The Rangers and a once-glorious franchise will be seen today when the Blueshirts face the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
* The difference between astute team-building and a once-glorious franchise will be seen today when the New York Rangers face the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. (I love that name but never tried the paint.)
* Chris Drury has sagely constructed a New York sextet that can win The Stanley Cup.
* The Rangers have in Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, two of the NHL's bestgoalkeepers.
* Or, as His Majesty, Peter Laviolette observes: "Goaltending can make you or break you!"
* Led by potential Norris Trophy-winner Adam Fox, the Blueshirts will annex first place in the Met Division.
* Penguins GM, Kyle Dubas made a big-deal trade, obtaining the most recent -- and very-very expensive -- Norris Trophy-winner, Erik Karlsson and all he's done for Pittsburgh is NOT get them even into the playoffs.
* The enormous talents of future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby, Gino Malkin, and Kris Letang were most likely wasted because Dubas chose to stay with losing coach Mike Sullivan, who should have been let go in the offseason.
* While the Penguins waste another year, seeking a competent starting goalie, the Rangers just added another puck-stopping prospect -- Hugo Olias (6-7) of Merrimack College. Drury previously extended the deals of back-ups Quick and Louis Domingue.
* Wonderboy Matt Rempe has two more suspended games to serve. The Maven hoped that Jonny Brodzinski would step in as a reasonable facsimile. Not!
* Adam Edstrom -- two goals in 11 Rangers games -- has been sprung from Hartford, pinch-hitting for Rempe. Let's hope he does better than Brod.
* Tomorrow afternoon the Blueshirts resume their rivalry with the Islanders who are in Ottawa today.
* The Orange and Blue have not scored a single goal in either of its last two games.
* Don't be surprised if Igor Shesterkin also has an un-wipeable smile on his face!