"It just shows the mentality, from the beginning of the season we have had the winning mentality," center Filip Chytil said. "You can't control the games from the start the whole season, but when you look at our team we have so many comebacks this season, and in the games we didn't control we still won. That's the mentality we were working on in the years before and this year, finally, we're delivering."
They were rebuilding in previous seasons.
The Rangers perhaps could have made the playoffs in 2020 had the season not been cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they were not in a position to do so when it paused.
They made it into the Stanley Cup Qualifiers and were swept in three games by the Carolina Hurricanes.
New York was in the race on the periphery through last season and eventually missed the playoffs in the MassMutual East Division by 11 points.
General manager Chris Drury acquired veteran role players during the offseason, including forwards Barclay Goodrow, Ryan Reaves and Greg McKegg and defenseman Patrik Nemeth. New coach Gerard Gallant brought a new approach, a graduation from rebuilding into contending.
The buy-in is evident, even when goalie Igor Shesterkin has a rare off-night, like he did at Dallas, when he allowed four goals on 33 shots.
"We know how good Igor is, he's won so many games for his team and kept his team in it," Button said, "but there are nights when the team has to find a way to win one for the goaltender. That was the Dallas game. The team picked him up. If you're the opponent, you better be on your toes with the Rangers because what they tell you is, 'You might be up on us, but that doesn't mean you're going to beat us.' "
The Rangers often are able to come back because of Shesterkin.
They are 4-0-0 in games when he faces at least 40 shots and 22-4-2 when he faces at least 30. He leads the NHL with a 2.07 goals-against average and .938 save percentage (minimum 10 games played).
"He's been outstanding every game," coach Gerard Gallant said. "It's incredible how he makes the big saves. It seems the nights he plays his best he gets a lot of work, a lot of shots on net. He's been our best player for sure."
Shesterkin has made up for holes in New York's game on "too many nights," Gallant said.
He's tested more than most goalies; at even strength, the Rangers are 26th in high-danger rush chances against per 60 minutes and 24th in high-danger expected goals on rush chances against, according to Clear Sight Analytics, the statistical company run by Steve Valiquette a studio analyst on MSG Networks and former Rangers goalie.
New York is also 24th in the NHL in 5-on-5 scoring (112 goals), 29th in shots on goal per game (28.8) and 22nd in shots against per game (32.1).
"He's been great and he continues to be great," defenseman Jacob Trouba said of Shesterkin. "We want to rely on him less, but whenever we need him, he's been there."
All that does is bolster New York's resolve, Button said.
"They might have some gaps in their lineup and they might have some gaps in their play but when you have a player like Shesterkin you're never out of a game," he said. "He doesn't let you fall so far out of it that you can't get back into it."
Said Fox, "Twenty comeback wins, we're just a confident group."
