With A Playoff Spot Officially Clinched, The Rangers Only Focus Now Is Unfinished Business
Rangers fans surely remember how last season ended. A two-month thrill ride fell three pieces short of completing their Stanley Cup puzzle & left the face of the franchise sprawled face down in his crease with nothing more to give. The Blueshirts have followed up their Eastern Conference title with what’s been a dominant regular season despite stints without key pieces like Stepan, McDonagh, St. Louis, Klein & Lundqvist. Now, they’re a playoff party of one as the first team to clinch and could end up with home ice throughout. The King is ready to return, Marty is soon to follow and Kevin Klein should be ready for Round 1. Guys like Miller, Sheppard, Fast, & even Tanner f’n Glass are providing sparks & gaining confidence while the team as a whole remains one of the stingiest in the league. They have no holes to expose. Most teams simply can’t keep up with their speed & skill. There are no excuses – it’s Cup or bust now.
2012 ended with a trip to the Conference Final. 2014 had the Rangers playing for a shot at the Cup. Neither of those teams were as well-rounded, consistent & talented as this one. The emergence of Kevin Hayes, Nash playing most of the season at an MVP-level, Klein evolving into a stud, the growth of Kreider – all just a few reasons why these Blueshirts are primed to take that last step. Vigneault has had this squad peaking for so long that winning has become their culture. Sure, anything can happen in the NHL playoffs. Nothing’s guaranteed. Still, most teams that’ll be in the dance have something people can point to as a reason they could fail. These Rangers don’t. They dominate 5×5. They’re the best road team in the league. They’re virtually unbeatable with a lead. They have a perfect mix of youth & veterans in the locker room. They have an experienced coach & have proven even injuries can’t slow them down. Oh yeah, and they’ve got a fresh Henrik Lundqvist ready to throw the entire city on his back if all else fails. Get excited, Rangers fans. It’s time to take care of unfinished business.
