Blue Line Station
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King Henrik, Mother’s Day and ‘Stepan’ up in the clutch

By Scott Esposito

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Martin St. Louis #26 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring the game winning shot in overtime against Dustin Tokarski #35 of the Montreal Canadiens to win Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final in the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 25, 2014 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Canadiens 3 to 2. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Martin St. Louis #26 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring the game winning shot in overtime against Dustin Tokarski #35 of the Montreal Canadiens to win Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final in the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 25, 2014 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Canadiens 3 to 2. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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New York Rangers
Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

One of the NHL’s best

Under first-year head coach Alain Vigneault, the 2013-14 Rangers posted a 45-31-6 record for 96 points, good enough for second place in the Metropolitan Division behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, and fifth in the loaded Eastern Conference.

This Rangers team had good depth up front and on the blue line, the best goalie in franchise history, and a captain who defined the team’s black-and-blue playing style. The Blueshirts had 10 players finish in double digits in goals, and five of them had at least 40 points.

Left wing Mats Zuccarello, in his second stint on Broadway after playing in the Kontinental Hockey League the season before, led with 59 points.

Rick Nash had a team-high 26 goals, although more was expected from the 6-foot-4 left wing who carried a cap hit of $7.8 million. Veteran center Brad Richards potted 20, while Ryan McDonagh led all defensemen with 14 markers and 29 assists for 43 points.

Forwards Derick Brassard and Benoit Pouliot each scored a club-best seven power-play goals, while youngsters Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider scored 17 times apiece and combined for 94 points. Defenseman Dan Girardi led in blocked shots (173) and hits (191).

All were led by a franchise goalie and a captain who defined the team’s black and blue playing style.

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