Five takeaways from the Rangers' 4-2 victory over the Capitals in Game 4 on Sunday night in Washington, D.C., which finished off a four-game sweep – per the New York Post…

1. The Rangers had to wait until Game 82 to capture all of the regular-season prizes — first place in the Metropolitan Division, top seed in the Eastern Conference and the Presidents' Trophy. But they made quick work of the first round, doing what no other team was able to do.

The extra rest and accrual of minimal wear and tear can only help them in the second round, likely against the Carolina Hurricanes, who will be forced to play at least an additional 81 minutes and 24 seconds because they couldn't finish off the Islanders in regulation time of Game 4 on Saturday.

And the result continues the comparisons with 1994, when the Rangers opened the postseason with a sweep of the Islanders on the way to the Stanley Cup. Getting through the first two series in a total of nine games in '94 helped the Blueshirts battle through the remaining seven-game gauntlets with the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks.

2a. One of the biggest edges the Rangers figured to have entering this series was in net with Igor Shesterkin against Charlie Lindgren. Ryan's older brother wasn't terrible, but the Rangers' ability to quickly answer Washington goals made it hard for the Capitals to seize any momentum. It wasn't exactly a Herculean effort needed from Shesterkin but his .929 save percentage, compared to Lindgren's .864, was the difference in the series, unless it was ...

2b. ... special teams. The Rangers scored six power-play goals and matched the Capitals' two PPGs with two shorthanders over Washington's 17 man-up opportunities.

3. Kaapo Kakko's unassisted goal in the opening minute gave the Rangers 10 different goal-scorers in the opening round. It was the first goal of the series for the unit of Kakko-Alex Wennberg and Will Cuylle, meaning each of the four lines got in on the scoring.

4. With Matt Rempe now in full force, the remaining opponents will have to try to forget whatever they thought they knew about how to play against the Rangers. No longer is it just about trying to stop Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider and solving Shesterkin; for about eight minutes per game they basically have to be on red alert. Which brings us to ...

5. Tom Wilson didn't scare the Rangers this time. It was a far cry from May of 2021 when Wilson cross-checked Pavel Buchnevich and rag-dolled Panarin, which led to a line-brawl mismatch against brave Brendan Smith a few nights later and eventually may have played a part in the firings of president John Davidson, GM Jeff Gorton and coach David Quinn.

It's not just the deterrent offered by Rempe. The Rangers are a tougher, more combative team now than they were then throughout the lineup. The disappointments of the losses to the Lightning and Devils the past two years brought with them valuable lessons, and also the arrival of coach Peter Laviolette. The Rangers appear all in for the Stanley Cup chase — in every way. This could get fun.