Despite winning the Presidents' Trophy and making it to the Eastern Conference Final, the Rangers just couldn't get it done at the biggest moment.
The dirtiest word in sports is CHOKE. And if you have to look it up, don't bother.
According to my Brooklynese, self-styled in-my-head dictionary, it means failing in the clutch during a big-game that counts.
It happened to my Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941 against the New York Yankees and it happened again in 1951 to my Brooks against the New York Giants.
In terms of hockey, all you have to do is flip the calendar to spring 2023. What happened to the Rangers when they – Oops! – blew their first round series to the under-underdog New Jersey Devils, of all people.
But 2023-24 would be a different story. This time the Blueshirts were loaded to the gills and with a goalie whose jock strop could enable him to carry the team. Plus a coach who could spell "Analytics" backwards in his sleep.
Peter Laviolette's Rangers were doing alright up to the third playoff round. Oh. so sweet as his Rangers were leading two games to one over the Floridians and the STANLEY CUP OR BUST mantra was looking more Cup than bust.
You tell me, did the Rangers CHOKE?
I know there are at least two answers to the question; likely more. They are as follows:
1. No. They lost to the better team – and let's leave it at that.
2. No. Too many injuries spoiled the chicken noodle soup.
3. No. The coach classically mis-coached the team. The CHOKE is on him.
4. No. Breadless Man, Z-man, K-man were all out to lunch, auditioning for the lead role in a remake of "The Invisible Man Returns."
5. Yes. Put 'em all together and it comes out CHOKE.