Troubling trend hangs over Rangers chance to seize control in Game 2 vs. Capitals

So let’s go back to 2012 when the Rangers were the first seed in the East after finishing one point behind Vancouver for the Presidents’ Trophy.Significant favorites in their 1-8 first-round matchup against Ottawa, they took the first game at the Garden…and then lost Game 2 at home, thus setting up a knock-down, drag-out seven game series.They moved on to the Caps in the second round, took Game 1 at the Garden…and then lost Game 2 at home, thus setting up a draining seven-game series that included a triple-overtime Game 3 victory.The pair of seven-game series exhausted the Rangers, whose coach, John Tortorella, was notorious for cutting down the bench.

The Black-and-Blueshirts had nothing left when it came to the conference final and were defeated in six games by the Devils after having taken a 2-1 edge in the series.Two years later, facing the Flyers in the first round as heavy favorites, the Rangers took Game 1 at the Garden…and then lost Game 2 at home, thus setting up an unnecessary seven-game struggle that took some toll on the club.It took some toll because it is never beneficial for a team to play even one more game than necessary to wrap up a series.Nothing good comes of wasting opportunities to seize control.

You may have noticed that the Rangers have tended to do that along the way.This first round against the Caps in which the Rangers got the jump with Sunday’s methodical 4-1 Game 1 victory represents the 10th series since 2012 in which the Blueshirts had home ice advantage.Somewhat incredibly, they have taken a 2-0 series lead only once, two years ago in the 2022 conference final that lost in six games to the Lightning.On second thought, it’s not all that incredible given the fact that the team has won the Cup one time in the last 84 years.

There are always kind of reasons this kind of thing keeps happening.So in preparation for Tuesday’s Game 2, you replay these scenarios.It has long been my contention that the 2012 Blueshirts actual...

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Publisher: New York Post

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