GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Compile the defining images of the Rangers’ comeback from a three-games-to-one series deficit against Washington into a scrapbook, and there would be Ryan McDonagh’s overtime winner in Game 5 and Chris Kreider’s beauty of a backhander 40 seconds into Game 6 and, of course, Derek Stepan’s rebound in Game 7 that lifted the Rangers into the Eastern Conference finals.
Just out of frame in those moments would be a player who made those goals possible. That player, Jesper Fast (YES-puhr FAHST), a native of Sweden playing in his first full N.H.L. season, began the playoffs as a fourth-line mucker.