Captain Callahan Sends Rangers Into Playoffs

Ryan Callahan celebrates with Anton Stralman after scoring in Overtime

Maybe it was a snipe that Dan Ellis should not have let past him. Maybe he did commit to the short post too much. Maybe it was bad positioning by the back-up goaltender for Carolina who has been the teams starting goalie ever since Cam Ward went down with a season ending injury.

Still, even if your going to blame Ellis for his poor positioning, you still have to give Ryan Callahan credit for the ridiculously insane and well-placed snipe into the top right corner of the goal. And what a snipe it was! Coming down the left boards in overtime, knowing one more goal would send the Rangers into the final 16, Captain Cally seized the day and with a Messier-like-leg-pump, he placed a perfect shot over Ellis' shoulder that bounced off the far post and into the net - the shot that was 'heard round the tri-state area'.

As soon as the puck was across the goal line, an ecstatic Callahan turned around the net, sprinted along the boards to center ice, and celebrated as if he won the Stanley Cup (a sign of things to come?). Like I said on Twitter, definetely one of my favorite celebrations and Rangers moments of all time.

And just like that, finally, the New York Rangers clinched a playoff berth and enter the playoffs as an unexpected underdog. Nevertheless, whoever they play in the first round, whether it be the Penguins, Bruins, Caps, or Habs, the opponent realizes that the Rangers are not your typical low seed. They were a team that was expected to cruise through the season and make the playoffs without a problem. However, by letting key players such as Brandon Prust, Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, and Ruslan Fedotenko leave NY, the Rangers had an identity crisis all season.

When they shocked the hockey world and traded Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets for three players at the trade deadline, some people were left confused and wondering whether it was the right move. Based on their record and overall play since the deadline, the move seems like it was the right one for both teams. And with one more game left on the season against the golf-course-bound New Jersey Devils, the Rangers are only playing for seeding, something that I'm sure their opponents are more worried about then the Rangers themselves.

For those who missed it, check the video after the jump.

SAM ROSEN: RANGERS WIN! THEY'RE IN THE PLAYOFFS!