2024 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview: New York Rangers vs. Florida Panthers

It must be a weird feeling to be the New York Rangers. You win the Presidents' Trophy, enter the playoffs with guaranteed home-ice advantage from start to finish, and somehow carry the underdog tag for most of the playoffs.

That's how it's looking coming into the Conference Finals, which features the Rangers for only the second time in the past nine seasons and the Florida Panthers for the second consecutive year.

Despite having knocked out the Carolina Hurricanes just a few seasons ago, the improvements made by Carolina to add a bit more dynamic skill combined with New York's 5-on-5 weaknesses led many (myself included) to narrowly favour them against the Rangers. Nope! Despite being outscored at even strength, New York stormed to a three-to-nothing series lead and a game six come-from-behi