Why this series is great for the future

The New York Rangers are engaged in a tough, defensive battle with the Carolina Hurricanes.  Combined, the teams have scored nine goals in three games.  The only comparable series was Dallas versus Calgary who also scored nine goals in the first three games of their series.  The opposite would be Calgary and Edmonton who combined for15 goals in their first game.

Look at the goal totals for the first three games of all 12 series played so far.

28 goals:  Calgary-Edmonton
25 goals:  Rangers-Pittsburgh
23 goals:  Edmonton-Los Angeles
20 goals:  Colorado-Nashville, Tampa Bay-Toronto
19 goals:  Florida-Washington,  Boston-Carolina
17 goals:  Colorado-St. Louis
16 goals:  Minnesota-St. Louis
14 goals: Florida-Tampa Bay
9 goals:  Rangers-Carolina, Calgary-Dallas

While hockey fans love offense and who wouldn’t want to see 7-5 slugfests with lots of scoring and special teams play, the fact that the Rangers have gone from the second highest scoring series to the lowest is going to help this young team as it grows into a playoff powerhouse.

Look at how much the Rangers have gone through in just 10 playoff games. The triple overtime loss after a go ahead goal was disallowed was a tremendous learning experience for the team, the ultimate heartbreak in their first playoff game.  The three straight comebacks after trailing in elimination games was an amazing feat, the first team in NHL history to do that.  And that was in just the first round.

In this second round the Blueshirts have had to play shutdown defense against a stifling defensive team.  They’ve had to battle for every inch of the ice and again, they have had to overcome adversity.  But for a missed open net, some posts hit and a lucky deflection in overtime, the Rangers could be the ones looking to open up 3-1 lead in the series.

Close games

Believe it or not, the Rangers have been in more close games than any other team in the postseason.  They went from a tight, high scoring series against the Penguins to a completely different opponent in the Hurricanes.  They’ve had to adjust from the open style they played in the first round to the more defensive style against Carolina.

Discounting empty net goals, the Rangers have played eight one-goal games, the most of any playoff team. The Rangers won four and lost four with two of the losses in overtime.

Five of the Penguins’ first round games with the Rangers were one-goal games.  All three games with Carolina have been one-goal games.  Second in one-goal games played are Calgary and Dallas who played six one-goal games in their first round series.

If the Rangers can continue to keep the scores close, they have proven that they are formidable when it comes to close games.  In the regular season they were 28-11-6 in one-goal games (counting games with empty net goals as one-goal games).

Why it matters

The Rangers may lose this series.  They may lose next year.  And the year after.  It took the Tampa Bay Lightning seven years to win their Stanley Cup from the time they lost in the first round in 2014.  It took the St. Louis Blues seven trips to the playoffs in eight years before they won.  It took the Washington Capitals 10 years of playoff disappointment before they won.

The Rangers are getting a crash course in playoff hockey. The youngest team in the playoffs has learned more in 10 games than any of us could have hoped.  The growth displayed by youngsters like Alexis Lafrenière, Braden Schneider, Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, K’Andre Miller, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox has been illuminating.  Remember, all of them are 24 years old or younger.

It’s important to keep perspective as we watch these games.  Disappointment is almost inevitable when it comes to the playoffs, but the important fact is that they are getting valuable experience that will only make them better.  Even the veterans like Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider are learning what it takes to win.

We may bemoan Artemi Panarin’s lack of production but it’s important to remember that prior to this year he played only 37 playoff games in his career in four seasons and only once made it past the first round.  He’s going to figure it out and even with his issues he still has eight points in 10 games.  That no-look pass to Zibanejad on Sunday was one reason the Rangers were able to jump out to that all important early lead.

The Rangers are far from being done this postseason.   Gerard Gallant was asked about the fact that Carolina has yet to lose at home, “It’s tough to win on the road in this league.” Gallant continued “They are a great home team…hopefully the series will go like that and in Game Seven we’ll find a way to win that big game in their building.”

One thing is certain, despite opening up a bit more offensively in Game Three, the close scores will continue and hopefully the Rangers will continue to prevail. As long as Igor Shesterkin keeps playing the way he did in Game Three, anything can happen. If not, there’s always next year.