The Rangers are entering an Eastern Conference Final or Stanley Cup semifinal series for the 14th time since the 1967 NHL expansion from the Original Six to 12 teams.
They are 4-9 in those encounters, which feature some of the most memorable moments in the team’s history.
The Post’s Dave Blezow takes a look back:
2021-22: Lightning 4, Rangers 2
Already leading the series by two games with wins at MSG, coach Gerard Gallant’s Rangers grab a 2-0 lead in Game 3 on second-period goals by Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider but then everything goes wrong as the Rangers score a total of three goals in losing that game and the next three.
2014-15: Lightning 4, Rangers 3
The Presidents’ Trophy Rangers, coached by Alain Vigneault, lose a strange series to the Bolts.
The Blueshirts score 17 goals in the three games in Florida but are shut out at MSG by Ben Bishop in both Games 5 and 7.
2013-14: Rangers 4, Canadiens 2
The series is largely decided in Game 1 in Montreal when Kreider clips skates with the Canadiens’ Alexei Emelin and crashes into goalie Carey Price on a breakaway.
The star goalie misses the final period of the 7-2 Rangers win and the rest of the series, which features Martin St. Louis’ overtime goal in Game 4 at MSG.
Dominic Moore’s goal and Henrik Lundqvist’s 18 saves give the Rangers a 1-0 win in Game 6 to clinch the franchise’s first trip to the Cup finals since 1994, where they would go on to lose to the Kings in five games.
2011-12: Devils 4, Rangers 2
Things are looking good for coach John Tortorella’s Rangers when Lundqvist pitches 3-0 shutouts in both Games 1 and 3, before the Devils take over and eventually advance on Adam Henrique’s overtime goal in Game 6.
1996-97: Flyers 4, Rangers 1
Three years after winning the Cup, the Rangers make another run at it with Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky as teammates.
They win Game 2 in Philly on Gretzky’s hat trick, but Brian Leetch suffers an injury that limits his effectiveness the rest of the way and the Flyers roll in the final three games.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Rangers in the NHL playoffs
- Rangers couldn’t match Panthers’ toughness as Stanley Cup drought continues
- Rangers eliminated by Panthers in Game 6 as long playoff run falls short of Stanley Cup
- Rangers’ biggest star deserved a Game 7 at the Garden
- Rangers can’t find winning combo despite slew of lineup changes
1993-94: Rangers 4, Devils 3
The gold standard for hockey playoff series. The Rangers take a 2-1 series lead on Stephane Matteau’s lesser-known double-overtime goal in Game 3 at the Meadowlands.
The Devils win the next two games and Mike Keenan’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning team appears destined to be another victim of the curse of 1940.
third period of a Rangers’ Game 6 win over the Devils’ in their 1994 series. AP
But then Mark Messier says, “We’ll Win Tonight,” and delivers a third-period hat trick to make it so.
After Valeri Zelepukin’s goal with 7.7 seconds to go rescue the Devils in Game 7, Matteau’s more-famous double-OT wraparound sends the Rangers to the finals.
Two weeks later, the waiting is over.
1985-86: Canadiens 4, Rangers 1
A Rangers team coached by Ted Sator and captained by Barry Beck finish under .500 but goes on a playoff run, knocking off the Flyers and Capitals.
The Habs, with Patrick Roy in net, make quick work of the Blueshirts on the way to winning the Cup.
1980-81: Islanders 4, Rangers 0
After firing Fred Shero, GM Craig Patrick takes the bench and the Rangers make the playoffs with a 30-36-14 record.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Rangers in the NHL playoffs
- Rangers couldn’t match Panthers’ toughness as Stanley Cup drought continues
- Rangers eliminated by Panthers in Game 6 as long playoff run falls short of Stanley Cup
- Rangers’ biggest star deserved a Game 7 at the Garden
- Rangers can’t find winning combo despite slew of lineup changes
They defeat the Kings and Blues before running into the Islanders, who score 22 of the 30 goals in the sweep.
1978-79: Rangers 4, Islanders 2
The favorite playoff series for many 55-and-older fans, Shero’s Rangers (91 points) hand the Islanders (116 points) their last playoff defeat before the beginning of their dynasty.
Stanley Cup semifinals at Nassau Coliseum in 1979.
Anders Hedberg’s goal with 2:13 to go in Game 5 at Nassau Coliseum gives the Rangers the series lead, and John Davidson brings it home with 21 saves in the clincher at a delirious MSG.
1973-74: Flyers 4, Rangers 3
A series decided by one goal in Game 7 is largely remembered for the beating Rangers defenseman Dale Rolfe takes from Flyers enforcer Dave Schultz in the first period of the final game.
1972-73: Black Hawks 4, Rangers 0
The Rangers win the opener 4-1 at Chicago Stadium but it’s all Black Hawks after that as goalie Tony Esposito allows just one goal in each of Games 3, 4 and 5.
1971-72: Rangers 4, Black Hawks 0
In probably the high point of the Emile Francis era, the Rangers dominate Chicago even without Jean Ratelle, who scored 109 points that season in just 63 games before suffering a broken ankle.
GAG Line mates Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield each score in the 6-2 closeout at the Garden, which sends the Rangers to their first Cup finals since 1950, before the Bruins end their title dreams in six games.
1970-71: Black Hawks 4, Rangers 3
This series features one of the most-remembered games in Rangers history, as Pete Stemkowski saves the season with his goal 1:29 into the third overtime of Game 6 at MSG.
In Game 7, goals by Stemkowski and Gilbert give the Rangers a 2-1 lead midway through the second period but Bobby Hull’s goal eventually wins it for Chicago.
