Kenny Albert expects Rangers’ Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko to raise their games
Kenny Albert is one of today’s premier sports broadcasters for MSG Networks and NHL on TNT. In an exclusive interview with Forever Blueshirts TV to preview the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils playoff matchup, he feels two key veterans will play a big role for the Blueshirts.
“I think they’re ready to go,” Albert said of Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko.
“We saw last year with Andrew Copp and Frank Vatrano what they were able to add in the playoffs but these two are future Hall of Famers. You know definitely Kane and possibly Tarasenko. They’re both looking forward to the playoffs and I think they’ll certainly bring a lot to this Rangers squad.”
Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko
The New York Rangers went all the way to the Eastern Conference Final last season and fell short losing in 6 games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
That squad boasted only Barclay Goodrow as a key player to have won a Stanley Cup on his résumé. Entering this post season, they’ve added two more in Kane (3), and Tarasenko (1).
Neither of these players was brought here to help the Rangers make the playoffs. Both are expected to play a huge role in bringing the franchise their first championship since 1994.
“These are guys who historically have lifted their game come playoff time and they both played well for the Rangers following the trades,” Albert noted. “When you look at the track record of Kane in Chicago along with (Jonathan) Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook they were the core of those three Stanley Cup teams. Tarasenko helped lead the way for the Blues in 2019 and he was tremendous throughout that entire postseason scoring a lot of big goals.”
Kane, 34, has recorded 48 goals and 125 points in 136 playoff matches. Five of those goals came in overtime (2 in double OT) with the biggest being in Game 6 of the 2009-10 Stanley Cup Final to win the series. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoffs MVP) in 2012-13 leading the Hawks in scoring with 19 points.
Tarasenko, 31, has notched 41 goals and 19 assists for 60 points in 90 postseason games. During the Blues run to their first-ever championship, he potted 11 goals and 6 assists in 26 grueling matches.
Astute observers could probably tell late in the season that there were games when the team looked disinterested because they couldn’t wait for the playoffs to start.
The time has come for the Rangers to complete the mission and they’ve stacked the roster with proven winners to help them get there.
Here’s tonight’s game and broadcast info:
New York Rangers (0-0) vs New Jersey Devils (0-0)
Date/Time: April 18, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Arena: Prudential Center
TV: MSGSN, TBS
Radio: ESPN 1050
Note: MSG Networks will televise most games 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 of the series, with exclusive pre game shows and expanded post-game shows after every game.
How to Watch the New York Rangers in 2023
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