WASHINGTON — This was 20 years ago. The Rangers, one point short of being eliminated from playoff contention one year after having gone to the conference finals and four years after having won the Stanley Cup, had dragged an 0-7-1 winless streak into Chicago on April 5, 1998.
The Blueshirts won that day, 2-1 in overtime on a goal from Daniel Goneau. But the club nevertheless was eliminated by virtue of the Senators’ 1-0 victory over the Sabres. But Mike Richter, perhaps consumed by the match or simply in a state of denial, did not realize that the end had come.