Rangers Now Must Prove It In Playoffs

The standings say the New York Rangers are the best team in theNHL this season.

So far.

Now the second season begins, and the Rangers will have to provethemselves all over again - something they haven't done in 54 years.

First challenge: The New York Islanders, a team that has provenover the course of the season that they it can beat the Rangers.

"We're not thinking past the first shift" of Sunday'sfirst-round game, Rangers captain Mark Messier said Thursday nightafter a 2-2 tie with Philadelphia that ended the regular season.

They wouldn't dare. The Islanders have been a tough opponentfor them all season, with a 2-1-2 edge.

"We'll have to be at the top of our game," Rangers goaltenderMike Richter said. "They've jumped on us before when we haven'tbeen."

The Rangers-Islanders series will be one of four opening theEastern Conference playoffs. The others: Montreal at Boston, Buffaloat New Jersey and Washington at Pittsburgh.

Western Conference series will open on Monday with San Jose, inits first playoff, at conference winner Detroit, Chicago at Toronto,St. Louis at Dallas and Vancouver at Calgary.

Along with the Rangers-Flyers contest, nine games were played onthe final day of the regular season, including the Blackhawks' 6-4loss to Toronto.

The Islanders shrugged off a 4-1 season-ending loss to aFlorida team they had overtaken for the final playoff spot in theEastern Conference with a great stretch run (5-0-3 before Thursdaynight).