Allen: Rangers on fast track back to Stanley Cup Final
NEW YORK - The New York Rangers recorded eight more wins, 17 more points, 34 more goals and their goal differential was 35 better than it was a season ago when they advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
But the true difference in the Rangers this season over last can't be measured by statistical evaluation. It shows up in that the Rangers say are more mentally prepared for the playoff gauntlet run than they were a year ago, when they lost in the Finals to the Los Angeles Kings.
"Hopefully we're just a little smarter this year than last year," Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said.
Rangers winger Rick Nash describes it as an understanding of what lies ahead. They have been close enough to the summit of the mountain to appreciate how rough the terrain will be during their ascent.
"No surprises, no new experiences," Nash said. "We know what this is supposed to feel like."
The Rangers, owning a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final, have played 70 playoff games since 2012. Their current opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning, have played just 18 games in that span.
"You learn from the experiences in the playoffs (and) also throughout the regular season," Lundqvist said. "You take that with you as you move on."
Unquestionably, the Rangers have made improvements that are more visible to fans and foes.
"I think we are playing a better offensive game," said forward Carl Hagelin, whose role has expanded this season. "We are doing a better job of getting pucks out of our zone to get going. Last season, we would spend more time in our own end and get tired from that."
It seemed as if the Rangers would lose some defensive bite with the free agent departures of super-checking center Brian Boyle and defenseman Anton Stralman last summer, but the Rangers' defensive numbers are quite similar to what they were last season. In the playoffs, they have been better.
Their 1.62 goals allowed per game in the postseason is tops in the NHL.
While Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi and Marc Staal do most of the heavy lifting defensively, it's actually newcomers Dan Boyle and Keith Yandle who lead the team in Corsi rating, which reflects puck possession. Boyle and Yandle both rank among the league leaders in that category in the postseason.
Brad Richards was a prominent player in New York's offense last season, and his contract was bought out. J.T. Miller's and Jesper Fast's roles have expanded, but the most significant newcomer up front was free agent college signee Kevin Hayes.
"He has been an enormous addition because of his high-end skill set," Rangers forward Chris Kreider said. "He is definitely shouldering his share of the load right now."
A product of Boston College, Hayes, 23, has not played like a rookie this season. In Game 1 against the Lightning, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault put Hayes with Derick Brassard and Nash to give the team a bigger line for the Lightning to deal with.
"He was not (like) an 18-year-old guy coming in here," Nash said. "He had an older game. You can tell from his game how mature he is and how mature he is around the dressing room."
Hayes had a 17-goal, 45-point regular season, but he had the impact of a 60- or 65-point scorer. He 6-5, 225 pounds, and he's skillful with the puck. He seemed to make New York's offense more vibrant.
"We might be a little quicker — it's hard to say," said Hagelin, one of the NHL's fastest forwards. "We feel good about how we play. It's all about speed."
Kreider isn't sure whether the Rangers are faster.
"But we are playing faster," he said. "There are some teams that have fast guys who don't play fast, and there are teams that aren't individually quick that play fast. I think as a group, we are playing very quick."
The Lightning also move the puck at warp speed, meaning this series feels like it is being playing on the German Autobahn. There is no restriction on the amount of speed you might see in this series. You can find open ice. Whether the Rangers are faster than they were a season ago, they are clearly more offensively dangerous. That's a major change.
GALLERY: Best of the conference finals