The key to the Rangers winning a best-of-five series
There is one thing the New York Rangers MUST do when they play in their best-of-five series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Win game one.
If the New York Rangers want to win their series against the Carolina Hurricanes and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs it is absolutely crucial for them to win the first game. Losing the first game of a best-of-five series is almost a guarantee that they will lose the series.
If you don’t believe that, just look a the numbers. Since expansion, the NHL has played 56 best-of-five playoff series. The team that won the first game went on to win the series 49times. That’s 88% of the time. It’s one reason why the NHL abandoned the best-of-five format.
The NHL Stanley Cup Finals were actually a best-of-five series in the first season that the Cup was awarded to the best team in the NHL. Before that, the Cup was a competition between the NHL’s best team and the best team from either the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) or the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL).
In fact, the NHL didn’t go to a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final until 1939. Believe it or not, in several seasons, the Final was a best-of-three series.
The NHL adopted a best-of-five Preliminary Round for seven years from 1980 to 1986. Examining the results of the series in those seven years, three facts stand out.
- Winning game one almost guarantees a series victory. In the 56 series played, the first game winner won 49 series and in 1981 and 1986, all eight of the series in those seasons were won by teams that won the first game.
- Most series don’t go the maximum five games. Only 12 series out of 56 went five games.
- Don’t lose the first two games. Only one team in modern NHL history lost the first two games of a best-of-five series and went on to win. That was the 1985 New York Islanders who fell behind the Washington Capitols on two overtime losses, but then won the next three to take the series
With those key things in mind, how do the Rangers compare?
A Rangers best-of-five history
The Rangers made the playoffs each season of the best-of-five format and they had a petty solid 5-2 record. Not only that, in three of those five series victories the opposition had home ice advantage, as Carolina will in the coming series.
1980 – The Rangers beat the Atlanta Flames in four games after winning the first game 2-1 in overtime at Madison Square Garden.
1981 – The Los Angeles Kings had home ice advantage, but dropped the opener to the Blueshirts and lost the series in four games.
1982 – This is one of the rarities. The Rangers lost the first game, 4-1 at Madison Square Garden, but came charging back to win the next three and eliminate the Philadelphia Flyers.
1983 – The Rangers swept the Flyers in three after opening the series on the road.
1984 – This was a heartbreaker. The Islanders beat the Rangers in five games with the series clincher a 3-2 loss on an overtime goal by Ken Morrow.
1985 – The Flyers got their revenge over the Rangers, sweeping the series in three games.
1986 – The Rangers got right back at the Flyers, winning the series in five games. After the Blueshirts opened with a road win, the teams exchanged victories with the final game going to New York.
Things to think about
There has been a lot of discussion already about the goaltending situation. Some folks are citing Henrik Lundqvist‘s record this season and throughout his career against the Hurricanes. Knowing how important the first game is, the decision on who the starting goalie will be cannot be any sentimental decision, it’s too important.
Home ice is not that crucial in a short series. The fact is the Rangers won both games in Raleigh this season and there is a sizable contingent of Blueshirts fans in the PNC arena when they play there.
First time postseason jitters are an issue. The simple fact is that of the 11 of the 22 players on he Rangers’ roster have not played in an NHL postseason. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes played three full playoff rounds last season against very tough competition in the Capitals, Islanders and Bruins.
Considering the importance of that first game, veterans like Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Jesper Fast and Marc Staal will have an even more important role in settling down the young Rangers.
We are still at least a month away from the resumption of NHL hockey, but now that we know the format, it’s time to start looking at ahead. The lopsided importance of a first game win was an interesting fact to uncover.
Related Story. Why Carolina is afraid of the Rangers. light
Writers note: In an earlier version of this story, we stated that 50 of 56 series were won by teams that won the first game. The correct total is 49 and the story has been amended.