Keep Doubting These New York Rangers If You Wanna Keep Looking Like An Idiot

I've said it all year long and even the most "diehard" Rangers fans wanna jump ship before it's over. Throw dirt on their own team because of past shortcomings. This is a different iteration. A squad that's consistently found a way to win regardless of circumstance. Tonight though - tonight the Blueshirts took it to a whole new level.

The first period was a fairly even matchup most of the way. Carolina held a significant shots advantage but, as usual, a whole lot of low-danger. Meanwhile the Rangers seemed to own o-zone possession but the Canes did a great job making sure hardly any pucks got through to Andersen. In typical Blueshirts fashion though, a late period lapse (no one LOVES giving late-period pushes to their opponents more than NY) left Necas all alone in front to hammer home a 1-0 lead headed into intermission.

The next 20 were all Carolina. Exactly what Canes fans are used to seeing at PNC. Buzzing. Controlling. Swarming. Although the shots were just about equal, the quality was not. The home team managed 7 high-danger chances & two goals to take what felt like an insurmountable lead under a roof they're hardly beaten. On top of their domination they had lady luck on their side. Ryan Lindgren was inches centimeters millimeters from cutting the deficit in half until Martinook made this incredible play with no room to spare:

ALL TIME SAVE FROM MARTINOOK!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Nv2zAImDx3

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 17, 2024

 

Not gonna lie, if you thought it was over after that I get it. I'm sure plenty of Rangers fans went straight to GameTime looking to get an early jump on some Game 7 tix. I started to brainstorm my post of positivity, ready to spin the situation into "hey if you would've said we'd have one home tilt for all the marbles we'd take it". But the tone slowly started to change in the final frame. After everything went right for the Canes in the second, they couldn't capitalize on some Grade-A chances to put these Blueshirts away. Whether it was a post, a crossbar, a missed breakaway or a monster Shesterkin save they couldn't put that 4th one in the net. Lady luck switched sides. Meanwhile the longest tenured Ranger Christopher James Krieder was about to have a legacy night out of nowhere.

Through 40 the only trio making any offensive noise was the Trocheck line. Mika and Kreider were MIA. Milk carton status. When the boys needed them most though it was none other than #20 who put the squad on his back.

First he potted a puck Andersen non-chalantly played on his post to make it 3-2. We got life.

A disgusting redirect on the powerplay knotted the score at 3. Holy shit.

Then, with less than five to play, Kreider finished off the natty hatty and the Carolina Hurricanes season in one fell swoop:

CHRIS KREIDER NATTY HATTY FOR THE LEAD‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/eRvnjKW7q9

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 17, 2024

 

Six straight postseasons for Carolina. Six straight postseasons they haven't won a single game past Round 2. Second time in the last three playoffs the Rangers have disposed of them in their own damn building to punch their ECF ticket. An incredible comeback to keep an incredible season going. Can't wait to hear all about how they can't possibly win Round 3 Biz you clown!

EAT A BIG FAT BLUE HORN @BizNasty2point0 pic.twitter.com/lwCi0wvLST

— 610 (@610Barstool) May 17, 2024

 

VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!!!!