2013–14 New York Rangers season

The 2013–14 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 87th season of play and their 88th season overall. It was the Rangers' first season in the newly created Metropolitan Division, which was created during the NHL's realignment in the 2013 off-season. The Rangers won 25 road games in the regular season, setting a franchise record. The Rangers returned to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since their championship in the 1993–94 season, losing in five games to the Los Angeles Kings.

Off-season The Rangers first order of business for the 2013–14 season was to find a new head coach after letting John Tortorella go on May 29, 2013.Tortorella relieved of coaching duties The Rangers hired recently fired Canucks coach Alain Vigneault on June 21. Coincidentally, Tortorella would be hired as the new Canucks coach only days after Vigneault was hired by the Rangers.Vigneault named Rangers head coach The Rangers finished their coaching staff on August 6 by hiring Scott Arniel as an associate coach, along with former players Ulf Samuelsson and Daniel Lacroix as assistant coaches.Rangers Announce Additions to Coaching Staff

Pre-season The New York Rangers lost five of their six pre-season games, during which they scored nine goals and allowed 22 goals against. They went 2-for-22 on the power play and allowed five power play goals against in the last three games.

Regular season Due to final stages of renovations at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers opened the season on a nine-game road trip from October 3 to 24, during which the team went 3–6–0. The Rangers had a franchise-record nine-game homestand from December 7 to 23, during which they had a record of 3–4–2.

As part of the 2014 NHL Stadium Series games, the Rangers played two consecutive outdoor games at Yankee Stadium on January 26 against the New Jersey Devils (7–3 win) and on January 29 against the New York Islanders (2–1 win).

The NHL took a two-week break from February 9 to February 25 for the Olympics. The Rangers had seven players represent their countries: Ryan Callahan, Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan for the United States; Rick Nash for Canada; Mats Zuccarello for Norway; and Carl Hagelin and Henrik Lundqvist for Sweden.

On April 7, with a New Jersey Devils loss to the Calgary Flames, the Rangers clinched a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season, and for the eighth time out of nine seasons.

On April 10, with a 2–1 win over the Buffalo Sabres and a Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Rangers clinched second place in their division and home ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 1 || 16 || @ New Jersey Devils || 1–2 || 0–1–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 2 || 17 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 || 1–1–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 3 || 23 || @ Calgary Flames || 1–4 || 1–2–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 4 || 24 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 3–5 || 1–3–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 5 || 26 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 0–5 || 1–4–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 6 || 27 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 1–4 || 1–5–0 |- | colspan=5 | Game was played at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada, as part of the Frozen Fury series of exhibition games.

Regular season

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 1 || 3 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 1–4 || Lundqvist || 0–1–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 2 || 7 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 1–1–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 3 || 8 || @ San Jose Sharks || 2–9 || Lundqvist || 1–2–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 4 || 10 || @ Anaheim Ducks || 0–6 || Lundqvist || 1–3–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 5 || 12 || @ St. Louis Blues || 3–5 || Biron || 1–4–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 6 || 16 || @ Washington Capitals || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 2–4–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 7 || 19 || @ New Jersey Devils || 0–4 || Lundqvist || 2–5–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 8 || 24 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 1–2 || Talbot || 2–6–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 9 || 26 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 3–2 (OT) || Talbot || 3–6–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 10 || 28 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–2 || Lundqvist || 3–7–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 11 || 29 || @ New York Islanders || 3–2 || Talbot || 4–7–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 12 || 31 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 5–7–0

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 13 || 2 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5–1 || Lundqvist || 6–7–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 14 || 4 || Anaheim Ducks || 1–2 || Lundqvist || 6–8–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 15 || 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–1 || Lundqvist || 7–8–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 16 || 7 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 4–2 || Talbot || 8–8–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 17 || 10 || Florida Panthers || 4–3 || Lundqvist || 9–8–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 18 || 12 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 9–9–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 19 || 16 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 1–0 || Talbot || 10–9–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 20 || 17 || Los Angeles Kings || 0–1 || Lundqvist || 10–10–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 21 || 19 || Boston Bruins || 1–2 || Lundqvist || 10–11–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 22 || 21 || @ Dallas Stars || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 11–11–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 23 || 23 || @ Nashville Predators || 2–0 || Talbot || 12–11–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 24 || 25 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 0–5 || Lundqvist || 12–12–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 25 || 27 || @ Florida Panthers || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 13–12–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 26 || 29 || @ Boston Bruins || 2–3 || Lundqvist || 13–13–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 27 || 30 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–2 || Talbot || 14–13–0

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 28 || 2 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–5 || Talbot || 14–14–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 29 || 5 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 15–14–0 |- style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 30 || 7 || New Jersey Devils || 3–4 (OT) || Lundqvist || 15–14–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 31 || 8 || Washington Capitals || 1–4 || Lundqvist || 15–15–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 32 || 10 || Nashville Predators || 1–4 || Lundqvist || 15–16–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 33 || 12 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 2–4 || Lundqvist || 15–17–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 34 || 15 || Calgary Flames || 4–3 (SO) || Lundqvist || 16–17–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 35 || 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 (SO) || Lundqvist || 16–17–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 36 || 20 || New York Islanders || 3–5 || Lundqvist || 16–18–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 37 || 22 || Minnesota Wild || 4–1 || Talbot || 17–18–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 38 || 23 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–1 (SO) || Talbot || 18–18–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 39 || 27 || @ Washington Capitals || 2–3 || Talbot || 18–19–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 40 || 29 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3 || Lundqvist || 19–19–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 41 || 31 || @ Florida Panthers || 2–1 (SO) || Lundqvist || 20–19–2

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 42 || 3 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Lundqvist || 20–20–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 43 || 4 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–1 || Talbot || 21–20–2 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="white" | 44 || 6 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 3–4 (SO) || Lundqvist || 21–20–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 45 || 8 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 22–20–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 46 || 10 || Dallas Stars || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 23–20–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 47 || 12 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 24–20–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 48 || 14 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 1–2 || Lundqvist || 24–21–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 49 || 16 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–0 || Lundqvist || 25–21–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 50 || 18 || @ Ottawa Senators || 4–1 || Talbot || 26–21–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 51 || 19 || Washington Capitals || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 27–21–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 52 || 21 || New York Islanders || 3–5 || Talbot || 27–22–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 53 || 23 || St. Louis Blues || 1–2 || Lundqvist || 27–23–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 54 || 26 || @ New Jersey Devils || 7–3 || Lundqvist || 28–23–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 55 || 29 || @ New York Islanders || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 29–23–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 56 || 31 || New York Islanders || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 30–23–3 |- | colspan=6 | Games were played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York.

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 57 || 4 || Colorado Avalanche || 5–1 || Lundqvist || 31–23–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 58 || 6 || Edmonton Oilers || 1–2 || Talbot || 31–24–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 59 || 7 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 (SO) || Lundqvist || 32–24–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 60 || 27 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2–1 || Talbot || 33–24–3

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 61 || 1 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–4 || Lundqvist || 33–25–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 62 || 2 || Boston Bruins || 3–6 || Lundqvist || 33–26–3 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="white" | 63 || 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–3 (OT) || Lundqvist || 33–26–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 64 || 7 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 34–26–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 65 || 9 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 35–26–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 66 || 11 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 1–3 || Lundqvist || 35–27–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 67 || 13 || @ Minnesota Wild || 1–2 || Talbot || 35–28–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 68 || 14 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 36–28–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 69 || 16 || San Jose Sharks || 0–1 || Lundqvist || 36–29–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 70 || 18 || @ Ottawa Senators || 8–4 || Lundqvist || 37–29–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 71 || 21 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 38–29–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 72 || 22 || @ New Jersey Devils || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 39–29–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 73 || 24 || Phoenix Coyotes || 4–3 OT || Lundqvist || 40–29–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 74 || 26 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 41–29–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 75 || 28 || @ Calgary Flames || 3–4 || Lundqvist || 41–30–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 76 || 30 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 5–0 || Talbot || 42–30–4

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 77 || 1 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 43–30–4