Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Rangers’ Comeback Capability Vanishes in Contrasting Season
As the 2024 NHL playoffs commenced, the New York Rangers had cemented their standing as a team defined by resilience, a trait exemplified by their impressive 114-point, Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign. This reputation for overcoming adversity, however, has not translated to the current season as dramatically.
Playoff Resilience in 2024
During the previous playoffs, the Rangers repeatedly demonstrated their ability to rally.
- In the second round against the Hurricanes, they seized Game 2 after trailing in the third period.
- They replicated this feat in Game 3, overcoming a one-goal deficit after the first period.
- Game 6 witnessed a dramatic turnaround sparked by Chris Kreider’s third-period hat trick, erasing a two-goal deficit and clinching the series.
The Blueshirts earned labels of ‘cardiac’ and ‘never-say-die,’ fueled by a team-record 28 comeback victories in the 2023-24 season after falling behind by a goal.
Notably, on 14 occasions, they erased deficits of at least one goal in the third period to secure wins, and six times, they rallied from two-goal deficits at any point in the game.
This remarkable characteristic was arguably crucial to the Rangers’ ascent to the top of the NHL standings.
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Contrasting Fortunes in Current Season
However, a year later, with only five games remaining, the stark contrast is evident.
This season, the Rangers have managed only 15 comeback wins, a significant decline from the 28, 21, and 27 comebacks in the preceding three years. They have yet to win a single game when trailing by two goals.
A recent example unfolded against the Lightning, where three quick Lightning goals in the first period proved insurmountable for a Rangers comeback.
Facing playoff elimination and trailing the Canadiens in the wild-card race, the Blueshirts have seemingly lost their comeback ability, contributing to their current position far from the league’s summit.
“Last year, we were entering third periods down two, three goals, and we were battling back and winning those games,” forward Jonny Brodzinski remarked after a recent defeat. “That’s the key difference between this season and last. The fundamental issue is putting the puck in the net. We need to capitalize on the scoring opportunities within the offensive zone.”
Broader Struggles Beyond Comebacks
The inability to stage comebacks is symptomatic of deeper issues plaguing the Rangers this season.
They have struggled to maintain consistent winning streaks, failing to secure three consecutive victories since November.
Their power play has been ineffective, exemplified by a prior stretch of only two power-play goals in 16 games, briefly interrupted by a fortuitous goal deflected off Mika Zibanejad.
Artemi Panarin noted that “both zones – offensive and defensive zones” have presented increased challenges for the Rangers.
Despite retaining much of last season’s core roster, the Rangers have largely failed to replicate their late-game heroics.
While there have been exceptions, the dominant trend has been a failure to recover when trailing, especially in the final period.
The Blueshirts have only managed to win five games in the 2024-25 season when trailing by a goal in the third period.
Coach Peter Laviolette suggested that the game against the Lightning was lost well before the third period.
Quick goals by Nikita Kucherov, Yanni Gourde, and Brayden Point in rapid succession put the game out of reach, despite a response goal from Zibanejad.
When questioned about the absence of last season’s “magic,” particularly the decline in comebacks, Laviolette offered a concise yet telling response.
“We needed to secure a win tonight, and we didn’t,” Laviolette stated. “That has been a recurring theme throughout the season.”
Playoff Hopes Diminishing
The Rangers have suffered setbacks in multiple areas this season. They have recently squandered any momentum in their playoff aspirations. Key veterans like Kreider and Zibanejad have experienced offensive droughts, and the team has accumulated numerous losses. Critically, they have lost a fundamental aspect of their identity – their comeback spirit – transforming every remaining game into a must-win situation, and every point essential. Even these efforts may prove insufficient.
“We simply have to win out now,” Brodzinski asserted. “It’s no longer about waiting to see what other teams do. We must win all our remaining games, and even then, we will need external assistance.”