Jagr: Goodbye mullett, hello playoffs.

Flashback. October 5, 2005. It’s Game Five of the Yankees-Angels ALDS. I’m in my favorite spot on the living room couch, watching A-Rod do his best imitation of the Mighty Casey. (Actually, I would’ve rather had A-Rod strike out than ground into a ninth-inning double play). My father and I are sitting in silence when suddenly a thought pops into my head. “Isn’t it opening night for the Rangers right now?” I asked. My father says, “Oh yeah, that’s right,” and that was it, not another mention of it for the rest of the night.

Out of sheer curiosity, I checked the score online (the game wasn’t on local TV), and sure enough, the Rangers beat the Flyers 5-2. But while looking at the box score, the only thought that crept into my mind was, “Who the hell are these guys?” Jason Strudwick? Petr Prucha? Jed Ortmeyer? Michal Roszival? I felt like Indians fans at the beginning of “Major League”.

Ranger fans like myself had reason for the pessimistic sentiment. The Rangers hadn’t made the playoffs since 1997, their GM acquired overpriced talent for years, and then he traded them for no-names. Not much was expected from the team this season, and it came as no surprise that Sports Illustrated picked them to finish dead last in the entire NHL.

But a funny thing happened after that game in Philadelphia. The Rangers kept on winning. They flew under the New York sports radar because of the Giants success and the Knicks debacle, but fans slowly started coming back to the Garden, even if there was still an undercurrent of cynicism among fans wondering when the other shoe would drop.

Then on Nov. 26, the Capitals came into town, and the outlook of the season changed.

Regulation time was fast-paced but nothing out of the ordinary, and overtime was entertaining, but this game would gain truly legendary status in the shootout. The new tie-breaking device was generally accepted positively in most NHL arenas, but this game brought it to another level. A 15-round marathon, which had goals by defense-minded defenseman, spectacular goaltending, and intense drama, was ended on a preposterous, stick between the legs move by defenseman Marek Malik that beat Olaf Kolzig. The crowd was so frenzied MSG’s roof almost blew off. At this point, we knew there was something special about this team.

One player that vaulted into the spotlight after that game was goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Most fans know him now due to his incredible Olympics run, but New York fans began a love affair with this kid on that night. Since the Washington game, Lundqvist has arguably been the best goalie in the league, holding a 2.12 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. If the Blueshirts somehow make a run in the playoffs, Lundqvist, with his matinee idol looks and charisma, might reach Derek Jeter/Michael Strahan levels of reverence in the Big Apple.

The league’s probable MVP, Jaromir Jagr, might join him on that list. He may have tanked a few seasons in Washington and Pittsburgh, but Jagr has re-established himself as the greatest player in the world. He is the focal point of every team’s defensive strategy against the Rangers, but he still has manages to lead the league in scoring and is on the verge of breaking numerous team records. His leadership, not so apparent in previous seasons, guided the Rangers through the few tough stretches this season. This past week, he had a night for the ages against Philly, recording a Hat Trick in less than two periods, and getting a standing ovation from the crowd after just missing his fourth goal in an eventual loss.

Jagr’s presence also gave Rangers management the impetus to sign players from the Czech Republic. Off-season signings included Martin Straka, Malik, Martin Rucinsky, and the call-up of the aforementioned Prucha. All have been key in the Rangers resurrection, and the camaraderie between these fellow countrymen has spread to the entire locker room.

While scoring, goaltending and chemistry are all keys to the Rangers success, the aspect of the Rangers game that has truly made the difference is effort. No team works harder than the Rangers, and that was instilled during a preseason trip to West Point, in which head coach Tom Renney enrolled the players in an Army-style boot camp. From that day forward, players said that the team concept has triumphed above all others.

Hard work and all-out hustle has been a staple of the Rangers fourth line, which includes Dominic Moore, Ryan Hollweg and Ortmeyer. Something seems to happen on every shift they get, whether it’s a scoring chance, a big hit, or a drawn penalty. And they have become a fan favorite, enlivening the Garden faithful with their energy.

All these components have the Rangers and their fans thinking big. And it couldn’t come at a better time. The whole hockey revival in New York has been a product of perfect timing. If not for the Rangers, New York fans would really be in a tough spot. The Yanks made another early exit, the Giants gave them a glimmer of hope that eventually came crashing down, the Jets were the Jets, the Knicks are an absolute joke, and nobody really cares about the Devils and Nets. The NHL couldn’t have asked for a better scenario after the lockout. Having a team generating a buzz in New York is huge for a league in turmoil.

There really is something special going on here in New York. I find myself wondering if it would be a disappointment if the Rangers lose early in the playoffs. I can’t answer that now. But I can tell you that a lot has changed since that October night. I can tell you that Jason Strudwick is a 3rd-line defenseman who does an okay job. I can tell you that Petr Prucha is going to be a star in this league, scoring 27 goals this season, which is second on the team behind Jagr. I can tell you Jed Ortmeyer is one of the best penalty killers in the league and is a huge reason why the Rangers penalty-kill ranks second in the NHL. I can tell you that Michal Roszival’s +/- rating is +35, among the league leaders.

I can also tell you that it’s been a really incredible ride so far, and it would be a shame for it to end early.

Josh Binstock is a recent grad from Rutgers University and is a contributing writer for Atomic Sports Media. He can be reached at josh.binstock@atomicsportsmedia.com.

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