The Rangers kept the winning mojo alive against Seattle.
Apart from its ridiculously hard to digest nickname, Seattle's surprisingly competent hockey team is not all that it's Kraken up to be. The New York Rangers proved that beyond a shadow of a 5-2 doubt.
The Rangers cracked open the Kraken's defense last night at The Garden and, in a sense, told the Visitors to take their silly monicker to some other rink; there'll be no fishing around at good, old MSG.
Good for Peter Laviolette's lads for a well-balanced job on Dave Hakstol's Wanderers from The Left Coast. Not that the team crafted by GM Ron Francis is to be taken lightly.
The fact is that the Kraken features some medium-quality players, and the Blueshirts showed what high quality is all about.
Want more glory -- that's glory, folks, glory -- details? Why not?
For starters, the Kraken bring their K's with them wherever they go, but this was the Rangers "K Night" at The World's Most Famous Arena.
Easily, "King of the K's," Kaapo Kakko -- in his second game back from injury -- KO'd Seattle with his first goal since November 20; having missed a grand total of 21 games. Double K proved that you don't have to be from Washington State to prove that the K's have it.
"I had time off (due to injury), and I was able to work out," Kakko explained. "I also was able to think about my game. Now I hope I'll be better than before. The goal gave me confidence."
Iggie (Only One K) Shesterkin also showed you can spell "kayo" this way with a second straight super-duper game restoring his title -- for now, at least -- as "King of the Krease." He delivered big saves at key points in the game
The Rangers were outshot -- Shesterkin has given up only 3 goals on his last 56 shots -- but, at the other end, Chris Driedger was not up to Igor's high standard.
Vin Trocheck beat him on a first-period (5:22) power play, and after Jordan Eberle tied the count at mid-period, Erik Gustafson replied with a quick lamp-lighting 25 seconds later. Blake Wheeler made it a 3-1 game at 12:32 of the second, and that was the game-winner.
"Our responses after they scored were good," Wheeler explained, "and it stymied their momentum; and got our crowd going again."
Peter Laviolette had to be pleased. His club's record (28-13-2) should only improve, and it can't hurt having a fresh Double K-man back.
"It was nice to get Kaapo on board," the Skipper said, "and good to have him back."
For my money, the game's best end result was Iggie's ability to push the clouds of doubt away and start earning the big dough Jim Dolan is paying the guy. Asked about his second straight victory, Shesty turned opportunistically optical.
"I finally started seeing the puck!"
(How nice of him The Maven will be delivering the names of two high-quality opticians on Seventh Avenue at absolutely no extra charge. But only if he needs more help "seeing the puck."
A few other throw-aways from a nifty night at the Old Corral:
1. At the moment, the Blueshirts' second line is its best. (No arguments, please.)
2. Vinnie Trocheck is The Maven's Man Of the Moment.
3. Why, you ask? I happen to like the way he's winning face-offs and setting up Breadman Panarin. (And since I brought it up, Bready, I'll take a large Challah; and don't slice it, please.)
4. Big Al Lafreniere is making a bit like a tough guy. Can't hurt.
5. Bil Al also will find the net, or I'll take him to Igor's optician.
As The Maven pointed out before the last game, all the Blueshirts needed to shake the blues away was a deep breath and a decision to switch off the Local track and expressly get serious about the season's second half.
By the way, Blueshirts, the second half of the season is the one that really matters, other than the postseason that REALLY matters.
One final note, if you don't mind, and you had better not.
What's fair is fair, the victory was accomplished against the very injury-riddled Kraken. So, the KO was more like a ko.
But, then again, you know the answer to that: tough kuhzabees, my good friends from the Northwest; see ya in the sea!