The New York Rangers have run roughshod over their opponents in the 2024 NHL playoffs.
New York is 7–0 in the postseason after sweeping the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs and moving to a 3–0 lead in the second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Rangers are the only team in the playoffs without a loss.
New York has not won seven straight games to start a postseason since 1994, the last time the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers are also the first team to open the playoffs 7–0 since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008.
The Rangers can complete their second consecutive sweep in Game 4 against the Hurricanes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday, May 11.
“This is a resilient group,” said Peter Laviolette, who was named the Rangers head coach last June after Gerard Gallant resigned at the end of the 2022–23 season.
The defense has been key for the Rangers this offseason.
Igor Shesterkin is the 10th goalie in NHL history to record a postseason-opening winning streak of seven or more games and the first since Marc-Andre Fleury, who won seven games in 2008.
Chris Kreider is the ninth player to record multiple shorthanded playoff goals with the franchise Mark Messier is the all-time leader with three. Overall, Kreider has been a boost for the Rangers attack with four goals in the postseason.
Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers with 12 points (three goals and nine assists) in the playoffs. Zibanejad is the sixth player in Rangers history to start a postseason with points in seven consecutive games.
However, all of the victories in the postseason have not come easy for the Rangers.
In Game 3 against Carolina. Artemi Panarin was able to redirect a shot by Vincent Trocheck past Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kotchetkov at 1:43 into overtime to provide a 3–2 victory.
“I just got on the ice,” Trocheck said. “I saw (Panarin) crashing the net, and it was a great tip by him.”
The Rangers have gotten a boost from Filip Chytil, who is back on the ice for the first time since Nov. 2 because of injury. Chytil played in only 10 games this past season.
“It’s not the Filip who is always here and ready for the season, who was playing the last time, who was ready, but I’m here and I know I can help the team and I'll do everything for every teammate in this locker room,” Chytil said.
The Rangers had high expectations entering this playoffs after finishing the regular season with the most wins (55) and points (114) in franchise history. They also captured the Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the most points in the NHL. Panarin was named the Rangers’ Most Valuable Player after finishing with career-high 48 goals, and 70 assists for a career-high 118 points in 81 games. His point total is the second most for a Rangers player in a single season behind Jaromir Jagr, who had 123 points in 2005–06). Panarin earned a point in 66 of his 81 games this year, establishing the franchise record for the most games with a point.
Jonathan Quick was named the winner of the Players’ Player Award. Quick had an 18–6–2 record in 27 games in his first season with the Rangers. He also had a 2.62 goals-against average, .911 save percentage, and two shutouts.
The Rangers have displayed on both sides of the ice throughout the season and in the playoffs.
As a result, the Rangers now appear poised to end the 30-year Stanley Cup drought this year, which would set off raucous celebrations in New York City.
