The Rangers became the sixth Presidents’ Trophy winner (first awarded in the 1985-86 season)to sweep their opening-round playoff series.
Three of the previous five — including the 1993-94 Rangers — went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The Post’s Dave Blezow takes a look:
2020-21 Avalanche
First round: Beat Blues, 4-0
Second round: Lost to Golden Knights, 4-2
What happened? After claiming the Presidents’ Trophy in the COVID-shortened season, the Avalanche boat-raced the Blues, outscoring them 20-7 behind six goals by Nathan MacKinnon.
The Avs won the first two games against Vegas and looked invincible, but then lost the next four.
2000-01 Avalanche
First round: Beat Canucks, 4-0
Second round: Beat Kings, 4-3
Conference finals: Beat Blues, 4-1
Stanley Cup Finals: Beat Devils, 4-3
What happened? This Colorado team featured current Islanders head coach Patrick Roy in net and Rangers GM Chris Drury, and both led the way in the first-round rout of the Canucks. The Avs won Game 7 of the second round after the Kings took back-to-back games 1-0 — the second one in double OT. And down three games to two to the Devils in the Cup Finals, Roy would allow just one more goal in two victories.
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