Rangers will once again benefit from extra rest ahead of Eastern Conference Final.
The New York Rangers found a way to close out the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round, winning 5-3 after making an incredible comeback down 3-1 entering the third period. They are now the first team to advance to the Eastern Conference Final, and will rest while awaiting the winner of the series between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins.
As was the case in the first two rounds, the Rangers will have some time to rest, reset, and prepare for another round of playoff hockey. This formula has worked through two rounds thus far. In Round 1, New York came out of the gate firing, sweeping the Washington Capitals in four games. The rest they earned allowed them to come out fresh in Round 2, jumping out to a 3-0 series lead against the Hurricanes
Now, they will rinse and repeat. For coach Peter Laviolette, the goal is putting together a game plan for whichever team advances between Florida and Boston. The Panthers lead the best-of-7 series 3-2 with Game 6 set for Friday at TD Garden in Boston.
“I think we’ve been fortunate with the way that the season ended, the way that the first round ended,” Laviolette explained. “A little bit of rest, and then almost like a mini training camp to try and get ready for the next opponent has worked really well.”
If the Bruins and Panthers go to Game 7 Sunday, all the better for the Blueshirts.
“I think we’ll have a few days,” Laviolette continued. “I think we’ll be afforded some of that again, which is nice. We’ll be ready. When they tell us it’s time to go, we’ll be ready to go.”
