For the first time in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, the New York Rangers trail in a series. The Florida Panthers skated out of Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night with a convincing, at times dominating, 3-0 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
But Rangers coach Peter Laviolette's confidence in his Presidents' Trophy-winning team hasn't wavered.
"Can we win [Game 2]? I definitely believe we can win," he said Thursday.
Laviolette said Game 1 was "an even game" between the teams: Close on the scoreboard and in the analytics.