"It's pretty hard to not get too far ahead of ourselves with the way we go about our business in our organization and in our locker room. I'd say our leadership all the way through, help guys understand the importance of one game at a time. There is now a Rangers way of doing things, and we all understand that." - Derek Stepan
What was a small snippet of a post practice interview with reporters following a practice in Virginia, the day after a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on December 28th, has turned into a mantra for the Rangers, all the way through the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs as the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Chris Kreider, a 2 time NCAA champion and Rangers first round pick in 2009, sat up in the stands for Game 1, took in the MSG playoff atmosphere and was apparently told by Rangers coaches to follow and study fellow rookie Carl Hagelin. And study he did. Kreider jotted down notes like a scout, studying Hagelin's play with and away from the puck and had to be impressed watching Hagelin lift the stick of a Senators' defenseman to feed Brad Richards alone in front of Ottawa's net for the Rangers 4th goal of Game 1. Kreider is a smart kid with a good head on his shoulders to realize he was never going to make the jump to the pros unless he was ready. Kreider now feels like he is ready and Ranger brass does too. It will only be a matter of time before Kreider takes the ice and dazzles Ranger fans and teammates with his skill set and other-worldly speed. But until then, Kreider has to learn how to play the game, the right way, the only way...
The Rangers Way
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