Here are some key points for the Rangers heading into a pivotal Game 6 against the Hurricanes.
TEN KEY MAVEN POINTS ABOUT TONIGHT'S 'CRISIS' GAME:
1. Mark Messier knows more hockey than most of us on this planet. So, when he makes a point, The Maven listens.
2. Mess – alias Moose – believes that Peter Laviolette should remove Matt Rempe's reins and let him enjoy the same kind of good minutes as linemates Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow.
3. Mark's point is that The Remper could be a genuine asset, doing his thing while not worrying about getting the hook in half-a-second.
4. More to the point, Messier believes that the brand of tumultuous situations Matt can throw at the Canes can disturb them enough to tilt the contest in the Rangers' favor. At this point in time, Lavvy should take the advice.
5. The Canes version of Artemi Panarin is Sibby Aho. He not only leads Carolina in scoring but shows up in big moments.
6. Tonight's game could be decided by the "Who's Better?" meter -- Breadman or Sibbyman?
7. Okay, we all know that the Ranger players adore their ace-in-the-nets, Igor Shesterkin. That being the case, they had better not leave him out to dry as they did in Game 5.
8. Another way for the Blueshirts to get this series over with once and for all is to do something "different"; outplay the Canes five-on-five.
9. The Maven knows that, yeah, it's the longest-of-longshots but I could see Lavvy benching Jacob Trouba in favor of Zac Jones.
10. One of these nights, Blake Wheeler will be ready for action. The stunner-of-stunners would be if tonight's the night!