It’s been two days since game six of the Eastern Conference Finals and despite taking the time to digest it all, it still doesn’t feel real. After an incredible run that at times, felt almost magic, the New York Rangers have been eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Those are words I have yet to get myself to say out loud but nevertheless, words that unfortunately ring true. There’s no way to sugar coat the feeling of coming this far and falling short, it sucks. For as disappointed and numb as the fans are, the feeling is only amplified for the players, management and staff all around.
Before we recap the Rangers playoff run as a whole and get into the whole media/break-up day stuff, let’s recap the action of the game for one last time this season:
The rumor mill was spinning about one hundred miles per hour in the hours leading up to puck drop, as it seemed that Kaapo Kakko’s spot in the lineup was up in the air. Desperate for fresh legs and an answer, Gerard Gallant was toying with the idea of making more lineup changes going into yet another elimination game. Sure enough, the closer we got to game time the less likely it seemed that Kakko would be a part of it and per a game time decision by Gallant, Kakko would be scratched for Dryden Hunt. Not only would Gallant opt to go with Hunt over Kakko, but he would keep Ryan Strome, who was very visibly injured in the lineup over him as well. Strome would indicate on several shifts in the first two periods that he could barely skate and eventually, would leave the Rangers bench not to return for the rest of the game. The decision to scratch Kaapo Kakko for Dryden Hunt and a 20% healthy Ryan Strome is an all around detrimental mistake.
I am all for putting what you think is the best possible lineup together to get you a win, especially for a big playoff game and I get what Gallant was trying to do. I just can’t seem to wrap my head around why Kakko was the one to come out, as I’m sure many Rangers fans across the world are struggling to fathom as well. The kid line has no question been one of the best things to come from these playoffs and for the most part, has worked so well especially when it came to generating offense 5v5. Breaking that line up was a questionable call in itself but scratching one of them in the process certainly wasn’t the answer, especially when Strome was as hurt as he was. Wanting to keep Kevin Rooney, who has played fairly well since returning, in the mix to have extra center depth is justifiable. Hell, I can even justify getting the fresh legs of Dryden Hunt in there. However at the end of the day, you can’t scratch your former second overall pick in that situation, especially in a contract year when he wasn’t even a part of the problem in the first place. While winning that game is important, you have to think of the potential repercussions that decision can lead to from an organizational standpoint.
Nevertheless, the Rangers went into this one without Kakko in hopes that the season wouldn’t end that night and right from the gate, it wasn’t looking promising. The Rangers got out-shot and out-played heavily in the first period, very much indicating they were struggling to keep their legs under them. John Cooper said a lot of things in the post game, many of which were nice things about the Rangers and how eye opening their run has been. However, one of the biggest takeaways from what he said that directly relates to how this game went was at the end of the day “the no break hurt them in the end, it didn’t help Tampa at the start, but it hurt in the end.” (paraphrasing)
That’s exactly what happened. No matter how frustrating that game may have been, watching them struggle to get anything going and when they finally did, Tampa immediately put it to bed. However, they never quit. Not once. The amount of playoff hockey, most of which holding the threat of elimination over their heads, in such a short time took a toll on this group. Guys were hurt and still playing, guys were completely gassed, hell, half of these kids just played the first normal full 82 game season of their careers. It all caught up to these guys. The Rangers gave it everything they could but continued to get outskated by the Lightning and could not seem to catch a break.
After a period of no penalties, the officials gave Kevin Rooney and Mikhail Sergachev matching roughing penalties as tensions began to rise between the two teams fighting for their ticket to the Cup Finals. No harm no foul on the coincidental minors as the score remained locked at zero. As play continued, the Rangers were showing sparks but remained on the short side of shots and chances. As we approached the halfway point of the game, it was the Lightning’s leader in Steven Stamkos, letting a wrist shot go to break the goose egg on Tampa’s side. A tough blow but a rude awakening for this Rangers team who had to find another level just to keep up.
That one goal lead held on through the beginning of the third period and finally, the Rangers began to get some chances. When Tampa took their first penalty of the game, you just felt that this was it. But it wasn’t. Then when they got their second penalty and the Rangers power play unit got back out there, it was Frank Vatrano who gave Rangers fans one final blast of hope as he tied the game up at one with an absolute rocket of a slap shot. For what it’s worth, and I’ll go into it more in depth in an offseason post but Frank Vatrano has given Rangers management tons to think about with how hard he worked in this postseason. Unfortunately, Tampa got right back on the horse and Steven Stamkos would strike again, following up on his own rebound.. Sort of.
It was only fitting that the Rangers went out on yet another questionable call. Stamkos had a breakaway that Shesterkin made the initial save on. When the puck came out, Stamkos continued moving forward and made contact with both the puck and Igor Shesterkin, forcing the puck into the back of the net. The officials reviewed the call on the ice and declared it a good goal. You had to think Gallant could’ve should’ve used his challenge on the call but perhaps that wouldn’t have mattered or even could have done more damage. Nothing you can do but shake it off as the Rangers skated to center ice for another big faceoff. Time continued to dwindle and the focus quickly shifted to when Gallant would opt to pull Shesterkin. It took a while for the Rangers to gain enough confident possession but Shesterkin was able to get to the bench for the extra attacker. Despite exhaustion and the pressure of the season coming to an end, the Rangers gave it everything they could and had a couple decent looks but alas, time ran out. The buzzer sounded and a very stressed out 26 year old hit the floor.
The run is over.
This team has absolutely nothing to feel sorry for. They left everything they had on that ice and for that alone have no reason to feel any shame. At the beginning of the year, if we were told they would make the playoffs but only win one playoff round, fans and management would likely consider that a step in the right direction. The fact that this young Rangers team not only won multiple playoff rounds, but made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, giving the two time defending Cup Champs a run for their money? That’s an incredible feat for a team consisting mainly of guys who were literal children the last time the team got this far. I mean, Adam Fox was literally in MSG as a fan the last time the Rangers were competing like this. The steps this organization has taken this season are insurmountable and have set quite the precedent moving forward. Not only are the New York Rangers back in the playoff conversation, but they could very well be on the brink of getting right back to where they were this season, if not further.
There’s a lot of questions moving forward regarding players on expiring contracts, free agency and a Vitaly Kravtsov comeback? Chris Drury and company are going to have some tough decisions to make and will have a lot of numbers to crunch to be able to bring guys back or in, keeping this team competitive. As long as they stay the course and keep making strides in the right direction, there is no reason not to feel confident in this club going forward. With every end comes a new beginning and for the Rangers, you have to think this isn’t even an ending, but a beginning to a very bright future. Like they always say, you gotta lose before you win. We’ll have plenty more to talk about in the coming days, between the media day stuff, season recaps on each player, draft day preparations and free agent frenzy but until then, all I have to say is, this team will be back.
There truly is, No Quit In New York.
It has been an absolute pleasure to follow this team for another season and to write about them for the second season in a row. I’ve been a die hard Rangers fan since birth and while each year has had its ups and downs, there’s always one constant and that’s my love for this team. Through all the excitement and all the heartbreak, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. There’s no other team I’d want to root for and I could not be any more proud to bleed blue. This has been one of the most fun seasons of Rangers hockey in my 26 years, even giving the 2014 Cup run team a run for its money. In addition to that, this has been the most Rangers games I’ve gone to in a season. When I found out I had to have a major back surgery at the start of the year, one of the biggest things that kept me going was knowing I would be getting back to the Garden six weeks afterwards.
To anyone who reads this, who has read any of my posts or followed me on Twitter this season, thank you for coming along on this ride. Being a Rangers fan isn’t always easy but at the end of the day, there’s never any doubt as to why we do it. It’s been a remarkable season for this group and if you’re anything like me, I’m sure you’re already eager for training camp to start up in October. Be well this summer, enjoy the offseason and as always,
Lets. Go. Rangers.
Chris Feldman
Twitter: @Almost_August
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