Newsday · Jan 13, 2021
Rangers' expectations: Make the playoffs
To quote the most famous line ever uttered by former NFL football coach Jim Mora:
"Playoffs?! Don’t talk about playoffs!’’
Well, forgive the Rangers, who open the 2020-21 season Thursday at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m., MSG) against the rival Islanders, if they are willing to disregard Mora’s advice. Nearly three years after the organization sent out that famous letter to the fans announcing it was time to rebuild, the reconstruction is nearly complete. There is a new No. 1 goaltender in place, an MVP finalist and an emerging, true No. 1 center leading the way, and a couple of stud teenagers picked No. 1 and No. 2 overall the last two years ready to make noise in the league.