This ending feels different than two years ago, when the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference finals in a nifty playoff run that perhaps came sooner than expected. That was a feel-good hockey binge, fueled by dreams of what would come next and how great it could be.
But after the Blueshirts fell to Florida on Saturday night in Game 6 of this season’s ECF, ending their season with high expectations, there is such a void, such disappointment. The earlier run was something of a lark; this one was imbued with so much heavy meaning, coupled with the hope that the thirty-year Stanley Cup drought would end.
This Ranger group felt different, like it really had that certain something, besides the goalie and all that other talent. Unfortunately, no. After all, it wasn’t a redux of 1994. All those wonderful ’94 parallels that everyone dreamed of dried up on Saturday night, now there were only so many coincidences or follies left.
Even with a good goaltender, the Rangers were defeated by the rugged Panthers. These were exciting games, but it was clear who was the better team. The only reason the series even went this far was Igor Shesterkin (2.34 goals against average), which once again served as a reminder that the Blueshirts have one advantage over almost everyone they play thanks to their goaltender.
Many of their stars evaporated in this series. Where were Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad And Chris Kreider? That trio combined for two goals, none from Zibanejad and one from the other two.
The power play, which had been the driving force behind their offense during the regular season, failed, going 1-for-15 in the series. That meant their shortcomings at 5-on-5 remained glaring and they couldn’t overcome Florida’s swirling forecheck or strangling defense.
There was so much good in this season – as hard as they were to fathom after this disappointment – ​​from the Presidents’ Trophy to team records in wins (55) and points (114) to breakouts by Panarin, better than ever before in the regular season, and Alexis Lafreniere. Vincent Trocheck was dynamic all year and was their best player in the non-Shesterkin division playoffs. Will Cullye made a mark.
Peter Laviolette‘s first season as coach was a success, except for the very last result. The Rangers responded to adversity throughout the season, racking up an NHL record 34 comeback wins between the regular season and the playoffs. The coach’s practices were filled with everyday competition designed to prepare the Rangers for playoff hockey. It all helped, but even their excessive resilience eventually faded.
Now Laviolette and his players must prove they can go even further.
But first they will have to go through a period of reflection and some uncomfortable truths. How can they shape the roster to create offense if they don’t have the man advantage? Why do they have so much misery of equal strength?
The Panthers, full of grunt, sent wave after wave of consistent, heady forecheckers at the Rangers. How do the Rangers overcome that style? Do they have enough sandpaper? Shesterkin makes it through almost everything, but how can the Blueshirts make his life easier?
And how exactly do the Rangers impose their will on their opponents during the playoffs, what Florida did to them in the ECF?
The season ends, the questions begin. That’s the only guarantee that has anything to do with the Rangers at this point. They better hope they find answers, or more disappointment awaits.
