RALEIGH, N.C. —
Chants of “Ig-or! Ig-or” have been a familiar tune for the Rangers this season, but they’re typically heard in the heart of New York City.
On Monday, they broke out on multiple occasions in the state capitol of North Carolina.
With each passing minute of Game 7, Rangers’ blue became more prevalent around PNC Arena. Hurricanes’ fans slowly headed for the exits, giving way to the Blueshirts’ faithful who had invaded their home rink.
Roughly 500 miles from Madison Square Garden, a New York-style party broke out.
They were celebrating a decisive 6-2 win for their Rangers, who ended their second-round playoff series with an emphatic message that they have arrived ahead of schedule.
Making the playoffs was an expectation. Beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round was in their wheelhouse. But upending the Metro Division champion Hurricanes in this fashion vaults them into the NHL’s upper echelon.
The road will only get more difficult from here. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning await in the Eastern Conference Final, which will begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday at MSG. And while that matchup will pose its fair share of difficulties, this moment belongs the Rangers.
They snapped the Canes’ seven-game home playoff winning streak and took over Raleigh, leaving their fans to bask in the glory of what these bounce-back Blueshirts have accomplished.
For a team that’s never been here before, their knack for rising to the occasion has been the biggest takeaway from these playoffs – and they’re not done yet.
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Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers reacts following a first period goal by teammate Chris Kreider against the Carolina Hurricanes during Game 7.
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