Stan Fischler gives his view of the Rangers after seeing the Blueshirts skate the past three games.
Having watched the New York Ranger in-person for the last three games, I feel qualified to give an intelligent appraisal of their chances of winning The Stanley Cup.
In short -- they will win it.
In long, I have many reasons why:
* OVERALL PUCK MOVEMENT: I have not seen any rival capable of matching the New Yorkers overall speed in exiting their zone. They complete the stretch pass better than anyone and with uncanny accuracy.
* WORKING THE BOARDS: Peter Laviolette's sextet boast third and fourth-liners with grit and size that can match the defending champ Vegas, not to mention the threats from Carolina, Colorado and Boston.
* POWER PLAY: THE PP features clockwork precision and the brand of cross-ice passing that defies credulity. It's enough to blur one's eyelids and drive enemy defenses to distraction. Ace shooter Chris Kreider is nonpareil.
* CAPTAIN MATERIAL: The more I watch Kreider combine a grit game with artistry in rhythm, I believe -- as I did before Jacob Trouba got the gig -- that Kreids should have gotten the captaincy -- not Jake.
* THE PRICE WAS WRONG: Kreider submarined goalie Carey Price's career during the infamous playoff vs Montreal with a hit that knocked Price out of the game and the Habs, eventually, out of the series. I say Kreider won that series with his whack job.
* MOST ACCURATE SHOOTING RANGER: Kreider had me astonished by his near invisible laser shot -- especially on the power play. It seemed to my vision as the equal or better than the Alex Ovechkin missile
* THE TV GUYS BEG TO DIFFER: Rangers MSG Networks analyst Joe Micheletti was not so quick to indict the Islanders for dirty play. As a matter of fact, Joltin' Joe figured the "bump in the night" was an accident. And accidents do happen in hockey.
* PICKING A PLAYOFF FOE: At this moment I can't see a team that equals the Rangers overall strength. That said, some critics believe the Rangers will be done in because of the absence of a dominant center. (We shall see.)
* Guaranteed, Man Mountain Rempe will start against the Islanders on Saturday and will start another rumpus. Maybe even two!