Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesThe Rangers SURGE is on with the next goal a third straight victory at New Jersey on Saturday afternoon.
Granted last night's 5-4 overtime win over Minnesota is not causing cartwheels of joy on Seventh Avenue.
Just smiles; because the Blueshirts are IN the Wild Card race and – as The Maven has predicted all along – Peter Laviolette's skaters eventually WILL gain a playoff berth.
"The gears are starting to mesh," says The Old Scout. "It started with the Rangers routing San Jose and continued now that key core guys like Breadman Panarin and Vincent Trocheck are scoring."
Trocheck, who has suffered through a subpar season, proved with his OT red light that the NHL marathon allows for late season comebacks and this one definitely is one for the New Yorkers.
"Saturday's game with the Devils will be hugely important," adds The Old Scout, "because a third straight win will add to the Rangers confidence that returned in these last two wins."
No question, sore spots remain and I'll deal with them in an adjoining column. What mattered is that the Rangers – for a nice change, wouldn't you say – looked alive.
Whether they can continue to straighten up and fly right will depend in large part with the Kiddle Korps coming through. That includes rookie Gabe Perreault who made his debut last night.
Pistol Pete gave him a modest 13:38 of ice time which – all things considered – was just right for an NHL world premiere. The kid had three shots on goal and delivered some fine and dandy passes.
"He sent a beauty of a pass to Al Lafrenière," adds The Old Scout, "but Al failed to convert. Gabe's passing is what's gonna make him a star."
Right now Perreault's star is just beginning to twinkle while the Rangers surge is shining like the harvest moon!