Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers outmatch Capitals with depth and balance to move on in playoffs

They received all 4 video games because of expertise benefits from the web out, superior particular groups and a mix of depth and steadiness. They’re the primary staff to advance and within the course of seemed each bit like a official Stanley Cup contender.

“The sign of a good team is when there is depth and balance,” said forward Barclay Goodrow, a back-to-back champion with Tampa Bay in 2020 and ’21 who had a goal and two assists in the series.

“Come this time of year, you need everyone on your team,” he added. “Everyone’s leaned on to contribute in no matter manner you contribute to your staff. … It’s been nice for us, and it’s one thing that we’re going to want to proceed.”

Goodrow was one among 10 New York gamers to attain a purpose and 14 to register some extent in opposition to Washington, whereas Igor Shesterkin stopped 94 of 101 of the pictures he confronted in one other sturdy exhibiting two years since wining the Vezina Trophy because the league’s prime goaltender. The Rangers scored two short-handed targets, killed off 15 of 17 Capitals energy performs and did sufficient at 5 on 5 to get by means of some video games that had been tighter than the tip outcome indicated.

“I just think that it says that we’re a good hockey team,” mentioned Vincent Trocheck, the Rangers’ main goal-scorer with three and the very best participant on the ice all collection. “We showed it every game.”

Up subsequent is probably going a formidable problem from the Carolina Hurricanes, who’re up 3-1 on the New York Islanders after failing to complete it off in a sweep. The Rangers received two of their three video games in opposition to Carolina this season, together with a 1-0 shutout final month, but additionally misplaced 6-1 to the Hurricanes in January.

One profit they’ve this time is a few additional time without work, which gamers from the deep 2022 run playoff run perceive is helpful after going by means of seven-game collection in every of the primary two rounds that point and feeling the toll it took on them in shedding to Tampa Bay within the Eastern Conference ultimate.

“The seven-game series will pile up on you, so, yeah, obviously that’s a big factor, I think, to keep as fresh as we can,” captain Jacob Trouba mentioned. “I additionally assume that was expertise for us, a studying expertise to be put in that scenario, so I feel that’s going to bode properly for us transferring ahead.”

As will their depth that has up to now saved any participant from averaging greater than 23 minutes of ice time, a far cry from the Capitals needing prime defenseman John Carlson to play practically half of each recreation due to accidents on their blue line.

New York has not needed to overtax Trocheck, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Mika Zibanejad or MVP candidate Artemi Panarin. Coach Peter Laviolette has “a lot of trust in all our players” and is much less apprehensive about matchups in opposition to specific opponents due to that steadiness.

“Anyone can play against anyone,” defenseman Braden Schneider mentioned. “We balance out well and everyone knows their role and plays hard doing it, so I think we do a great job of just being hard to play against no matter who’s out there.”

That helps significantly on the street. Though by successful the Presidents’ Trophy because the NHL’s prime staff in the course of the common season, the Rangers have home-ice benefit all through the playoffs. Game 1 in opposition to the Hurricanes or Islanders will likely be at Madison Square Garden — however solely after they’ll take just a few days to heal up and prepare for the following step on a journey they hope will take them to the franchise’s first championship since 1994.

Asked how far he and his staff can go, Shesterkin muttered solely: “We will see.”

NHL playoffs: /hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

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