For the first time in three years, the Rangers will not have to sit and wait to see if they will make the playoffs on the dying days of the NHL regular season, for they have clinched the first playoff birth in the Eastern Conference in a win tonight over the Devils.The Rangers, who have played very turbulent hockey these past few days, reached the 97 point plateau, and are in the playoffs. They currently sit atop the Eastern Conference, but the Penguins, and Flyers are jockeying right behind them with 94 and 92 points.
As stated before, it has been a rough patch of hockey for the Rangers, as they are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. But a victory tonight solidifies them a spot in the postseason, and now they can worry about preparing for that, rather than having to sacrifice their bodies down to the wire and gassing themselves out before they have a chance to relax.
It has been a long road for the Rangers this season. Starting the season with two straight overtime losses in Sweden to the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks before finally getting their first victory over the Vancouver Canucks. This team of Rangers has showed nothing but poise and confidence all season, and I have the utmost support for them going into the playoffs.
As the days go by, the Clinic will start preparing posts for the playoffs, including Dr. Daps' Playoff Predictions for all the teams. It is going to be a very exciting postseason, and we are going to get to watch the Rangers duke it out in their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup.
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