During the current break in the schedule, Rangers fans should do some deep thinking about the team and ABOUT YOURSELVES.
This is a good time to declare are you optimistic, pessimistic or a rationalist. Here’s an easy way to pick your spot.
1. THE OPTIMIST SAYS, “The glass is half full.”
2. THE PESSIMIST SAYS, “The glass is half empty.”
3. THE RATIONALIST SAYS, “The glass is twice as big as it needs to be.”
The Maven will be as clear as glass with my view of the team heading toward the homestretch:
I’ll go one better; the glass is three-quarters full and heading toward the top. Here’s why: Every team the Rangers are chasing is catch-able. For example”
COLUMBUS: The Blue Jackets have been playing over their heads. They have been magnificently competitive ever since. But before the break, they showed signs of slipping. I predict a fadeaway when play resumes. The Blueshirts are only two points behind – with a game behind. New York should catch up and pass before a week is up once play resumes:
OTTAWA: Here’s trouble. Coach Travis Green has his Sens on track and playing over their heads. The Hockey News Yearbook pegged
Ottawa for seventh place in the Atlantic but their blend of young (Tim Stutzle) and old (Claude Giroux) has produced good chemistry.
They lead the Rangers by two points but here again Peter Laviolette’s skaters have a game in hand. In this match up, goaltending tips the scale for the MSGers.
DETROIT: The Red Wings were on a treadmill to oblivion until the coaching change. The evolution of GM Steve Yzerman’s ‘Yzerplan’ is rooted in the likes of Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat. They score in bunches and with multiple-Cup champ Patrick Kane in tow, they’re loaded with experience.
Although they, too, were pegged for sixth place, the Motor City sextet will be a catching challenge for the Big Apple Boys. The Red Wings lead by three points with an equal 55 games played. I’m not impressed by Detroit’s defense. Overall, New York has more quality.
BOSTON: Plagued by internal issues and a startling change of coaches, the Bruins have been nowhere near challenging for the Presidents’ Trophy as hoped. While they have quality in David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy, the Beantowners only lead the Rangers by two points and the Blueshirts have two games in hand. Here again, Igor Shesterkin gives his club a key advantage over Jeremy Swayman. Watch the Bruins win-now, win-always mantra explode.
MONTREAL: The Habs have missed the playoffs for three straight years and this should be the fourth time around. The Canadiens still lack offense and are just average in goal. The Habs biggest advantage is behind the bench.
Marty St. Louis is as good as they come in coaches but he’s lacking someone very important to a team – another Marty St.Louis. The Canadiens are three points behind the Rangers and New York has a game in hand.
ISLANDERS: Considering all the injuries that have crippled the Nassaumen it’s amazing that they are only one point behind the Seventh Avenue skaters.
The teams are even in games played and – when it comes to this rivalry much will depend on whether Isles ace center Mat Barzal and solid backup goalie Semyon Varlamove return from injuries. As always, the Islanders – because they are the Islanders – could give the Blueshirts fits.
PITTSBURGH: The indomitable Sidney Crosby alone is enough to warn that the Penguins never should be taken lightly. They trail the Rangers by three points but New York has two extra games to play.
PHILADELPHIA: Projected for a low finish this season, John Tortorella’s team has shown plenty of fortitude with some surprising wins. Like Pitt, Torts’ skaters have won more than expected but trail the Rangers by three points and the New Yorkers have two games in hand and a more dependable backup goalie. Once original starter Carter Hart departed Philly, the Flyers goaltending has remained its weak underbelly.
The Maven’s final reason for believing that the Rangers will gain a playoff berth has to do with quality and history.
Finishing first overall through an 82-game marathon does not happen by accident. The Rangers are a well-balanced team now even more fortified with the addition of J.T. Miller.
They still are too good not to beat out Ottawa, Detroit, Boston, Montreal, Columbus, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
And if they don’t, the plunge from top to bottom will go down as one of the biggest upsets in NHL history!
