Here's what Stan Fischler had to say following the Rangers 5-1 loss in Vegas.
Playing against the Champs is the perfect test of the New York Rangers' capabilities because the New Yorkers either could come up with Snake Eyes or a Lucky Seven at T-Mobile Arena.
And when the gambling ended last night, the Laviolettes got knocked for a loop -- as in Gin Rummy-knocked -- 5-1. And you didn't need to be a card shark to know that this wasn't even close.
Vegas played like the Champs that they are. The Blueshirts were the chumps.
"We had too many defensive lapses," said Ryan Lindgren, and since he's a defenseman, he should know. (Actually, the two first-period Vegas goals clinched the win.)
The hard-skating Hustlers from The Strip opened the game with good Poker hands held by Jonathan Marchessault. He scored the opener at 11:35 of the first period, rapidly followed by Ivan Barbashev 70 seconds later.
It was two-zip almost 18 minutes through the middle period when Vegas played more Gin Rummy and this time "knocked" with two and made it a 4-0 laugher.
Ivan (The Barber) Barbashev gave the Home Club the Dreaded Three-Goal Lead at 17:59 and was followed by Vegas' fourth-string "K-Man," Keegan Kolesar, 23 seconds later.
(Where was the Rangers "K-Man" when they needed him?)
Down by four starting the final frame, the New Yorkers had to do something. Mika Zibanejad figured, why not try the Roulette Wheel? Good move! He scored 40 seconds in setting the stage for what could have been a jackpot rally.
"We weren't getting enough 'looks," Mika added.
Hey, there was plenty of time, but, nay, time was not on the Rangers' hands.
Alas, it wasn't even a Jack Eichel rally since the injured Cup star laughed it up as his mates had "No-No" in their eyes. Brett Howden wrapped it up at 18:32 with an open netter leaving the Seventh Avenue crew with winners in one useless area, 30-26 in shots on goal.
As for Breadman Panarin, he assisted on Mika's marker but might have been better off baking Bialys at the Strip Deli.
Coach Peter Laviolette: "The chances and the looks didn't match the possession time. There were a lot of chances and good looks that we had."
The Maven's View: Shesterkin could have been better.
Adam, The Foxy Bagelman, produced what's in the middle of a bagel -- nothing if you don't know your bagels -- so what else is there to say?
Actually, plenty. Here's something Bialy-like to munch on -- no butter, please!
1. Vegas was there to be taken, minus key Cup guys out with injuries.
2. The Golden Knights continue to amaze. They won the Stanley Cup in only six years.
3. It's going on 30 for the Blueshirts if they don't do it this year.
4. Iggy Shesterkin was out-goaled by Logan Thompson, who got the game's second star.
5. The Rangers skated off with no stars.
6. Our Heroes are jetting to Los Angeles. Game time Saturday is 10 p.m. New York time.
7. This was a step back from the Garden win.
Conclusion: The Rangers came to Card Shark Country but Vegas held the hot hands. The Blueshirts had no hands!