After each game a Ranger player, or two, or three (if they win) are compelled to meet the media and offer thoughts on the game, win or lose. Ditto for coach Peter Laviolette.
Sometimes the comments are so foreign to reality you have to wonder what these guys are thinking. Or, who's writing their stuff.
The following are some examples followed by The Maven's reactions.
MIKA ZIBANEJAD: "Losing gets tiring."
Maven's Reaction: No kidding, pal. Had you played up to your salary in November and December, you'd be less fatigued now. And, by the way, how come the media always seem to talk to you after almost every game; as if you're carrying the team? Or, the phantom captain!
MIKA'S ENCORE: "We find a way to lose."
Maven's Reaction: Try scoring more goals than the other guys and you'll find a way to win.
CHRIS KREIDER: Analyzing how many games needed to make a playoff berth, Kreider begged off with, "I'm not good at math."
Maven's Reaction: You're not very good at power play scoring lately and worse at assisting.
PETER LAVIOLETTE: "We have to win games."
Maven's Reaction: Pure brilliance. If I didn't know better I'd have figured that Winston Churchill had written his stuff.
Other post-game gems:
* "We have to look ourselves in the mirror."
* "We gave ourselves a chance to win but......"
* We had some good 'looks' but the puck wasn't going in."
With ten more games to go and the Wild Card berth on the line, we may yet wind up with a Mad Magazine version of "Rangers Familiar Quotations," edited by that famed raconteur Matt Rempe!