The Rangers are starting to heat up just at the right time.
Pick your headline as the Rangers move onward and upward:
* J.T. = JUST TERRIFIC!
* CORE CONNECTING
* THE STOPPER IS STOPPING
* THE PUSH IS ON
The above headers sum up the Rangers exalted status as they prepare for what should be an easy two-pointer against bottom-feeding Pittsburgh tomorrow night at MSG.
Beating Boston 3-2 last night at The Garden won't go down in history as a landmark decision but it's vital in the getting-into-the playoffs scheme of things.
As The Maven pointed out in yesterday's column, coach Peter Laviolette needed big games from Chris Kreider, Vin Trocheck and Igor Shesterkin.
Appropriately, The Big Three delivered: Kreider got the shorthanded winner, Trocheck was a lamplighter and Emperor Igor did what he had to do.
Ah, but the bonus of bonuses was produced by – new nickname – Sir Stealth.
Yessiree, Bob, Mika Zibanejad set up Kreider with the winner and now has six – count 'em, six – points over the last three games. (I hear that Connor McDavid is jealous.)
"The Rangers are beginning to see the light," says The Old Scout. "The two 'four-pointers' ahead of them are there for the asking because J.T. has brought a new kind of energy to the team."
Exhibit A is Zibanejad who – slowly but surely – is finding the form that's made him one of the highest-priced Rangers.
"We've got more confidence," Magic Z insists. "No matter the situation we now believe we can handle it."
If Mika and Kreider can maintain a pre-slump pace, there's no reason why a playoff bound surge can't continue. Where – in darker nights of the past – New York might have given up, that defeatism is gone.
Or, at least it seems to be.
"There's no quit in this group," declares Kreider who was particularly adept – call it speedy – on his shorthanded goal.
Trocheck and Shesterkin pulled their ends of the rope and even Zac Jones – in forever drydock – got back in action, playing competently enough to make you wonder why he ever was benched.
"I liked our resiliency in the last two games," Lavvy enthuses, "especially in the third period."
Fine, but it's look-ahead time. With Sidney Crosbhy typically indomitable, tomorrow night the Penguins could make trouble but not enough to cost the Rangers a game.
Then it's Columbus on Saturday before the break and the return to action on February 22. Want another headline for the potentially streaking Rangers: Try this one: LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING!