Rangers’ season of belief has built up to this moment of truth

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Rangers have defined themselves every day since the middle of September but now they are obligated to do it again. A season full of hugs, unity and belief have brought them to this moment of truth. 

It is all on the line for the Presidents’ Trophy winners and it is all on the line for this core of Blueshirts who have been together for up to five seasons, have not quite been able to make it and would face a disquieting summer if they fall short (again). 

There is no need to doubt the Rangers’ character as they attempt to avoid extinction in Saturday’s Game 6. They revealed it repeatedly during their 114-point season. They revealed it with their Game 6 response in Raleigh after failing to clinch Round 2 in Game 4 in Carolina and Game 5 in New York. 

The Blueshirts will show up. 

But there is ample reason to doubt whether the Rangers can deter the Panthers, who have dominated each of the last three games of this series in which the scoreboard has often been an optical illusion. This is not a fluke. The Puddy Tats have been building toward this since their Presidents’ Trophy-winning 2021-22. 

Florida has been faster, bigger, stronger, deeper, meaner and more disciplined. They have controlled the pace. They have dominated possession time. They’ve played to postseason officiating standards. Over the last three games, the Rangers share of expected goals have been recorded at 30.81%, 26.53% and 30.96% beginning with Game 3.