Next Mission: adding to the first-place cushion and getting Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren back in action and ripe for the playoffs.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Next Mission: adding to the first-place cushion by winning on the road.

Mission After That: Getting Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren back in action and ripe for the playoffs.

These D factors were illuminated at the Garden with the 6-5 Rangers win over a very-very stubborn John Tortorella Flyers team that refused to quit.

But The Maven's pre-game prediction was right. I said that New York's SKILL would triumph over Philly's WILL. (Or, Torts' to be more accurate.)

And if you don't mind my saying so -- you can check it out -- I forecast that Big Al Lafreniere would add to his 20-goal total; which he did twice, handsomely, if you don't mind my saying so.

It took an Adam Fox game-winner 36 seconds into sudden-death that underlined what The Maven has stated to the point of redundancy -- that the Blueshirts you're looking at will be the 2024 Cup-winner.

But next-things first: that is winning the Presidents' Trophy (PT) as the NHL's leading point-getter. (Do you folks recall that the New Yorkers won the PT in 1994, the year they won their last Cup? Well, they did.)

"Clinching the playoff berth was our first step," the goal-hunting Fox enunciated. He's looking ahead to Colorado, the first stop on the road trip. "We've got ten games to keep sharp."

Considering that Peter Laviolette was coaching minus three of his starting defensemen, the avalanche of goals would seem to be no surprise.

Yet the big scoring didn't develop until the third period when the home club kept blowing leads like pumping a tire that had a hole in it.

Encouraging once again was Marvelous Mika Zibanejad who got himself a red light and the third star. Big Al earned the second and, naturally Foxy D-Man was the topper.

"Clinching the playoffs is fine," says Marvelous Mika, "But we've got much bigger goals ahead."

A pair of the fill-in defenders impressed once more. Zac Jones worked well alongside Fox and Chad Ruhwedel has been fine in a pinch. The same could not be said about less-played rookie Brandon Scanlin whose ice time wisely was limited to 10:46.

Breadman got himself a Cap Trick. (I just made that up). His three assists underlines a point: Mister Pumpernickel is as good a playmaker as he is a scorer.

As I wrote before last night's game, Torts' Flyers overflow with no-names but his masterful coaching has Philly on the express track to the playoffs.

And speaking of fast subways, Man Mountain Rempe never got off the Local track. Matter of fact Matt really didn't matt-er in terms of his effect besides a blocked shot and a few almost hits.

Lavvy gave him little ice time and this was evidenced by the fact that his rooting section only could be aroused for one "REM-PE, REM-PE" cheer.

Plus, Jonny Brodzinski got himself a goal and -- when you think about it -- Brod and Rempe are vying for the same lineup spot. Check off a one-game lead for The Brodman.

Getting into The Maven's deep -- about a quarter of an inch -- analytics, the Rangers have a one point lead over Boston for the Presidents' Trophy. Plus, a three point lead over Carolina for the Metro Division title.

"We got to keep stepping on the gas," Fox concludes.

Or, as they said when gas stoves replaced the old wood kind, "The Rangers are cookin' with gas!"