The point is that injuries or not, the Blueshirts must focus on the "Make The Playoffs" challenge at hand.
When the high-fallootin' Maple Leafs invade The Garden tomorrow night, forget about Adam and K'Andre. What Rangers fans have to focus on are the following:
* ALEXIS LAFRENIERE: Is this guy still with the team or is he auditioning for co-captain of the Staten Island Ferry? Talk about decline and fall, this one time Number 1 has been playing like Number 1,359 of the Western Junior Hockey. (Maven Suggestion: J.T. Miller should take Big Al into a corner, grab him by the shoulders and shake a few times with a chorus of "WE'RE IN THE PLAYOFF HUNT, PAL – THE PLAYOFF HUNT!") A slumping Alexis at this point could torpedo the team
* ARTEMI PANARIN: Nix on the shoulder-grab for this guy. He's miraculously transformed from a Hart Trophy candidate – last year – to a heartless, non-dynamo who had better start scoring against Toronto, or he'll qualify for The Maven's newly-minted Mika Medal for contributions below and beyond all imagination.
* CHRIS KREIDER: I don't know about You, but it appears to the Maven – mind you APPEARS – as if our former power play hero and glorious coach Peter Laviolette are about as far apart in their coach-player relationship as Prospect Park is to Pasadena. (Or shall we play a chorus of "Something's Gotta Give?") It sure seems like it.
With all due respect to Fox and Miller; this team can do just fine without them; that is, IF Lafreniere, Breadman and the rest of the reserves play as hard as the fourth line.
Quite late – but never too late – Laviolette has realized that Matt Rempe really can score goals and screen goalies without hospitalizing any foe.
"Rempe's size alone intimidates the opposition," adds The Old Scout. "Now he's adding confidence with increased ice time and benefitting his linemates."
Rookie left wing Brennan Othmann neatly meshed with The Remper and two-way center Jonny Brodzinksky against the Islanders.
Just to make sure that The Maven wasn't seeing things, I asked my favorite "Hustle-meister," Mark Linde to check on the Blueshirts I.Q. (Intensity Quotient) and he filed this report:
"What I liked most was the Rangers' compete level. I was waiting for it to drop off after they got the big lead but it never did. If they show that same level of grit and determination, they can compete every night regardless of the competition and secure a playoff spot."
Panarin and Lafrenière will be the "Influencers" one way or the other tomorrow night.
Toronto comes in as a division-leader with Cup aspirations. A Rangers win will have widespread, positive results.
For now, let's not talk about the alternative. Okay? OK!