In their quest for playoff success, the New York Rangers have faced numerous challenges in closing out series, leading to missed opportunities and heightened pressure. Looking back at their postseason performances since 2012, it becomes evident that the Rangers have struggled to capitalize on early leads and secure series victories.

The 2012 playoffs, which saw the Rangers as the top seed in the East, serve as a prime example of their inability to finish off opponents. Despite claiming an opening game win against the Ottawa Senators, the team stumbled in Game 2 at home, setting the stage for a grueling seven-game showdown. This pattern repeated in the second round against the Washington Capitals, where the Rangers once again lost Game 2 on their home turf, ultimately resulting in another taxing seven-game series.

The demanding nature of consecutive seven-game battles took a toll on the Rangers, especially due to their coach John Tortorella's tendency to limit the bench. This exhaustion became evident in the conference final against the New Jersey Devils, where the Blueshirts were defeated in six games after initially securing a 2-1 series lead.

Two years later, in 2022, the Rangers faced the Philadelphia Flyers as heavy favorites in the first round. Following a Game 1 triumph at home, they stumbled once more in Game 2, extending the series unnecessarily. The additional strain of playing extra games proved detrimental, as the team failed to capitalize on opportunities to seize control.

The current playoff series against the Capitals marked the 10th time since 2012 that the Rangers had home-ice advantage. Astonishingly, they have only taken a 2-0 series lead once, back in the 2022 conference final where they ultimately fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. The team's lack of early dominance is not entirely surprising, given their one Stanley Cup victory in the past 84 years.

As the Rangers prepare for Game 2 against the Capitals, the question of their ability to close out a series haunts both fans and analysts. It is often speculated that the 2012 Rangers had a genuine chance at hoisting the Cup but faltered against the Capitals when they failed to win the series in five games, despite taking the lead at home in Game 1 and then securing a 2-1 series advantage with Marian Gaborik's triple-overtime heroics.

While many may dwell on past failures and hypothetical scenarios, Rangers center Mika Zibanejad remains focused solely on the present. Zibanejad, who is currently in his eighth playoff series as a Ranger, emphasized the importance of staying in the moment and not letting history dictate the team's mindset.

The recent coaching change, with Gerard Gallant being replaced by Peter Laviolette, has signaled a fresh start for the Rangers. The 2022-23 season has been about building the identity of the team, and Zibanejad believes they have done everything necessary to be ready for the playoffs.

Looking ahead, the pressure undoubtedly mounts on the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals, who carry the worst goal differential among all playoff teams. Should the Rangers maintain their focus and intensity, it seems difficult to envision Washington winning four out of seven games in the series.

For the Rangers, the challenge lies in their ability to learn from their storied playoff history and break the cycle of struggling to finish off opponents. As they strive to write a new chapter in their postseason narrative, all eyes are on their performance in Game 2 and their ability to emerge with a commanding 2-0 series lead.