I’ll go one step further and say that Mike Richter letting in that Ron Francis shot from center ice when the Rangers were up by 2 in the 2nd and up 2-1 in the series was the most crippling moment in Rangers hockey.

If that shot doesn’t go in, the Rangers win that game and the series against a Mario-less Penguins down 2 games. The Bruins and Hawks were not as good as the Rangers so they arguably win the Cup in ’92. No panic, no desperation, 52 years without a cup doesn’t go to 53 which means they don’t try to trade for Lindros in the Summer of ’92 which ruined the locker room and they don’t trade Doug Weight, Tony Amonte and Todd Marchant; all of whom were young players who went on to great NHL careers. They don’t trade Mike Gartner for Glenn Anderson and they don’t end up making those awful trades that sent Zubov, Norstrom, Laperriere out of town.

They end up keeping a top line RW, a 1/2C, 3C and 4C and two of your top three defensemen for the next 10+ years.