Yep I was telling my friend. This one’s going to end early in overtime and amazingly we’re on the other side of it for a change.
Old Ranger teams would have lost 2 or 3 games already in these playoffs. Still need 9 more wins, but through 7 games we have not seen a Rangers team win playoff games like this since 94. It might not end like 94 with a long road still left, but how can you not be impressed with what we have seen thus far. Carolina is a very good team, and we are owning special teams and winning the big moments. Really awesome stuff, first time in a long time. Our biggest advantage is in goal, and we are seeing that play out in a huge way against the Canes, and special teams have been huge for us also. Shoutout to our top players all showing up thus far. The top two lines have been super.
Lafreniere is adding that extra dynamic right now along with the Ranger’s top players going at a very high level.
Now that the game is over and we found a way again, I think it was the right move to get Chytil in there tonight. We have been great, but if Chytil can get his legs under him after a few games, he can make us even more dangerous moving forward. It turned out to be a smart move to put him in and rip the rust band-aid off, and it also makes the 4th line that much better with Cuylle there now. We still have more upside we can get to, I think. And once again, thank you Igor for being our big advantage over maybe every team in the NHL, and especially in this series.
Look at the top 6 through 7 games: Zibanejad 12 points, Trocheck 12 points, Lafreniere 9 points, Panarin 9 points, Kreider 7 points, Roslovic 5 points. Compare that production to the 7-game series against NJ last season, wow. Kreider is scoring a point a game, and he is our 5th leading scorer. And they added an assist for Laf on the OT winner, and rightfully so.
Chytil back is huge if he can stay healthy. Cuylle on the 4th line gives us maybe the best 4th line in hockey.
I watch almost all these playoff games, and no team has the depth we have. Go look at 4th lines on other teams, and you are not seeing Cuylle/Goodrow/Vesey ability. And most 3rd lines don't have Chytil/Wennberg/Kakko ability. It is a big edge for us. Backed up with a very good top 6, two strong pairs on D, and a great goalie. The beauty of the grueling NHL playoffs is any team can win, so while this is great, we still have a long way to go to achieve our goal, but right now how we are playing, we have as good a chance to win the Cup as any team left, it is the most difficult trophy to win for good reason.
