Down 0-2 early, the Rangers completed the comeback in the shootout, defeating the Panthers 4-3.
Attention, New York Rangers Fans:
The Maven is anticipating a major street-name change.
I predict that Seventh Avenue will become Stanley Cup Boulevard some time in June.
Why not? Or, had you not heard the noise covering Manhattan Island last night? It emanated from The World's Most Famous Arena as its skating tenants baked the Cats, 4-3 in the Shootout.
Down 0-2 -- and significantly undeterred -- the Blazing Blueshirts fought their way back to a point where Artistic Artemi, The Breadman, tied the count with 3:25 left and added to his histrionics by beating Sergei Bobrovsky with the shootout winner.
"He (Breadman) is playing his heart out," says coach Peter Laviolette. "He had a monster game."
So did Adam Fox who contributed a huge goal -- key to the comeback -- and an assist. Fox now has registered a point in his last seven games.
"All things considered," adds Fox, "It was a good effort by us."
It had to be considering that the Panthers, who previously had lost three straight, finally were on their game and mighty motivated in the Presidents' Trophy race.
But, in the end, Igor Shesterkin was one save better than Bob.
To clinch the W, Iggy had to stop old pal Vlad Tarasenko in the shootout which he adroitly did. (But you guessed that already, didn't you?)
Not that The Maven wants to bring it up every single day but also noteworthy is the fact that the win was accomplished -- again -- without the capricious captain Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren.
And you just know that Mave had to have at least one mention of The Royal Remper who's becoming more and more interested in his game than his fists.
China Shop bulling he did along with Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow. The Remper's first step on the ice brought down the house. Why?
Did they expect him to slip and fall on his tuchus?
Again, Matt's slambanging proved useful, forcing the Cats to flee for cover. Once the line's softening up process was over, Breadman came out a baked a pumpernickel.
Skating, as always, in the shadow of Breadman's over, Vincent Trocheck came up with three assists and the third-best quote of the night:
"It was a good effort by us."
There you have it -- and yeah, yeah -- I know it's still early to repeat that these Blueshrts are a Cup-winning outfit.
Feel free to exult; The Maven just did!
Oh, almost forgot; on Tuesday everybody's Lover Boy, John (Himself) Tortorella will move on to center stage with his truly amazing Philly Flyers.
(Shhhh! Don't tell Lavvy but I expect Man Mountain Remper to put up his dukes against Torts' Bullies. Just keep this between The Maven and You All!)