Panthers’ hunger for Stanley Cup will be Rangers’ big challenge
Of all the characteristics that will make it difficult for the Rangers to control the Panthers in the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals, their drive may be the most difficult one to overcome. Unless a team is insatiably energized by the prospect of finishing what it started with, it won’t be able to return to the […]
Rangers past success brings readiness for Panthers’ penalty kill
Bad news for members of the Rangers’ vaunted power play unit. They’re going to face a high-end, offensive penalty kill that includes a Selke Trophy candidate at forward and a deep, physical defense. The good news is it’s not something we’ve never seen before. And it’s not something they haven’t succeeded in in the past. […]
Filip Chytil making ‘positive’ Rangers strides with Game 1 looming
The Rangers will almost certainly keep Filip Sitil’s playing status close to his best until 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night, when he takes the ice to warm up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Panthers. But while the Czech’s spectacular comeback was derailed when he appeared in Game 3 against the Hurricanes […]
Rangers’ connections to Panthers run deep
The most obvious bond between the Rangers and Panthers may be the bond between two men who, as Paul Maurice acknowledges, aren’t all that close. However, when Maurice was fired as the Hurricanes’ head coach in 2004, he left a note on the board for his successor, Peter Laviolette. And he returned the favor when […]
Rangers once known as ‘The Kids’ have each grown into different roles
They were the unlikely architects of a 2022 conference finals appearance and were better known as a unit than as individuals. They were The Kids. But two years later, even though the Rangers are repeating themselves, they are simply recognized as young hockey players at the crossroads of their respective careers: Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Sitil, […]
Filip Chytil craves more playing time in Rangers postseason
After more than six months recovering from a suspected concussion, the Czech forward is craving more adrenaline like the one he felt in his first game a week and a half ago. After just one shift, Sitil was able to regain the feel he had been missing for most of the season. But all that […]
Playoff-tested Panthers will be Rangers’ biggest challenge yet
The last time the Rangers played the Panthers, their minds were already on the playoffs. After two losses to top teams in the Atlantic, the Rangers broke through with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Florida on March 23 at the Garden. And Vincent Trocheck was already foreseeing another Eastern Conference Finals-like series on the […]
Vincent Trocheck’s do-it-all game is what Rangers have missed
This post-Hurricanes series wrap is from Vincent Trocheck. The Blueshirts’ Bedeviler was an absolute pain in the ass for his former Carolina teammate in every way, on the scoreboard, between the whistles, and through his bruising yet skilled play in all situations. was. There were moments when it looked like the players Trocheck once shared […]
Igor Shesterkin is the Rangers’ advantage they’ll carry on
Excitement is muted when you start expecting something great, but this goes a long way to explaining why Igor Shesterkin didn’t headline Thursday night alongside Chris Kreider. ing. Since the 2021-22 season, when Shesterkin made a big splash by winning the Vezina Trophy, he has been metronome in the regular season, and he has also […]
Hurricanes coach accuses Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad of selling crucial penalty
RALEIGH, N.C. — Minutes after his team’s season ended, University of Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed displeasure with the call that led to the tying goal in the Rangers’ come-from-behind victory Thursday night. Jordan Staal’s cross-check on Mika Zibanejad at 10:58 of the third (one of only three penalties called in the game) gave […]