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Here’s why the New York Rangers can win the Stanley Cup

By Scott Esposito

Artemi Panarin #10 and Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrate a 5-4 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Artemi Panarin #10 and Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrate a 5-4 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Mika Zibanejad.
Mika Zibanejad. /

The case for the Rangers winning it all

Firepower: If there’s any justice in the hockey world, Panarin will win the Hart Trophy. No player was more valuable to his team than the “Breadman” to the Rangers. The 28-year-old winger posted career highs in goals (32), assists (63), and points (95) in 69 matches. His 95 points were tied for third in the NHL (with Boston’s David Pastrnak) and his 63 apples were tied for second in the league (with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid). He also led the Blueshirts with 25 even-strength goals. Meanwhile, Zibanejad posted career highs in goals (41) and points (75) in 57 games. He led the team with 15 power-play tallies and six game-winners, while his 41 markers were fourth-most in the league. Overall, New York ranked fifth in the NHL with 234 goals.

Power play: The Rangers finished seventh in the NHL with a power-play percentage of 22.9, nearly three points better than the league’s average. Zibanejad led the unit with 15 goals. Kreider scored nine times, while Panarin potted seven. Jacob Trouba and Pavel Buchnevich tallied four apiece, while Ryan Strome and Tony DeAngelo each had three. In 2018-19, the Rangers] power play ranked 17th in the NHL at 19.38 percent.

Goaltending: If Niemi won a Cup without previous NHL playoff experience, why can’t rookie Igor Shesterkin? The 24-year-old Russian went 10-2 with a .932 save percentage (SV%) and 2.52 goals against average (GAA) for New York after being called up from Hartford. The Rangers haven’t officially named their starter for Game One of the best-of-five qualifying round against Carolina, set for 12 p.m. on August 1 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Veteran Henrik Lundqvist, 38, was 3-0 with a .947 SV% against the Hurricanes during the season, including a 45-save dandy on November 7 in Raleigh. However, he lost four of last five decisions and finished with a 10-12-3 record, 3.16 GAA and .905 SV%. Alexandar Georgiev, 24, posted a 17-14-2 mark with a 3.04 GAA and .910 SV%.

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