Panthers Pounce: Rangers fall to Florida in Eastern Conference Finals Showdown

The Rangers fell short of their Stanley Cup run when they lost three consecutive games to the Florida Panthers, all the losses coming by one goal.  The Rangers got off to a quick start in the series, winning two of the first three games to give them a 2-1 series advantage, but the next three games didn’t give them the luck they had in the first three.

     “It was difficult to score. Generating the quality we wanted to generate.” New York coach Pete Laviolette said. The Panthers smothered New Yorks, best players, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider every time they touched the puck, giving them no room to skate and to be able to get in their flow.

     Fans have not taken the fall off in this series well. With the Rangers having not won a Stanley Cup in more than three decades fans are frustrated with how the team played offensively in this series, most important series of the year.

     The Offense was out shot by 36 shots in the final three games of the series. The Rangers were “pounced” on by a much more physical team and chose the worst time to play their worst hockey during such a promising year.

     The Rangers were extremely effective on the power play all season long, ranking third in the NHL with a 26.4 percent success rate. This carried over into the team’s first two series games against the Washington Capitals, and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers converted 11 of 35 power play chances in these first two series (31.4 percent) and it looked and felt like they would not be stopped.

     That all changed when the Panthers showed up to the Garden, the Rangers finished the series 1 out of 15 on power plays. “I know it can be better” Zibanejad said after the team’s game 5 loss. They in fact, were not any better in game 6. The Rangers did not convert on their only power play chance during the teams elimination game. With the Rangers being so ineffective on the power play, it played a major part in the team’s downfall during this series.

     “I mean, I guess close isn’t cutting it. We have to capitalize on those chances. Big spots, we have some looks. You don’t win games based on getting looks. You have to capitalize, it’s definitely on us.” Adam Fox, Ranger’s defensemen said.

     The Lone Bright Spot: Igor Shesterkin, arguably the best goalie in hockey, is the only reason the Rangers had any chance in this series. Igor had played exceptionally well during the regular season, early in the playoffs, and it carried over into this series with the Florida Panthers; Unfortunately, it was not enough.

     All that is left to figure out is, will owner James Dolan stay put and run it back with the same team (similar team) the team he put on the ice this season, or will he lose his patience and break it up.

He arrived in a black SUV with the song "Woke Up This Morning" which has become so synonymous with the HBO drama The Sopranos blaring over the sound system. Steve Schirripa, popped out of the van to a loud applause. His dog Willie Boy with him, as well as family and friends. Yes, indeed Sopranos Night just hit differently in Somerset, New Jersey on a cool June evening.

How big was the night? Well, 7,619 people came out to the see the Sopranos and Blue Bloods star, and the Somerset Patriots pound the Bowie Baysox 6-2.