NHL

Rangers finally have something to lose

Here are the differences between todays showdown in Philadelphia against the Flyers and the preceding nine games the Rangers played when they felt they’d been counted out and had nothing of tangible value to lose:

Now no one is counting the Rangers out, and the Rangers have a playoff spot to lose just as the Flyers do, even if the Blueshirts enter this afternoons finale in ninth place and their opponents in eighth by a tiebreak. If the Rangers win, they finish eighth and play Washington in the first round. If they lose, they’re out. If the Flyers win, they finish seventh and play the Devils or Sabres. If they lose, they are eliminated.

So, as much as the Rangers are appropriately attempting to spin it as if the weight of the world is on the Flyers while they themselves are just a footloose, fancy-free bunch along for the ride well, not quite.

A defeat, and the 7-1-1 drive to this point will be placed in the context of nice try, what took you so long, what (and who) is next? A defeat, and it will be elimination in a weak, weaker, weakest Eastern Conference. A defeat, and the season will be graded as a failure, never mind the whipped cream and cherry on top.

So yes, there is much suddenly to lose for the Rangers, even if they have every reason to be confident entering this must-win contest riding the wave of Fridays 4-3 Garden conquest of the Flyers in which they met every challenge and survived every obstacle.

Notably, the Rangers did not panic when Mike Richards scored 40 seconds into the match. They did not bend, let alone break, when Philadelphia went on the power play 19 seconds later. Indeed, the Blueshirts held the Flyers without a shot for 17:18 following the Richards goal while scoring twice for a 2-1 lead at the end of one.

There once was a time when the Rangers could not score in the first period. Lets call that time, oh, the first 72 games of the season. That was then, when the Blueshirts were outscored by an aggregate 62-53 in the first. This is now, with the Rangers outscoring their foes by 16-6 in the first periods of the last nine games.

Unfortunately it took having our backs against the wall to get our attention to do the things we should have been doing all along, Brandon Dubinsky said when asked about the dramatic first-period reversal of fortunes. Were focused and prepared from the first shift, with each line creating energy for the next.

Were all taking responsibility. Were all ready to go and were all excited to play.

It took injuries to Ryan Callahan (doubtful after re-injuring the knee on Friday) and Sean Avery (possible for Game 1 of the first round, if necessary) to force John Tortorella to roll lines and give responsibility to more than a handful of forwards. Who knew? Well, basically everyone except the coach, but thats for another day.

Rolling thunder has been supported by improved work from the defense, notably from Dan Girardi, Marc Staal and Michal Rozsival. Substituting Anders Eriksson-nobody knew-for Matt Gilroy has steadied Wade Redden. The Blueshirts are more poised in their own end.

It will take a heaping dose of poise this afternoon. The Flyers will not go quietly into the night or the summer. There is too much to lose.

For both teams.

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Tortorella said that Brian Boyle, if healthy enough, would replace Callahan if No. 24 is unable to play. Said Boyle, who has missed the entire surge with an ankle injury: Im good to go.