The Rangers Re-Find & Refine Their Game In Analgesic Anaheim

See, I told you there was nothing to worry about.

You fans should know that your rip-roarin' Blueshirts were merely playing possum in Los Angeles and -- now that they fooled you with that act -- are getting serious again.

They actually pushed the possum business quite far last night at Honda Center, allowing the hometown Ducks to build a 2-0 lead. 

Not to worry.

"We controlled most of the game," said coach Peter Laviolette, a master at team control.

As for the "Controllers," here are a few fellows you happen to know named Trocheck, Cuylie (a good one, by the way), Panarin, Kreider, and Vesey. Together, they restored the faith. 

The 5-2 decision marked the Rangers' 29th win of this NHL marathon. And that happens to be fourth-best in Bettman, Inc.

More Lavvy: "We had to work to get it tied. All things considered, the win was a great job by the guys."

Not that Iggy Shesterkin had much hard labor. It was not Duck-shooting night, not by a long shot or a slap shot. The Local skaters managed a mere 18 shots, and Shesty figured he could handle at least 16 of them, which he did. (Yawn, yawn.)

The point to remember was that your heroes had to rebound from 0-2 to make it 2-1 in the third and it still was anybody's game. Obviously, the possum game had fooled the home skaters.

POW!

Then, the vastly underrated Cuylle showed that his season last year in Hartford as an AHL rookie paid off handsomely. At 10:10 of the final frame, he tied the count at 2-2.

"At first (on the goal), I was pinned in the corner," said Cuylle, "but I fought to get to the front, and 'Troubs' (alias Jacob Trouba) got off a good shot. I just got my stick on it." 

(In other words, Will willed himself to the crease.)

The Breadman was also inspired. No doubt, daydreaming about a loaf of enriched pumpernickel, he scored at 14:23 on the power play, and that proved to be the winner. 

Chris Kreider followed with a cushion tally at 16:07, leaving Jimmy Vesey to drop the curtain with an open-netter.

You could have fingered a handful of New York stars, but the local star-picker went for the Breadman -- I hear he's baking raisin cakes -- and Big Al Lafreniere.

Let's get something straight before we go on if that's alright with you.

Feeding off a bottom-feeder like the Ducks is what streak-starting is all about, whether you're a possum or a hockey player. 

With the sad sack Sharks -- Yes, Sharks can be sad, especially when caught -- next up tomorrow in San Jose, the Blueshirts should have four fun points before returning to Seventh Avenue.

If all goes well, they'll then get revenge on the Cup champ Golden Knights.

No, by then, the possums will be having a ball at their home arena, The Bronx Zoo!