The New York Rangers have fought back and forth all season; however, every time they’ve been counted out they find a way to persevere. Their season seems to be a testament to the life and this run has been epic for the Rangers. During the first round of the playoffs, the New York Rangers took on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. They managed to defeat the Penguins, but it wasn’t pretty. Each battle has been an uphill battle for the Rangers, yet, they’ve overcome it all. The resiliency this team has proven to show throughout the playoffs thus far is admirable.
Especially the Game 7 dagger, when the Rangers hit to advance against the Penguins. They found themselves in a similar deficit in the following round. The Rangers were losing 2-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes, but in the last two games, they tied the series. While the momentum lies with New York, they’ve proven to disappoint and come in clutch within big moments all season. The inconsistency seems to be the only thing holding this team back from its full potential. Depending on how one may look at things, their inconsistency may be a blessing in disguise. New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant speaks about their resiliency and mindset going into these games as if they’re Game 7s, according to the New York Post.
“We approached the last two games as Game 7s,” Gallant said after practice, referring to how the Rangers avoided elimination. “Really, we had to win those games, they were must-wins and we found a way to win those hockey games. So tomorrow is no different.
“If you lose, you go home, so just keep trying to play and keep winning hockey games, and then you can move on,” he continued.
Can the New York Rangers Advance?
Undeniably, this is the grandest stage of them all in hockey. The New York Rangers playing at the Garden is always and will always be a huge deal. They haven’t lost a Game 7 on their ice since May 2015. Not to mention, that was their first and only Game 7 New York Rangers loss that allowed the Tampa Bay Lightning to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
“As long as we finish the right way, I don’t care,” Gallant said. “It’s all about winning the hockey game. We’ve had some tough starts on the road, no doubt, but we had some really good starts here. So I’m not concerned about it.”
