Rangers must fix ‘mindset’ to get over hump in Stanley Cup chase, Panthers broadcaster believes

NHL: New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens
Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers arrive at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, an early-season reminder of how close the New York Rangers came to the Stanley Cup last season, yet how far away they were, as well.

After winning the Presidents’ Trophy in a record-setting regular season, the Rangers won seven straight games to begin the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring. They surged into the Eastern Conference Final against the Panthers, grabbed a 2-1 lead in the series and proceeded to lose three straight one-goal games. They were eliminated in a Game 6 road defeat, six wins shy of their first Stanley Cup championship in 30 years.

The Panthers, of course, went on to win the first title in franchise history, besting the Edmonton Oilers in seven games in the Cup Final.

Former Rangers defenseman and longtime Panthers broadcaster Randy Moller believes he knows the exact area the Rangers must fix in order to get over the hump this season.

“No doubt I have the utmost respect for the talent of [Artemi] Panarin and [Mika] Zibanejad and [Chris] Kreider,” Moller told Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast. “These guys are really intelligent players. They have to figure out though, when you get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and how deep you get into the playoffs, those pretty little plays … a lot of those times it’s not going to happen.

“So, how do you handle that? Do you make the changes or change your mindset that those pretty little goals that were scored in January on a Tuesday night in San Jose, it’s not going to work (in the playoffs)?”

Panarin, Zibanejad and Kreider combined to score two goals in the conference final, one in the final minute of Game 6 by Panarin, the other a short-handed goal in Game 5 by Kreider. Zibanejad did not score a goal in New York’s final 11 postseason games.

Moller went on to add that the Rangers need to “challenge themselves” to change their mindset when it comes to the pretty plays. He added that they look no further than the Panthers.

As Moller pointed out, the Panthers were “punched in the nose and didn’t have a response for it” when they were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the playoffs in 2022. The Panthers scored just three goals in four games, even though they were the Presidents’ Trophy winners.

Florida acquired forward Matthew Tkachuk, among others, that offseason and the organization’s mindset changed to that of a skilled, yet much more gritty, team. The Panthers reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2023, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights, and finally won it all in 2024.

“It’s called playoff hockey and it’s so much different than the regular season,” Moller said. “You’re battling for every inch, every shift, every face-off, every aspect of the game.

“You need superstars, and the Rangers have more than enough talent … so, you don’t have to worry about that. You’re just making sure that team concept comes in and everybody is pulling the rope the same way.”

Related: Rangers vs. Panthers: Head-to-head breakdown in 1st rematch between conference finalists

Randy Moller discusses Rangers, Panthers on Rink Rap podcast

NHL: USA TODAY Sports-Archive
Randy Moller in 1989 playing with the Rangers RVR Photos-Imagn Images

Moller is steadfast in his belief that the Rangers have one area completely locked down. That’s in goal, where Igor Shesterkin has picked right up where he left off against the Panthers in the conference final, playing at a brilliant level.

“Their goaltending is lights out. Shesterkin is out of his mind. So, you don’t have to worry about that,” he said.

The 28-year-old Rangers goalie is 4-0-1 in five starts with a 1.98 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. And he’s a money goaltender — no pun intended for the pending UFA who’s set his sights on becoming the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. Shesterkin has a .928 save percentage 44 postseason games and has led New York the conference final two of the past three years.

Moller, who played 815 NHL games from 1982-95 with the Rangers, Quebec Nordiques, Buffalo Sabres and Panthers, discussed a variety of topics on the Rink Rap podcast. Among those were several stories about Rangers legend Mark Messier, his teammate on Broadway during the 1991-92 season.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of ... More about Jim Cerny
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