Messier: Rangers know meaning of 'real teammates'

Mark Messier shares his thoughts on the Stanley Cup Finals with The New York Daily News.

"I can't remember seeing hockey as good. It has just been great," Messier told the Daily News by phone Monday morning. "I'm sure the Rangers are disappointed they didn't get to win a game in the first two, but once they woke up Sunday morning and traveled back and realized they could have won either or both of those games, my feeling is if I were riding back with them, I'd be pretty darn encouraged."

Looking back at how the Rangers rallied around Martin St. Louis during his time of need in the first round, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the process, Messier saw something in particular.

"My thing I take out of it is they've had an opportunity to see what a real team is and what it means to be real teammates," Messier said, "and some players never get to experience that through their whole careers. They've taken that to a whole other level this year, and I think that's why they are where they are right now.

"They've been playing great hockey in the Finals," he continued. "They easily could be up 2-0. They've continued to grow and play a great brand of hockey that's fun to watch, and it's exciting."

Source: Pat Leonard, New York Daily News