CAPTAIN CLUTCH: Ryan Callahan celebrates his overtime winner which clinched the playoffs. Copyright Getty Images/Gerry Broome

Leave it to the Ranger captain to save his team. With so much riding on the line, Ryan Callahan delivered again. Captain Cally’s overtime winner at 2:55 clinched the playoffs. A fitting conclusion for one of the best leaders in the game. Callahan epitomizes what it means to be a Ranger. If everyone had his heart, there’s no question they wouldn’t have needed OT in Game 47 to edge the Hurricanes 4-3 to make it.

It doesn’t matter now. What’s most important is that when push came to shove, the right players had the puck. Following a Carolina barrage on Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan McDonagh cleared the puck to Derek Stepan, who made a cross ice feed to a streaking Callahan. He chipped the puck past Marc-Andre Bergeron in the neutral zone and ripped his 15th past Dan Ellis from a tough angle. It went far side off the post leading to a big celebration that included a jubilant Lundqvist joining teammates across the ice.

Whenever this team needs a big play, Callahan makes it. Whether it’s a game changing hit, diving block, clear, pass or goal, he is Captain Clutch. There aren’t enough adjectives in the dictionary for what #24 means to the New York Rangers. It couldn’t happen to a better guy. The classic over achiever who’ll be part of Team USA along with Stepan if they’ve watched. Stepan and Callahan have been our heart. Along with the Swedish King and Dan Girardi, they’re why the Rangers are back in the postseason for a third straight year.