They have been here, of course, meaning the city has been here, too, on the precipice, on the brink, toes ever so close to the edge, this season ever so perilously adjacent to the abyss.
Three times already the Rangers have faced elimination, which means that three times already New York City has been faced with the consequences of a hockey season ending too soon, a season so many have now wrapped themselves in, mostly because the ride has been so interesting, so enjoyable, so fun.
So what’s another couple days of agita?
What’s another 48 hours waiting to see if these Rangers can grimly keep this campaign going, if they can somehow make sure there is more hockey to be had Friday night, in what would be one more Game 7, only this time for the right to take the most wonderful hockey trip of all, for a second year in a row?