Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images
The New York Rangers are heading to the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
New York defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5 in overtime in Tuesday’s showdown but had already clinched their postseason spot before the game went final thanks to their overtime point and the Detroit Red Wings losing to the Washington Capitals in overtime.
NHL @NHL
🗽 THEY’RE IN 🗽
The @NYRangers are bound for the #StanleyCup Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/BbGzs9w6Co
New York Rangers @NYRangers
WE’RE IN. pic.twitter.com/FtAh2eo7D6
Here is a look at where the Rangers sit in the current standings:
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins: 42-16-15, 99 points Florida Panthers: 46-21-5, 97 pointsToronto Maple Leafs: 40-21-9, 89 points New York Rangers: 48-20-4, 100 pointsCarolina Hurricanes: 45-21-7, 97 pointsPhiladephia Flyers: 36-27-10, 82 pointsTampa Bay Lightning: 39-25-7, 85 pointsWashington Capitals: 36-26-9, 81 pointsDetroit Red Wings: 36-29-7, 79 pointsNew York Islanders: 30-26-15, 75 pointsNew Jersey Devils: 35-33-4, 74 pointsBuffalo Sabres: 34-33-5, 73 pointsPittsburgh Penguins: 31-30-10, 72 pointsOttawa Senators: 30-36-4, 64 pointsMontréal Canadiens: 26-32-12, 64 pointsColumbus Blue Jackets: 23-36-12, 58 points (eliminated from playoff contention)
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche: 46-20-5, 97 pointsDallas Stars: 44-19-9, 97 pointsWinnipeg Jets: 44-22-5, 93 pointsVancouver Canucks: 45-19-8, 98 pointsEdmonton Oilers: 42-23-4, 88 pointsLos Angeles Kings: 38-22-11, 87 pointsNashville Predators: 42-25-4, 88 pointsVegas Golden Knights: 39-25-7, 85 pointsSt. Louis Blues: 38-30-4, 80 pointsMinnesota Wild: 34-28-9, 77 pointsCalgary Flames: 33-32-5, 71 pointsSeattle Kraken: 28-29-13, 69 pointsArizona Coyotes: 29-37-5, 63 pointsAnaheim Ducks: 24-43-4, 52 points (eliminated from playoff contention)Chicago Blackhawks: 20-46-5, 45 points (eliminated from playoff contention)San Jose Sharks: 16-46-8, 40 points (eliminated from playoff contention)
While New York is no stranger to making the postseason, it hasn’t won a Stanley Cup title since the 1993-94 campaign. Last season ended in disappointment with a first-round loss to the New Jersey Devils, although it reached the 2022 Eastern Conference Final.
This season’s team may have the starpower to advance further, as evidenced by Tuesday’s win.
Artemi Panarin is a points machine who added two assists in the 6-5 victory, while Alexis Lafreniere scored two goals. Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox each had a goal and assist as well.
New York Rangers @NYRangers
FRAME IT. pic.twitter.com/XWQQ3ovYsA
Panarin, Trocheck, Chris Kreider, Fox and Zibanejad all entered play with more than 60 points on the season, and Panarin cracked the triple-digit total with his 101st point thanks to his two assists.
It will be difficult for any opponent to contain so many offensive options over the course of a seven-game series, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin is typically much better than he showed by allowing five goals against the Flyers.
The combination of Shesterkin and veteran Jonathan Quick gives New York quite the one-two punch in net and multiple options who could get hot come playoff time.
It is Stanley Cup or bust for the Rangers, who are sitting atop the Metropolitan Division. Madison Square Garden will surely be rocking throughout the playoffs, and more six-goal games like Tuesday’s won’t do anything to change that.
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