Rangers properly conscious of unpredictability of NHL playoffs: ‘Something can occur’
Earlier than the Rangers and Devils squared off in a Recreation 7 Monday night time at Prudential Middle, as the ultimate contest of the primary spherical of the NHL playoffs, brackets have been busted left and proper as different sequence across the league wrapped up.
“As we all the time speak about, the NHL is shut,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant mentioned earlier than the groups took the ice for Recreation 7. “I imply, seeing Boston have the nice season that they’d after which, you realize, it’s robust to see a group lose like that. That’s the NHL. The groups are shut and on any given night time anyone can beat anyone.”
The mighty Boston Bruins, who completed the common season with a league-record 65 wins and 135 factors, have been shockingly taken down by the middle-of-the-pack Panthers.
Brandon Montour scored for Florida with lower than a minute left in regulation to ship it to extra time earlier than Carter Verhaeghe netted the game-winner 8:35 into the additional interval, which introduced the Bruins’ miraculous season to a screeching halt.
The 43-point distinction between the Panthers and Bruins represented the most important upset in Stanley Cup Playoffs historical past for a best-of-seven sequence.
Florida will now face the Maple Leafs in Spherical 2.
Within the Western Convention, the Seattle Kraken, of their second-year of existence, upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche, with a 2-1 win in Recreation 7 Sunday night time in Colorado.
The Kraken whiffed on their first likelihood to shut out the sequence, however Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer was spectacular with 33 saves in Recreation 7 as Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice to punch his group’s ticket to the second spherical.
They may tackle the Stars within the second spherical.
“I simply suppose that’s the NHL for you at this time,” mentioned Patrick Kane, who skated in his sixth profession Recreation 7 Monday night time with the Rangers. “There’s a lot parity within the league. Any given group can win. Often the perfect group comes out on a best-of-seven sequence, however something can occur.”
The Rangers know higher than any group simply how unpredictable a playoff sequence will be.
Except for final season’s early deficits within the first and second rounds towards the Penguins and Hurricanes, respectively, which they persevered via and finally superior, the Blueshirts additionally misplaced 4 straight after taking a 2-0 sequence lead over the Lightning within the convention closing.
The Rangers had the script flipped on them once more this season, as properly.
After pulling forward two video games to none at the beginning of this first-round sequence towards the Devils, the Rangers let New Jersey waltz proper again into the sequence by taking two straight victories on the Backyard.
Instantly, the Rangers have been going through elimination approach sooner than anticipated after the Devils rolled over them with a 4-0 win in Recreation 5.
The Rangers, nevertheless, have been in a position to force a Game 7 with a convincing 5-2 victory on the Backyard.
With the Lightning and Bruins each eradicated, the East seems to be large open.
The Kraken have been the one upset within the West, however as historical past has proven, it’s all the time anyone’s recreation.
“That’s hockey, proper?” Chris Kreider requested rhetorically. “Attempt to put your greatest foot ahead and belief one another. Belief the method. Belief the dynamic that you just construct over the course of the yr.”