The Rangers are not the underdogs of this story.
It doesn’t matter that the Devils were the higher seed in the standings after generating an overall better regular season than their cross-Hudson foe.
There is no universe in which the Rangers’ star-studded assembly of players, who have playoff experience to spare, were expected to be facing elimination in Game 6 of the first (first!) round Saturday night at the Garden, against a Devils team that is as green as it gets under the current circumstances.
But here they are.
The Blueshirts are at risk of succumbing to one of the most colossal letdowns in recent NHL history.
“It doesn’t really matter what you call us, favorites, underdogs,” Barclay Goodrow told The Post after the Rangers held potentially their last practice of the season at MSG Training Center on Friday.
“Expectations are something that’s put on by the outside world. In here, we’re confident. We obviously have the highest of goals for ourselves. Living up to those goals and believing in ourselves is kind of the most important thing. We have a ton of belief. Our confidence hasn’t wavered.
“We’ve been in this spot before. It seems like we thrive when our backs are against the wall. We’re looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to being back in the Garden.”
Playing the role of the underdog is a lot easier to do than the favorite who should win.
The 2021-22 Resilient Rangers were proof of that.
They did not fret over a 3-1 series deficit in Round 1 against the Penguins, and they did not flinch after going down two games to the Hurricanes in Round 2 last season.
Taking control over this series against the Devils and then completely losing their grip on it, however, is an entirely different obstacle to overcome.
Team pride is suddenly on the line, and the pressure has mounted quickly.
“Belief,” captain Jacob Trouba said of what it took to prevail in both their series deficits last season. “I think everybody believed that it was possible. That Pittsburgh series is the one I go back to most. Had to come home and win Game 5 and then go on the road and win a Game 6, and just one by one, find a way to make it happen. Get some bounces, you never know what’s going to happen.”
The Devils made their adjustments through each game, and it culminated in their most complete performance of the series in their 4-0 thrashing of the Rangers in Game 5 on Thursday in Newark.
Despite straying further and further away from their game as the series has progressed, the Rangers waited until Friday to make their changes.
Vladimir Tarasenko skated on the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, while Patrick Kane and Alexis Lafreniere were bumped to the second line with Vincent Trocheck. Artemi Panarin has been demoted to the third line with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko, which leaves the fourth line intact.
There’s a chance the power play looks different when it takes the ice Saturday night, as well.
Lineup alterations could possibly help, but the Rangers have to salvage their season.
Otherwise, all of the cap gymnastics and roster maneuvering to acquire Kane will have been for nothing.
The 13-2-2 tear the team went on to turn around their season will not matter.
To end this year — which was supposed to be about finishing their unfinished business — in Round 1 may be tougher to get over than their conference final finish last season.
The Rangers have not wavered in their team belief. It’s just a matter of execution and desperation now.
“I think the fact that we’ve done it, no one in here thinks that it’s over,” Mika Zibanejad said. “We play at home [Saturday]. Just got to come out and play our game. All we worry about is [Saturday] and to win. Try to stay positive, try to stay focused and get ready.”