Marc Staal is one of 10 current Rangers who went through the opening two-round, 14-game grind to reach the Eastern Conference finals two years ago. Back again, neither he nor any of his teammates, old or new, older or younger, are going to make the same mistake this time as the Blueshirts did in 2012, when they were upset by the Devils in six.
“I think for us, once this settles in, there’s going to be a commitment to seize the opportunity that maybe wasn’t there two years ago,” the alternate captain told The Post in the flush of Tuesday night’s 2-1 Game 7 victory in Pittsburgh. “I don’t want to say that we were satisfied just getting to the conference finals, but even with how tough it was to get there, in a way we took it for granted.
“We never played our best in that series, and I think we figured we’d get another shot,” Staal said. “Well, I think as a group we appreciate it more now and have a better understanding of how tough it was to get back here.
“We’re not going to take this opportunity for granted.”
The Rangers, whose conference final opener in Montreal is set for Saturday afternoon, have won five playoff rounds the last three years. Only the Kings (seven and still alive in the Western semis) and Blackhawks (six) have won that many.
But the Blueshirts haven’t made it to the Show and they haven’t hoisted the Cup in 20 years, so the job hasn’t been done. Nine seasons into his career, Henrik Lundqvist has never played in a Final. He is 32. Rick Nash has never gotten this far before in a career that began in 2002.
There are only three Rangers who have won the Cup — Daniel Carcillo last year for Chicago, and blood brothers Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis in 2004 for Tampa Bay. Neither Richards nor St. Louis has made it back to the Final in the intervening decade.
“Before the playoffs even started, we had a long talk as a team, and the older guys were saying that if you think there’s an unlimited amount of chances in this game, then think again,” Richards told The Post. “I was 24 when we won in Tampa, and I haven’t been back. It doesn’t happen that often.
“Now, for us to be here two out of three years, it might seem routine, but it really isn’t. We have to seize this chance.”
Everyone recognizes the implications of Richards’ contract. But general manager Glen Sather — with the urging of then-coach John Tortorella — brought Richards here in July 2011 to provide leadership to a core of Blueshirts that was still pretty green. No one can argue No. 19 has failed to live up to that part of the bargain.
Richards, who scored the series-winner in Pittsburgh, has emerged as the team’s public voice and conscience in the wake of the trade deadline deal that sent captain Ryan Callahan (and, it was decided with Tuesday’s triumph, first-round draft picks this year and next) to the Lightning for St. Louis.
“We’re going to have some more talks in the next few days,” said Richards, whose team will return to the practice rink Thursday. “And the message will be reinforced.
“When I was starting in the league, I learned from Dave Andreychuk. He was in his 22nd year and had never even been to the Stanley Cup Final until we won it. He told me, ‘Never take any of it for granted,’” Richards recounted. “He was living proof that it was not easy.”
The Rangers have bought into Alain Vigneault’s coaching style that leaves so much of the day-to-day operation to the leadership in the room. Individuals adapt to the greater good. In the third period of Tuesday’s Game 7, the forwards’ average shift time was 33 seconds. That’s basically on, out, in and off. No one overstayed. And that is a reflection of dedication to a common cause.
“We’re a very rare group here that loves to be together and loves to compete,” Richards said. “I’ve played a long time in this league, and it’s special.
“And we’re going to cherish the opportunity to do something special.”