5. 2024 Second Round Game Six
This is the game I struggled to place the most of any of the games. The Rangers won the series over the Carolina Hurricanes by winning this game, so it has the importance factor going for it. But what sealed a place in the top five for me, was Chris Kreider single-handedly putting the Rangers on his back.
To rewind, after taking a 3-0 series lead, the Rangers lost back to back games to the Hurricanes. Carolina took a lead in Game Six, making Rangers fans anxious they were on their way to blow the series.
Then, Chris Kreider scored. Then he scored again. Then he scored again. Suddenly, the Rangers had won the game and the series. It was one of the most remarkable single-game playoff performances I’ve ever seen.
4. 2022 First Round Game Seven
Something I find super fascinating is that Rangers fans relive Derek Stepan’s Game Seven overtime goal all the time, but don’t talk about Artemi Panarin’s Game Seven overtime goal all too much. I don’t know if it’s because Stepan was a more beloved Ranger, because it came first, or because it came in a further round.
Regardless, if we’re talking which game was more fun, I’d actually choose this game. The Rangers were coming back from a 3-1 series deficit (as they always seemed to be) and were down a goal with under six minutes left in the game, until Mika Zibanejad tied the game up. In overtime, K’Andre Miller drew a penalty (that should have been called a penalty shot), and Artemi Panarin wristed home the series winner. Since it was the first Rangers series win since 2017, it caused quite the roar in MSG.
3. 2015 Second Round Game Seven
This is where the aforementioned Derek Stepan game places. I placed it ahead of Panarin’s game for the sole reason that it happened later in the postseason, sending the Rangers deeper into the playoffs. Stepan’s rebound winner past Braden Holtby will forever have lore in Rangers history, even though the team couldn’t win the cup.
2. 2014 Eastern Conference Finals Game Four
Through the first two games of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, the Rangers dominated the Montreal Canadiens. In game three, New York tied the game in the final seconds, only to lose in overtime. If the Rangers lost game four, it would have felt like the wheels were coming off.
Instead, Martin St. Louis brilliantly hovered around waiting for a loose puck to be freed, got the puck, and fired one past Dustin Tokarski, putting the Rangers one win away from a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
1. 2014 Eastern Conference Finals Game Six
The Rangers finally made the Stanley Cup for the first time since winning it all in 1994. Dominic Moore scored the only goal of the game, Henrik Lundqvist had a game for the ages, and the Rangers did not break, defeating the Canadiens 1-0 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
Nothing beats the feeling of knowing your team is going to play for the ultimate prize (other than actually winning said prize). There was never a doubt this game was getting the one spot.