Game 5 — Rangers capture first Stanley Cup in 30 years

VANCOUVER, CA — Nope. It’s not 1994 all over again. That’s when the New York Rangers last won the Stanley Cup. There opponent? The Vancouver Canucks.

The Rangers of 2024 have made their own history by defeating the Canucks in Game 5 by a 3-2 final at Rogers Arena to win the Stanley Cup four games to one. With Vancouver having tied the game 2-2 early in the third period, overtime was looming with the game still tied with less than one minute remaining in regulation. When Filip Chytil made his mark on Rangers history. 

With 37 seconds left to play, Chytil curled around the back of the net and snapped in the go-ahead goal inside the far post to put New York on top 3-2. It was Chytil’s eighth of the postseason. The Rangers succeeded in keeping the puck in Vancouver’s zone to prevent them from removing their goalie while burning out the final seconds.

Earlier in the game, Mika Zinbanajed scored his fourth of the layoffs to tie the game 1-1 in the first frame, and Vitali Kravtsov, also with four postseason goals, gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead 1:08 into the third period.

Goalie Igor Shesterkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup’s MVP.

Game 4 — Shesterkin earns second shutout of series

NEW YORK, NY — The Rangers’ defense took the night off in Game 3. In Game 4 it returned and held Vancouver scoreless, while Vincent Trochek’s third period goal was all New York needed to win 1-0 and take a 3-1 series lead. Trochek redirected a snap shot by D’Andre Miller over the glove side of Thatcher Demko 8:25 into the final frame.

Canucks’ top gun, JT miller was contained after scoring twice on power plays in Game 3. Miller failed to put one shot on goal in 23:13 TOI. The Rangers helped themselves by avoiding too many PK situations this time (only shorthanded three times).  

Game notes — Rangers haven’t scored on the power play since Game 1 when they tallied 3 PPGs… Panarin registered 4 shots on goal… J. Miller and Lindgren were sent to the box for fighting with 2:18 to play…. Shesterkin stopped a penalty shot with 46 seconds to play after the Rangers disrupted a Canucks breakaway by tripping the attacker.

Game 3 — Canucks bring down the hammer on Rangers

NEW YORK, NY — What Vancouver failed to do on home ice they saved for Madison Square Garden where they destroyed the Rangers 6-1 behind five power play goals. The Canucks went up 3-0 when Vasily Podkolzin scored 1:55 into the second period. New York answered quietly on Filip Chitin’s 7th five minutes later, but there was no catching up to the Canucks who added three goals in the third period.

Game notes — Rangers Kreider and Canucks C. Miller were sent to the box for fighting late in the third period after Kreider slammed a Canucks player against the board for a 2-minute minor… Panarin had no shots on goal…Due to constant PK, D. Miller had 30:23 TOI.

Game 2 — Rangers take 2-0 lead after winning defensive battle

VANCOUVER, CA — Defense reigned supreme but a fluke goal gave the Rangers a 1-0 victory to take a 2-0 lead over Vancouver. After getting their first goal reversed 10:24 into in the first period, Brian Schneider would score five minutes later when his strong slap shot was stopped by Canucks goalkeeper Thatcher Demko, but he deflected the puck into the air, and it came down behind Thatcher for a goal. 

Game notes — Rangers defenseman Adam Fox returned from a minor injury. After numerous penalties in Game 1, the Rangers stayed out of the penalty box.

Game 1 — Rangers rock Canucks as Pearson notches two goals

VANCOUVER, CA — It looked like the night would belong to Vancouver after Brock Boeser scored the first goal of the game just 1:20 into the 1st period. But that was the only highlight for the host as the Rangers powered back to take Game 1 by a 4-1 final. Tanner Pearson scored the go-ahead goal in the first period, then scored a second 8:14 into the second period. Three of the Rangers goals occurred during a power play.

How they got here

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks were never out of striking distance of 1st-place in the Western Conference. The lowest they ever ended a month was in 3rd-place during the regular season. While the focus was on how Calgary went the last five months as the 1st-place club, Vancouver finished just two points behind. In the Western Conference Playoffs, the better team prevailed as Vancouver rolled past Calgary. In the Conference Final, Nashville never put up a fight and were swept by the Canucks.

New York Rangers

The Rangers’ path to the Stanley Cup Final was a tougher journey. Early round wins over Detroit (4-1), and Columbus (4-3) set up a battle against the #2 seed, Tampa Bay. The Lighting were no pushovers and it would take six games for New York to clinch their series. In Game 6, they lost their top defender, Adam Fox to an injury (Fox will miss the first 2 to 3 games). Look for the Canucks to to try and take advantage of New York’s weakened defense.