With just 15 days until the New York Rangers take the ice again in Toronto, here are 15 things that we at BSN are excited for:
- Hockey
This was an easy first choice. We all love hockey and we all miss hockey. While it won’t be the typical playoffs, just seeing the Blue Sweaters skate around a bright white sheet of ice will be such a good feeling.
- Sam Rosen
Everyone loves Sam Rosen. No he is not perfect, but that’s what makes him so great. There are few things that make me happier than his signature “IT’S A POWERPLAY GOAL” call, and you aren’t a true Ranger fan if that doesn’t give you chills everytime he says it.
- The KZB line
Kreider, Zibanejad, Buchnevich. Arguably the Rangers best line, is also their most fun. The three high scoring forwards always seem to be having fun. The trade deadline period scared a lot of us (including myself), when it seemed all but certain that Kreider and Buchnevich would be traded, we all thought our time loving this line would be coming to an end. But, ultimately, neither got traded and the line stayed together. We all love all the fun that this line has had and we can’t wait for some more during these playoffs.
- High kicks
Artemi Panarin’s signature celebration is something that continued to blossom as the year progressed. Towards the end of the season, the celebration became almost as popular as the goals that caused it. The most notable high kick came after Mika Zibanejad scored in overtime against the Islanders. While it was Zibanejad’s goal, Panarin’s high kick took a lot of the attention, and rightfully so. This specific high kick took the celebration to the next level and it is something that we all can’t wait to see more of against the Hurricanes.
- Hockey hugs
Hockey hugs are fun because it means something good has happened. Whether it was a goal or a win, anytime the players on the ice all come together for a group hug, it’s a form of celebration. We are all hoping for a lot of hockey hugs here in the next couple of months.
- Stanley Cup playoff commercials
If you don’t know what I am talking about here, I would highly suggest doing some research. Some of my personal favorites are: “No Words”, “Name”, and “History Will be Made”. I can not recommend watching these to get you fired up, and I am so excited to see what the NHL has in store for these playoffs.
- Excitement
There is nothing like playoff hockey. The excitement, passion, and energy is unparalleled. Playoff hockey is by far the best playoffs in any of the major sports and it is something that we at BSN are so excited for.
- Cool team slogans
For the regular season, the New York Rangers used the hashtag, “Play Like a New Yorker.” For the playoffs, it appears as if they are going with, “No Quit in NY.” These two are very similar and they both play off of the toughness and grit typically shown by New Yorkers. They are both great slogans that perfectly exemplify the team mentality and how they play.
- Artemi Panarin
Everyone loves Artemi Panarin. The breadman is turning into a superstar and is someone who is absolutely beloved by Rangers fans everywhere. We can not wait to see what the future Hart Trophy winner has up his sleeves in these playoffs.
- Pavel Buchnevich smiling
Pretty self explanatory.
- Mika Zibanejad scoring 6 goals in a game
He had 5 in a game in the regular season, so it only makes sense to one up that in the playoffs. For Mika, getting 6 is a matter of when and not if.
- Watching the Maple Leafs inevitably do something embarrassing
I think all hockey fans enjoy watching the Maple Leafs lose. Somehow, they continue to, for lack of a better term, “shoot themselves in the foot”. They haven’t won a cup since 1967, and they lost to an AHL zamboni driver this year. Watching them embarrass themselves on a big stage has become somewhat of a tradition in its own right and I’m sure they will find a way to do it again this year.
- Beating the Islanders
The Rangers won 3/4 against the Islanders. Regardless of whether it is in an exhibition game, the regular season, or the playoffs, beating the Islanders is always fun. So even if the two teams don’t meet in the playoffs, there will be at least one more chance to beat the archrivals from the Island in an exhibition game on the 29th.
- Everything besides playoff overtime
If you don’t have a rooting interest in the game, playoff hockey overtime is awesome. It’s fast, exciting, and the stakes could not be any higher. However, when you do care about the game, it is the absolute worst. The stress that just one overtime period puts on you is higher than any other stress imaginable. It is truly the worst.
- Winning
There is nothing better than winning. A common phrase “winning fixes everything” echoes true this year more than ever. The Rangers will serve as somewhat of an escape for New Yorkers. The more the team wins, the better of an escape it will be. All we can hope is that this magical season, and this incredible team, has 15 more wins in them.
