Dan Girardi's Near Misses | New York Rangers News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's July 27, this is New York Rangers News Today, powered by AI Everything Happening With Your Team. I'm Corey with the story. Dan Girardi, a defenseman who played over 1,000 games in the NHL, spent a decade with the New York Rangers, appearing in more playoff games for them than anyone except Chris Kreider. He made it to the Stanley Cup final in 2014, and the conference final two other times, but never lifted the cup. He played 12 seasons with the Rangers, and two with the Tampa Bay Lightning, racking up a total of 122 playoff games with New York alone. Despite coming so close, winning the championship remained elusive throughout his 13-year career.
Girardi recently spoke about the near misses, particularly the 2014 Stanley Cup final loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He recalled the tough game one turnover that led to a Kings overtime winner, a moment that still sticks with him. He emphasized how much has to go right to win the cup, mentioning how the Rangers lost 3 games in overtime during that 2014 final series. He also touched on the importance of team support, noting how his teammates had his back after that costly mistake.
The defenseman reflected on the strong bond within that Rangers team, believing their friendship was a key reason for their success. He often wonders what it would have been like to bring the Stanley Cup back to New York.