Rangers Become 1st Team to Clinch Spot in the 2024 Playoffs

One down, 15 to go.

I always love seeing that first playoff spot clinched in any league, but it's always the most special in the National Hockey League. The first official clinching scenario belonged to the Vancouver Canucks on the previous night, but they couldn't get it done. On this day, four Eastern Conference teams had chances to clinch: the New York Rangers, the Boston Bruins, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Florida Panthers. The Panthers and Bruins faced each other, with Boston winning, 4-3, in regulation. As a result, Florida couldn't clinch yet. The Red Wings/Capitals game was connected to all of the scenarios, but because that game went to OT, Boston couldn't clinch yet. The Canes lost, so they would have to wait, too.

That left the Rangers. Their scenarios were easy, as they were the only team who was in with a win. Wings/Caps went to OT, and Dylan Strome won it for Washington, meaning that with the Detroit loss, all the Rangers needed to do was get to overtime. Their game with the Flyers was tied at 5 with under a half minute left in regulation. Those ticks went away with no goals, so the Rangers got the point. Adam Fox ended up winning it for the Rangers in OT, and not only did the Rangers become the first team to reach 100 points this season, they became the first to clinch a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I want to talk about Adam Fox. The first time I ever heard that name was the day he won the Norris Trophy in 2021. At the time, I went, "Who?!," followed by loud outrage. Cale Makar was having a great year and was up for the Norris, yet Fox got it. At the time, I didn't see how he could be chosen over Makar and over Victor Hedman. Now I see it. The man's amazing. The OT winner he scored in the Rangers' playoff clinching game was his 15th overall goal of the season, and he picked up his 48th assist, giving him 63 points. Yeah, it's safe to say that Fox belongs in that elite d-man group with Makar, Hedman, and Quinn Hughes.

Fox's 63 points come in 62 games, and he's tied with Mika Zibanejad on the Rangers scoresheet. Leading the pack, as expected, is the Bread Man himself, Artemi Panarin. Panarin has 101 points (43 G/58 A), which is leagues ahead of the second-highest total of 71 points, owned by Vincent Trocheck. Chris Kreider is doing his thing for the Rangers with 65 points, with 33 of those points being goals.

And then there's Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy in 2022, and was even up for the Hart Trophy that year. He still has that stroke; so far, he's 31-15-2 with a 2.65 GAA, a .911 SV%, and three shutouts. However, there's another big story in the Rangers net. Remember Jonathan Quick? After winning his third, yes, third Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights (where he was traded to by the Columbus Blue Jackets after the Los Angeles Kings dealt him there), Quick, 38 years of age, has seemed to found that form he had back in 2012. His record so far: 16-5-2 with a 2.44 GAA, a .916 SV%, and two shutouts. It definitely looks like the Rangers have quite the one-two punch in net.

For the Rangers, this is their third straight playoff appearance, and their fourth in five seasons. 2022 saw the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final, but after winning the first two games over the Tampa Bay Lightning, they couldn't finish the job. Last year, the Rangers went backwards big time, as they fell to the New Jersey Devils in Round 1 (seven games). History states that being the first team to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs doesn't mean a thing, as the last team to be first in and win the whole thing was the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013.

There is still a lot for the Rangers to achieve heading into the playoffs. They are in a close Metropolitan Division race with the Carolina Hurricanes, and the overall race for the Presidents' Trophy is even more nail-biting. Just over three weeks remain in the regular season, and the Rangers have a lot more work to do to prepare for this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, which start on April 20.

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