The New York Rangers shocked the world with a hard-fought Eastern Conference Semifinals victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Their Game 7 win on Monday night was an exclamation point for a team whose motto is “#NoQuitInNY.” They continue on as underdogs against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
The last time the Rangers faced the Lightning in the conference finals was also the year that the New York Jets were last playoff-relevant: 2015.
It was a year of crushed hopes and dreams, true. But it was also a year of far exceeded expectations.