Rooting for their team to win

It has been 20 years since the New York Rangers played for the National Hockey League championship and won the Stanley Cup.
After the Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game Six of the Eastern Conference finals on May 29, Blueshirt fans have beside themselves with joy.
On Wednesday the NHL’s Stanley Cup final would have gotten underway in Los Angeles as the Rangers and Kings face off in the best-of-seven series. Both teams have won 12 games and need to win four more to claim the coveted trophy.
Alec Rapp and Adam Graves — no not that one —members of the Five Towns-based Hebrew Hockey League, are diehard Ranger fans and are ready for their team to take the Cup.
Rapp, 13, a Lawrence resident, wasn’t born when the Rangers won in 1994, and has no idea of the cloud team fans walked under for 54 years as prior to ’94’ the last Cup was won in 1940. But the teen knows a surprise when he sees one. “When they beat the Penguins [in the second round] it was a shock,” he said, about one of his favorite playoff memories so far, which also includes the 7-2 Game 1 victory over Montreal.

Graves, 30, who lives in Jamaica, Queens, didn’t become a what he called a “true hockey fan” until several years ago through a married friend. “My friend’s wife is a huge Rangers fan,” he said. Between his name — “people would tell me of my name and I had no idea who Adam Graves was” — and his growing interest in the sport he became a Rangers fan.
“When people ask I usually say I got shorter and skinnier since I‘ve been away from hockey,” Graves said, about sharing his moniker with the player who wore a Rangers jersey for 10 years. That Graves scored 52 goals and helped them win the Cup 20 years ago. Overall, he played 16 years in the NHL.
The Game Five three-goal rally that tied the game at 4 and the Game Six series-clinching shutout are Graves’ favorite playoff moments so far.
Both Rapp and Graves predict a Stanley Cup championship in seven. “I hope the Rangers win, but it’s not going to be easy,” said Rapp, who thinks the key is his new favorite Blueshirt, goalie Henrik Lundqvist. It was forward Ryan Callahan until he was traded on March 5 for Martin St. Louis. “He stops everything. That’s why he is the king,” Rapp said about the netminder.