play physically, you really see the rest of it.’If they’re doing it, we all need to do it,’ Trocheck said. “It was great leadership from those two.”
In contrast to the Rangers, the Capitals lack depth at all. They rely too much on aging star Alex Ovechkin, who led the team in goals with 31 in the regular season.
And the Rangers have been without him for two games. Ovechkin had no shots in Game 1, but was held to just one shot Tuesday night.
“We have a really deep team, four good lines, six good D and a good goaltender,” Ryan Lindgren said.
“The depth is so great in the playoffs,” Trocheck said. “Everyone has to contribute. It’s not just one line or two lines contributing every night, so you need everyone to contribute. And through the last two games in the playoffs, we’ve contributed up and down the lineup.”
Zibanejad said that depth “has been there all year, and when you get into a game like this you talk about needing everyone. And everyone steps up and does their part and plays in different ways. I feel like I’m contributing.”
It was too much for the Caps to handle in these first two games, and ultimately that will continue to be the case, as depth is the Rangers’ superpower.
“It’s been like that all year,” Rangers manager Peter Laviolette said. “It’s nice to have depth.”
