If you happened to be standing in front of Penn Station yesterday afternoon and somebody asked you to pick the Rangers-Blackhawks score, you'd blink for half a second:
If you happened to be standing in front of Penn Station yesterday afternoon and somebody asked you to pick the New York Rangers-Chicago Blackhawks score, you'd blink for half a second:
"Four to one," you'd say, or something like that.
And that's the way it was at the Garden last night -- because that's the way it had to be.
The Visitors tried and the Home Team won because one team is hellbent for the Playoffs -- and beyond -- while the other guys are trying to someday climb out of the NHL manhole.
Credit to Chi. Old Pal Luke Richardson's team kept it close for two periods (2-1 Rangers and then Jake Trouba and Jimmy (Gimme) Vesey ended the Gimme Game -- and two points were in the bag.
Things like that just have to be when Peter (Don't Call Me Lavvy) Laviolette's outfit outshoots the foe, 32-22, out-faces them, 64% - 36%, out-power plays them, 50%, and even out-blacks shots them, 11-9. (Those are The Maven's gift analytics for the night.)
So, what really was meaningful about such a normal 4-1 win over the bottom feeders?
Rookie Brennan Othmann's debut and effort; that's what, as MSG Networks' Joe Micheletti pointed out, "He's not afraid to shoot the puck, and he knows that he has a great shot."
As for his grand World Premiere at The World's Most Famous Arena, the kid from Scarborough, Ontario (alias Toronto) handled himself like a pro.(After all, the Hockey News' Yearbook didn't name him "The Rangers Top Prospect" because it likes to fill space.)
"I was excited to get the first one out of the way," the former Peterborough Pete explained post-game. "It was great to help the team get a win, and it was a nice, early birthday present for me."
It also was a nice non-birthday present for Breadman Panarin because he put his buds ahead with his 24th goal in the first period. Ditto for Chris (I Don't Miss) Kreider, whose 20th red light helped ease the audience at the end of the middle frame, at 2-1.
Then, Trouba The Tuba and underrated Vesey made the rides home more relaxing for the Cup-hungry citizens of Rangerville.
What else do you want to know?
TOP STAR: Vincent Trocheck. He set up the first two goals and assisted Trouba, who beat Petr Mrazek in the third.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Will Cuyle's backhand pass to Vesey for the 4-1 closer.
GOAT OF THE GAME: MRAZEK: He was out of position too often for a vet; also did windmill imitations while flailing at pucks and chasing the game all night
SAVE OF THE GAME: Igor (I Looked Like Myself) Shesrerkin robbed Reese Johnson with a sharp glove save in the first stanza.
BONEHEAD PLAY OF THE GAME: Whiz Kid Connor Bedard. In the first period, Trocheck easily pushed him off the puck, leading to The Breadman delivering a loaf of rubber.
BEST ROOKIE QUOTE: Othmann: "I wanted to have fun!"
He did.
Next, we'll see if New York can take a relatively easy two-pointer tomorrow vs.
The Better Than Predicted Canadiens. Another 4-1er is not out of the question.
Or, as the young philosopher Othmann -- as well as your friendly Maven -- likes to say:
"HAVE FUN!"