The question of whether these Rangers could handle the physicality of the postseason has been answered in the affirmative, and it earned them some rest.
After the Blueshirts dispensed of the Canadiens in Game 6 on Saturday night at the Garden to wrap up their first-round playoff series and advance, they were given Sunday off to relax and watch hockey. That was important, too, as old pal Derick Brassard and the Senators beat the Bruins 3-2 in overtime Sunday afternoon in Boston to settle their series in six games and set up the Rangers’ second-round series to start Thursday in Ottawa.
And the Rangers have another off day planned for Monday before they get back to work with a practice Tuesday as they start to put the first round behind them.
“We are really excited with the win here. It’s the first series win, but it’s a long road ahead,” veteran defenseman Dan Girardi said Saturday night, his own game going through an unforeseen revival since the start of the postseason. “We’ll watch a little hockey and see what’s going on around the league, see who we have to prepare for and get ready for the next round.”
The Senators are a formidable bunch, playing a very tight defensive style under coach Guy Boucher, accentuated by the play of superlative defenseman Erik Karlsson, as well as Brassard and running mate Bobby Ryan up front.
But the Rangers already have shown they can get out of their comfort zone, dealing with the physical play of the Canadiens and moving on.
“This group, the guys that have been here for a while, like these situations and thrive on them,” said defenseman Marc Staal, now with 98 playoff games with the Rangers under his belt since his rookie year all the way back in 2007-08. “A lot of guys in the room step up when we need it the most.”
The Canadiens had bulked up at the trade deadline in hopes it would help them in the postseason, where they had a reputation of not being tough enough. General manager Marc Bergevin added the likes of Steve Ott, Jordie Benn and Dwight King — all of whom played every game in the series — and it did make them a team that never shied away from finishing a check.
But the Rangers absorbed those hits and hit back when necessary. They often spoke about having to strike a balance between being physical and playing their fast, high-tempo game, and that is exactly what they did for most of the series.
“There were question marks with our group, physicality-wise, and this is one of the more physical series I’ve been a part of,” Staal said. “There wasn’t a lot of room out there, a lot of ice, and we fought for every inch right there with them — and came out on top.”
The Rangers weren’t supposed to be built to win a series like this. They set the precedent of their style with the first 17 games of the season, when they went 13-4-0, and scored more than four goals per game, flying up and down the ice.
It was something Brendan Smith saw from afar, still with the Red Wings before he was obtained Feb. 28, just before the trade deadline, in a move from general manager Jeff Gorton that is paying huge dividends (and will get Smith paid handsomely when he enters unrestricted free agency once the season is over).
“Coming to the Rangers, I knew they were really fast and skilled. I didn’t really know what to expect,” Smith said. “But as I played more and more games, I could see we had that element — we are big and strong, and we’re very fast as well. It’s like we can play any style, and it’s a testament to the organization, and a testament to the coaches and the system.”
It’s also a testament to the players’ ability to adapt and to rise to the occasion. When they needed it most, winger Mats Zuccarello scored two goals in Game 6 to seal the deal, and in doing so, he gave his team a little bit of time to recuperate and prepare for what they hope is another long run of spring hockey.
“It’s going to be nice, a couple days off, but it’s only the first round,” Zuccarello said. “We’ve got to regroup right now and rest up and get ready for the next round.”