Steve Larmer and Kevin Lowe join Neil and Vic to relive the Rangers' dominant start to the 1994 playoffs. From back-to-back 6-0 shutouts sweeping the Islanders to conquering the problematic Capitals in five games, this episode reveals how championship experience kept the team focused. Hear about the "1940" chants at Nassau Coliseum, Esa Tikkanen's legendary kiss to Keith Jones, Mike Richter's redemption after the Kevin Hatcher goal, and why winning quickly mattered for an older team. The Rangers went 8-1 through two rounds—this is how they made it look easy when it wasn't.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:00] - Welcome to Episode 2: Quick Path to Eastern Conference Final, first two playoff rounds
[02:00] - Steve Larmer and Kevin Lowe join Neil to discuss Islanders and Capitals series
[03:00] - Neil's perspective: NY media wanting Rangers to fail, keeping the 54-year drought narrative alive
[04:00] - Kevin Lowe's first Nassau Coliseum game: "What the heck is 1940?" - learning about the curse
[06:00] - Steve Larmer on Norris Division wars: Chicago battles with Detroit, St. Louis, Toronto, Minnesota prepared him
[07:00] - Game 1 vs Islanders: complete 6-0 thrashing, not even close from the opening faceoff
[08:00] - Game 2: Richter's 13 saves in first 10 minutes, stonewalling Islanders' comeback attempt, another 6-0 win
[09:00] - Kevin Lowe on playing in front of Richter: "Never heard two goalies talk more" with Healy
[10:00] - Championship goaltending culture: "Never anybody else's fault" - taking responsibility over finger-pointing
[11:00] - Walking out of Nassau after sweep: Islander fans yelling "You're too old! You won't get anywhere!"
[12:00] - Steve Larmer on zero finger-pointing: calmness from Oilers champions keeping room level-headed
[13:00] - Kevin's 1986 Vancouver lesson: "Something didn't feel right, it was too easy" - staying on guard
[15:00] - Neil's perspective: 8-1 through two rounds, but only thinking "we" not celebrating personal accomplishment
[17:00] - Special teams dominance: 6-for-21 power play, 15-for-15 penalty kill through first three games
[18:00] - Game 4 vs Islanders: spotting them 2-0 lead, Messier breakaway exclamation point finishing sweep
[19:00] - Steve on being surrounded by Cup winners: warmth and welcoming from Oilers group teaching him
[21:00] - Neil's philosophy: acquiring winners who know how to handle playoff pressure and keep team calm
[23:00] - The Oiler collection strategy: Mark, Kevin, Mac T, Anderson, Tikk - loading up with championship DNA
[25:00] - Championship experience value: keeping Brian Leetch and others from panicking when adversity hit
[26:00] - Kevin on Mike Keenan: never practicing penalty kill once all season, talking in meetings, #1 in both
[27:00] - Mark Messier overruling Keenan: "Are you crazy?" when Mike wanted to go somewhere else before Game 7
[28:00] - Steve on keeping routines normal: trusting veterans to handle themselves, see families, stay balanced
[29:00] - Neil's double-edged sword: President's Trophy great until you lose, then it becomes ammunition against you
[30:00] - The depth advantage: Gilberts, Lidster, Wells - trust in third and fourth lines, not wearing out top six
[31:00] - Kevin on sweeping Islanders importance: 34-35 years old, needed rest and regeneration for long run
[34:00] - Washington Capitals history: problematic opponent since 1974, defeating Rangers in 1990 and 1991
[35:00] - Neil's staged anger in 1991: protecting Roger Nielsen, sending organizational message about first-round losses
[36:00] - That 1991 loss spurring everything: signing Graves, trading for Messier, changing from losing to winning culture
[37:00] - Seven days off between series: concerns about rust vs benefits of rest for older team
[39:00] - Kevin on Capitals series: more leery of them than Devils at that point, history of playoff success
[41:00] - Esa Tikkanen becoming focal point: game-winning goal on delayed penalty, three-nothing control in Game 3
[42:00] - The famous Keith Jones kiss: Kevin's story of Tikk hitting on owner's daughter on playoff flight
[43:00] - Steve on Tikkanen: could play every position except goalie, speaking five languages fluently but none well
[44:00] - Kevin on 1991 Calgary series: Tikk's hat trick in Game 7 including OT winner against Mike Vernon
[45:00] - Neil hating Tikk before trading for him: agitator who was also skilled, pissing you off while scoring
[47:00] - Seven straight playoff wins: whispers of 16-0 sweep starting to circulate in NY media
[48:00] - Kevin Hatcher 150-foot goal: bouncing past Richter, shades of Ron Francis goal from 1992
[49:00] - Neil's Mike Keenan story: "Are the pucks frozen here?" - first words after winning series instead of congratulations
[51:00] - Steve's perspective on fluke goals: "Nothing really surprises you, put your work boots back on"
[52:00] - Brian Leetch late third period winner: under 4 minutes left, Richter huge save on Hatcher with 13 seconds
[54:00] - Quick series importance: older team needing rest and juice for longer run ahead
[56:00] - Steve on first-round upsets: toughest round for favorites, getting through unscathed with energy preserved
[58:00] - Setting table for Devils series: 6-0 against them in regular season, second-best record in NHL
[59:00] - Neil's reality check: all division rivals (Islanders, Caps, Devils), can't lose to these teams or get killed
X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound
Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil
Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/
NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/
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