Henrik Lundqvist is one of the biggest reasons why the Rangers can still come back and win their series against the Lightning for a do or die Game 6. The King will need help from his friends.
AP Photo by Nick Wass/Getty Images

Before I get to started, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day. A big thank you goes out to all the brave men and women who have served our country. Without you, none of this would be possible. It’s not a day of celebration but a day of appreciation for the true American heroes that have sacrificed so much for our way of life.

I’ve been thinking about it all day. The situation the Rangers find themselves in as if you didn’t already know. It’s not comfortable but given what this team puts us through, why should it be? This is who they are. A close knit group who plays better when their backs are against the wall. Why should we have expected anything else? So, they laid an egg last night and now face elimination yet again.

Tomorrow night when the puck drops after 8 PM for Game 6, it’s the biggest game they have played since being in the identical situation 21 years ago in the same round. Most will reference the recent 3-1 comebacks against the Pens and Caps. That’s a different set of circumstances. Here, your President’s Trophy winners face more pressure. Like it or not, this is probably their best chance to deliver the franchise’s fifth Stanley Cup. It’s a different set of expectations than 2014 or 2012. This is bigger.

Think back to 1994 when they played a similar awful Game 5 losing to the Devils. That team had the weight of an entire city along with that 54-year curse hanging over their heads. Plus the whole players versus Mike Keenan catastrophe. Then the greatest captain we’ve seen Mark Messier said they would win Game 6. It wasn’t so much a guarantee but rather a strong belief that they would find a way. That Messier recorded a hat trick in the third period to lead his team back from a 2-0 deficit made it that more legendary. They were taken to double overtime before Stephane Matteau scored and eventually held on in a hair raising Game 7 beating the Canucks.

So, here we are a year removed from Henrik Lundqvist carrying last year’s team to its first Stanley Cup Final appearance before falling to the Kings in five hard fought games. The giant question still lingers. Can the franchise’s best goalie win a Cup? As last night proved, he needs help. A few of his teammates must perform better for them to take it back to MSG for a home Game 7 where Lundqvist is virtually unbeatable. Which player is going to stand up and deliver a big speech not only inspiring their team to victory tomorrow but leading them?

That’s the question I keep asking myself. Captained by Ryan McDonagh, these Blueshirts have enough experience and determination to believe they’ll win. There are so many locker room leaders who have performed in these type of pressure packed situations. Marc Staal, Dan Girardi qualify as do Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Martin St. Louis and Dan Boyle. Chris Kreider and Rick Nash have been around long enough. So have Carl Hagelin and the backhand professor, Dominic Moore. Kevin Klein has too. Of course, Lundqvist has because he’s been the backbone of this franchise for a decade. I believe he’ll deliver a big performance tomorrow and repeat it in Game 7 Friday.

I fully expect them to win tomorrow and force a do or die seventh game at what will be a chaotic atmosphere inside MSG. If you’re a pessimist, then you haven’t been paying attention these past four years. They can do it. It’ll be quite challenging. Think back to what those ’94 Rangers face in the future champion Devils.

The Lightning are a excellent opponent with more talent making them opportunistic as they were Sunday night. Even with the Rangers able to quiet the Triplets the past two games, they haven’t contained Steven Stamkos. He doesn’t need much room or space either even though he played almost seven minutes less than Tyler Johnson. Neither does the potent Victor Hedman who’s dominated the series with his skating and free wheeling. Don’t forget they also have Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and Ryan Callahan who bring necessary experience. It isn’t gonna be easy.

Throw everything out. The previous five games don’t matter. As we’ve seen throughout this series, every game is different. A little side note to the professional media covering the series who actually tweeted that neither team has won two straight. Let me correct that. The Lightning already did that winning Games 2 and 3. Do these people actually fact check? The Rangers haven’t yet. They’ll get their chance beginning tomorrow. A team that’s won three in a row against the Caps and Pens. The competition is better. They’ve been a great road team under Alain Vigneault. Another reason to believe they’ll get it done Tuesday and take it to a deciding seventh game.

Nothing really fazes them. Judging from the quotes, they’ve been here before. They know this is it. There’s no Game 7 if they don’t play their best game of the playoffs tomorrow. A point that’s been reiterated by both coach and players. Figure the urgency to be dialed up several notches along with the desperation. It’s time to put their hard hats on.

The 2014-15 Rangers didn’t come this far to lose now. It’s gut check time. I believe in them. They’ve been a resilient group. I expect their best effort tomorrow. I also expect them to win. I still BELIEVE.