from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

Game 6 on Tuesday night against the Lightning will mark the Rangers’ 100th game of a season that began in St. Louis on Oct. 9 — every day of which the team has had the singular goal of hoisting the Stanley Cup.

If the Rangers lose this game, if they are eliminated in the conference finals, their season can only be evaluated as a failure. Not a failure of character or will, not at all. But a failure nevertheless.

Harsh but true, given the standard they have set for themselves.

No grading on a curve here.

If they win — if they stave off extinction as they did three times against the Capitals in Round 2, as they have done in 14 of their 17 win-or-else games since 2012 and in five of eight on the road — then the Blueshirts get to define themselves again Friday in Game 7 at the Garden.

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