This primary-round Stanley Cup playoff sequence towards the Penguins has was a microcosm of the Rangers’ entire season.
Each time they've been counted out, the Rangers have defied the chances. Every time the uphill battle has appeared too steep to beat, the Rangers have made it to the highest anyway. Their resiliency, devotion to a crew recreation and knack for locating methods to tug out wins have carried the Rangers so far — and all of that must come by means of after they take the ice for a do-or-die Recreation 7 on Sunday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard.
“We approached the final two video games as Recreation 7s,” head coach Gerard Gallant stated after apply Saturday, referring to how the Rangers prevented elimination in Video games 5 and 6 after falling behind 3-1 within the sequence. “Actually, we needed to win these video games, they have been must-wins and we discovered a method to win these hockey video games. So tomorrow is not any totally different.
“If you happen to lose, you go dwelling, so simply preserve making an attempt to play and preserve successful hockey video games, after which you possibly can transfer on.”
There isn't a stage larger than this one. The pinwheel ceiling on the Backyard hasn’t appeared down upon a Rangers Recreation 7 since Could 29, 2015, when the Lightning handed them their first-ever loss below such circumstances, to advance to the Stanley Cup Remaining. That’s proper: The Rangers have misplaced only one Recreation 7 on dwelling ice in franchise historical past.
This Rangers crew is charged with protecting that quantity within the loss column at one. It’s a lofty job for a crew competing in its first postseason in 5 years, however one which the Blueshirts, all season lengthy, have proven they’re able to dealing with.
Anybody who has watched the Rangers this season is aware of that rallying from behind has turn out to be an figuring out trait of theirs. All through an 82-game common season, the Rangers recorded 27 (27!) come-from-behind victories. And after they have been minutes away from summer season in Video games 5 and 6, staring up at two-goal deficits, the Rangers did what they do greatest and located methods to maintain their head-turning season alive.
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“I believe we don’t stop,” stated Alexis Lafreniere, who described taking part in in Recreation 7 as a privilege. “Our character is absolutely one thing. We have been down in each video games, we by no means stop or stopped taking part in as a crew. That’s one thing that’s actually good for us. So long as we play like a crew like that, I believe now we have probability to win.”
Whereas the rallies have saved issues enjoyable and attention-grabbing, the Rangers can’t preserve urgent their luck. Falling behind by a few targets will catch as much as them finally, and in a Recreation 7 towards an skilled membership just like the Penguins, the Rangers shouldn’t take the possibility.
What number of instances can they dig themselves out of early holes? What number of instances can they depend on goalie Igor Shesterkin to bail them out? What number of comebacks do the Rangers have in them?
We may discover out Sunday night time. But when the Rangers need to set themselves up with substantial confidence — not just for the second spherical, however for the foreseeable future — Recreation 7 must be a decisive win.
Whether or not Penguins star Sidney Crosby performs or not. Whether or not Pittsburgh’s No. 1 goalie, Tristan Jarry, performs or not. It’s on the Rangers and the Rangers alone to grab this chance.
“So long as we end the proper means, I don’t care,” Gallant stated. “It’s all about successful the hockey recreation. We’ve had some robust begins on the street, little question, however we had some actual good begins right here. So I’m not involved about it.”
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