After a disappointing first-round exit in the 2023 postseason, the New York Rangers secured the Presidents’ Trophy with the best regular-season record and are set to face the Washington Capitals, who clinched the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 Wild Card spot, in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs starting April 21 at Madison Square Garden.
Oh, the drama. After a gut-wrenching exit from the 2023 postseason, the New York Rangers weren’t playing around. They stormed through the 2023-24 regular season, hungry for redemption.
And boy, did they find it. They snagged the Presidents’ Trophy, boasting the best record in the league. With a stellar finish of 55-23-4, they narrowly outpaced the Dallas Stars. That’s 114 points, in case you’re counting.
Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals were on a rollercoaster of their own. Early April was brutal – six losses in a row. Yet, they pulled off a comeback, winning four of their last five games. This clutch performance landed them as the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 Wild Card team.
So, here we are. The stage is set at Madison Square Garden. The showdown? (1) New York Rangers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals. The series kicks off Sunday, April 21.
Let’s talk game times. Game 1? Sunday, April 21, 3 p.m., right in NY, and you can catch it on ESPN. Game 2 follows on Tuesday, April 23, at 7 p.m., also in NY, also on ESPN.
Then we switch venues. Game 3 takes us to WSH on Friday, April 26, at 7 p.m., with TNT covering the action. Game 4 keeps us in WSH on Sunday, April 28, at 8 p.m., and you’ll find it on TBS.
If needed, Game 5 will circle back to NY on Wednesday, May 1. The time’s still up in the air. Games 6 and 7? They’re also TBD, set for Friday, May 3, in WSH, and Sunday, May 5, back in NY. Stay tuned for where you can watch those.
Phew, that’s a lot. But hey, it’s playoff hockey. Anything can happen.
