Could the Penguins Have Been the Rangers?
Despite the notable absence of our Penguins, I confess I’ve really enjoyed watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs this week. There’s nothing quite like the passion, intensity and skill on display as foes battle tooth-and-nail in pursuit of Lord Stanley’s coveted chalice.
For my money, by far the most impressive team thus far has been the Rangers. Locking horns with a fast and talented young Devils squad that recorded the third-most points in the league during the regular season, the New Yorkers have been more than a match for their callow Metro rivals to the tune of a pair of resounding 5-1 victories.
The Rangers boast a near-perfect blend of virtually every quality you need to win a Cup. They feature a varied and dynamic veteran core in Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Pittsburgh native Vincent Trocheck, net-front horse Chris Kreider and marquee late-season additions Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko. They’re loaded with young up-and-comers, including quarterback extraordinaire Adam Fox, fellow defensemen K’Andre Miller, Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider, not to mention the emerging “Kid Line” of Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil.