While Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals didn’t go the way NY Rangers fans envisioned, one bad game shouldn’t discourage what has been one of the best teams in the NHL all season. New York hasn’t just shown how good they can be this year, but it’s been routine since the 2008-09 season.
We know this because they have won in the playoffs more than most of the league. No, they haven’t hoisted the Cup since the 1990s, but maybe that will change in 2024, as there is still a lot of time to come back and beat the Florida Panthers for the Prince of Wales Trophy and the right to play in the Stanley Cup Final.
So, just how good have the Rangers been in the playoffs despite no Stanley Cup to show for it? They are currently fifth in the NHL with 13 playoff series wins, behind only the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
NY Rangers can inch closer to a few teams in the playoff series rankings
If the Rangers finish the 2023-24 season as Stanley Cup Champions, what would be 15 wins will put them just two behind Boston, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. And since they look poised to keep playing elite hockey, there is a good chance they pass the latter two within the next few seasons - if we’re counting the time frame since the 2008-09 season.
But at the end of the day, playoff series rankings won’t matter to fans as much as winning Stanley Cups. However, there is a correlation between the two, as the Lightning, Bruins, Penguins, and Blackhawks, your top four teams, have nine Stanley Cups between them over the past 15 seasons - 2009 to 2023.
Therefore, these rankings aren’t just fun to follow or check out - if there is a correlation there, then the probability of the Rangers joining them if they maintain a strong team is rather high.
(Additional information provided by Hockey-Reference)