I may as well since Mark Messier knows a lot about winning. The six-time Stanley Cup winner who captained the Rangers to their only Cup since 1940 had this simple, but very truthful quote about what it takes to win.

It also applies to being successful. Listening to him speak is a pleasure. He really should be a motivational speaker. He’s so good at it. Hell. I would probably be too since I’m not shy about speaking in front of people.

I think it’s important for this year’s Blueshirts to take away what they learned from having The Captain speak to them in the locker room. Sure. The game didn’t go the way they envisioned, getting shutout by another hockey God Petr “Weekes” Mrazek. But they didn’t play poorly.

The first two periods were on even terms with both Mrazek and Henrik Lundqvist taking turns making great saves in a old fashioned goaltender duel. The difference was the Canes were determined in the third period, showing off their superior skating and team defense to win the game 3-0. It was closer than the final score with Carolina getting two empty netters in support of Warren Foegle’s game-winner and Mrazek’s 27 saves.

For the young players who’ll be a big part of the future, they must learn from this experience. It’s so rare that you get to meet a championship team as they did on the ice for the ceremony and behind the scenes in the room. This should be a worthwhile lesson moving forward for the franchise that’s headed to a second consecutive playoff miss.