The Rangers are returning to the NHL postseason.
After their win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, and some help, the Blue Shirts will look to raise their first Stanley Cup in 30 years.
New York, who are now playoff-bound for the third straight season, will look to make it further than they did a year ago when they were eliminated by the upstart New Jersey Devils in seven games.
Entering Tuesday night’s game, the Rangers had three scenarios to clinch a postseason spot.
The easiest path was if the Rangers beat the Flyers in any fashion.
The second scenario was if the Detroit Red Wings lost to the Washington Capitals in regulation.
Third was if the Rangers picked up a point and the Red Wings lost to the Capitals in any fashion.
Adam Fox would score the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Rangers to a 6-5 win, and punch their ticket to the postseason.
After the win, the Rangers locker room was pretty calm. A “business-as-usual” feel despite the accomplishment.
“Just based on the season we’ve had, there’s an assumption that at some point you’re going to get in,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s not about that anymore. It’s about playing the right way and feeling good about your game as you approach the playoffs and you’d like to keep it consistent in the playoffs.”
“I don’t know if it’ll be much of a celebration, but this is what every team is fighting for,” Mika Zibanejad added of the locker room. “We have, I would say, bigger goals, but if you one day want to lift the Stanley Cup, you’ve got to get into playoffs first. That’s step one.”
The Rangers (48-20-4) currently lead the Eastern Conference with 100 points, but the race for the top seed remains a four-team race with the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes all on New York’s heels.