Mika And Willie Can't Save The Blueshirts; What About The Goaltending?

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Throw your analytics out the window.

You don't have to know more than basic arithmetic to understand why the Rangers can't climb out of their No Playoff Hole.

A journeyman, backup Toronto goalie named Anthony Stolarz made 33 saves against the Blueshirts at The Garden last night. Stolarz STOLE the game won by a score of 3-2.

The Fella At The Other End – name, Igor Shesterkin – made 14 saves. And that's the end of the math lesson.  winning goalie Stolarz; losing goalkeeper, Shesterkin. End of class and game.

Now for the eye test. We're in the third period, see, and the score is 2-2, see. So, you just gotta believe that goaltending will make the difference; plus the Home Team has a former Vezina winner.

WHOOPS! There goes Shesterkin behind his net to clear the puck.

WHOOPS! Igor's kitchen-cleaning is intercepted and Toronto wins the game on his careless clear.

"If you just look at the Rangers offense," says The Old Scout, "it should have been a New York win. But 'shoulda' and  'woulda' are two different things."

The other "different thing" is Mika Zibanejad leading the home team's scoring with a goal and an assist. 

"Mika's 'comeback' is all well and good," adds The Old Scout, "but it ain't worth two hills of beans if Breadman and Lafrenière play like they've called it a season."

Check out Laffy's record since he signed Chris Drury's "Get Rich Quick" contract and you'll know what a "Brink's Robbery" is all about.

YIKES! One measly goal and two points in Lafrenière’s last ten games. And this is happening in the crucial homestretch. A certain Seventh Avenue franchise sure ain't getting its money's worth.

The Old Scout: "The crazy thing is that the Rangers are only four points away from the second wild card spot. They have Nashville and Islanders up next. Still time to fatten up."

The Maven insists on being fair and, with that in mind, I must say that Will Cuylle is earning his dough and The Great Z rates a kudo or three for his reawakening. 

Fair enough; but where's J.T. Miller, Panarin, Vin (Should Be Captain) Trocheck Hmmmm!

This should have been a grand, available  two-pointer because Atlantic Division first-place Toronto played an admittedly bum game – except for second-stringer Stolarz who, get this, is from Edison, N.J.

Now, Rangers fans, do you want a voice from the dressing room? "We have a lot of good things to take away," says Trocheck.

It seems to The Maven that he's heard that song before; the lyrics say "Forever More."

Could be as soon as tomorrow night at The Garden with ready-to-be-taken Nashville on tap.

Right now, Iggy should be practicing four hours worth of clearing attempts off The Garden's West 33d Street wall.