Rangers beat Devils to take Presidents' Trophy

The Rangers have the best record in the NHL. (USATSI) The New York Rangers surprised quite a few people last season when they made a run to the Stanley Cup Final after finishing the regular season with the 12th best record in the league.

If they make another postseason run this season, it won’t be as big of a surprise.

With their 4-2 win in New Jersey on Tuesday night the Rangers guaranteed that they will finish with the best record in the NHL and clinched the Presidents’ Trophy, winning it for the third time in franchise history (they also won it during the 1991-92 and 1993-94 seasons).

Winning the Presidents’ Trophy never seems to get the recognition that it should because unless it is followed by a Stanley Cup it easily gets tossed aside like it is meaningless. But there is still something to be said for going through an 82-game season and finishing with the best record among 30 teams. It is no small accomplishment.

And contrary to the “Presidents’ Trophy jinx” nonsense that always seems to follow the award around, it’s not all that uncommon for them to win it all, having done so nine times since the award has been handed out, starting in 1985-86, more than every other seed in the playoffs.

The most recent team Presidents’ Trophy team to win the Stanley Cup was the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2012-13 season.

The Rangers are certrainly constructed like a team that has a chance to do win it all. They have four solid lines that can all score, a really good defense and one of the best goalies in the NHL.

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