The New York Rangers recently became the first team in nine years to advance to the conference final after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. With a 4-0 victory over the Senators in April, they secured the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the Presidents’ Trophy to cap off a successful regular season. The team continued its winning streak by defeating the Hurricanes with a 5-3 comeback win in the playoffs, thanks to a third-period hat trick by Chris Kreider, ultimately winning the series 4-2 to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
The last team to advance to the Conference Final after winning the Presidents’ Trophy was the 2014-15 Rangers. That year, the Blueshirts earned the franchise’s third Presidents’ Trophy and eighth division title by finishing with the best record in the NHL at 53-22-7. Following the 2014-15 season, the Rangers aim for a better outcome this time around after losing in a seven-game conference final to the Lightning. The current Rangers team draws parallels to a previous squad, as the 1994 team also won the Presidents’ Trophy and went on to win the Stanley Cup. In that series leading up to the final, Mark Messier scored a hat trick in the third period of Game 6, similar to Chris Kreider’s hat trick in the recent playoffs.
Fans can stay updated on the Rangers’ journey in the NHL playoffs by following The Post’s coverage of the team’s games and progress in the postseason. With the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Rangers’ success, there is hope for a deep playoff run and potentially another Stanley Cup victory. The team’s strong regular season performance, including winning the Presidents’ Trophy, has set the stage for a thrilling playoff experience for players and fans alike. As the Rangers make their way through the Eastern Conference Final, the team aims to continue their winning ways and bring home another championship for New York.