How good -- really! -- are these New York Rangers of ours? Your's?

How good -- really! -- are these New York Rangers of ours? Your's?

Most of the civilized world understands that the only genuine answer will be available at Apple Blossom Time, alias the playoffs. That's what's mattered in Rangerville since 1994 -- alias the previous century.

But you want an answer now. Like right this minute, and after the torpedoing of Igor (I'd Better Re-Polish My Vezina) Shesterkin, you shall get it.

The Vancouver Canucks made Prince Igor look like Swiss cheese last night at the Garden. No kidding around. And the 6-3 loss tells us that Jonathan Quick is New York's new Numero Uno between the pipes.

Fair enough. So, try this on for size. Thatcher Demko made 39 saves for the Visitors.

Iggie produced a measly 20 saves for the gracious hosts. 

And this is not a joke, let's hear some serious talk from the captain who preferred lauding the noble opposition.

"The Canucks are a high-powered, high-octane team," Jacob Trouba explained "The way we played and how we played mentally was just not sharp enough to be good for sixty minutes."

How much of this falls on the goaltending? Depends on how you want to analyze it.

For coach Peter Laviolette, the blame falls on everyone. Repeat: everyone.

"You're not going to win when you give up five goals," said the Skipper. "At least not on a regular basis. We made mental mistakes, we made line change mistakes, and we made turnover mistakes. It was too much for our goaltender."

What does this bit of non-analytics tell you? At the very least, it raises questions about 

Shesterkin. Is this slump -- if you will -- a mere momentary aberration? Or is it something more serious, like a real SLUMP? 

We know the Rangers can score. We know -- for one night in Montreal -- that they have rebound-ability -- to a point. Last night the point ended with Demko and a team from the province of British Columbia that was picked to finish sixth -- mind you, sixth -- in the Pacific Division.

But we don't care two figs about what's come over these Crazy Canucks. The issue is Shesterkin and -- to a very much lesser extent the Rangers defense.

Okay, okay, it's only a game, and why worry with John Quick around to solve all puck problems? 

But the other night in Montreal, even jaunty Jonathan looked more like Jon Porous.

You want The Maven's prescription. Try an Advil and shake off the blues. Most importantly, remember that your temporarily battered Blueshirts are miles ahead in the Metro. Yeah, that's the problem; they've gotten too sure of themselves. Or is the word cocky?

With a comfy record of 26-11-2, there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Your mighty Rangers are tied for most wins in the league with Winnipeg and Vancouver.

That is significant stuff.

And when you think about it, even in losing the Rangers were formidable enough to rally when it was 5-2 for Vancouver after two periods.

Vinnie Trocheck got what could have been a rally going with a goal in the third period to make it a 5-3 game. And anyone who saw the New Yorkers storm from a three-goal deficit against the Habs on Saturday night had reason to believe it could be done again.

But Demko said nix to that,  including Mister Trocheck, who was given the game's third star. First was Elias Pettersson, who smote Shesterkin with two goals and a pair of assists; and the first star, Nils Hoaglander's two red lights, got him the second star.

More good news for the Locals. Breadman Panarin continues baking. He enjoyed his 19th multi-point game. 

Still more happy talk: Ever-improving -- we hope, he hopes -- Big Al Lafreniere collected two assists for the night. 

You know what's the best thing for the Blueshirts to do? Get the heck out of town — and lo and behold, they'll visit the Blues on Thursday and the Nation's Capital on Saturday. 

A one and a two and this minor dip in performance will be over and done with, just like that.

"Our mistakes were loud," Laviolette concluded. "We've got to be better than that."

They will, providing that Shesterkin can somehow regain his reputation and Quick plays to his surname. 

In conclusion, I suggest that You all forget Igor; for now, he'll straighten himself out.