The Rangers are 16-3-1 in the past 20 game after the Sunday afternoon 5-2 dispatching of the Islanders.
"GUTSY!"
That's how Peter Laviolette feels about his hockey club which awaits the win-happy Winnipeg Jets tomorrow night at The Garden.
Lavvy's point -- not The Maven's -- is based on a few factors; not the least of which encompass the last 20 games (16-3-1) right up to the Sunday afternoon 5-2 dispatching of the ill-starred Islanders at The World's Most Famous Arena.
"IRREPRESSIBLE" is Maven Talk about a club that doesn't whimper over having to play two games in less than 24 hours; and yesterday's after a road game, no less.
They just go out and win.
How do you beat a club that now has all guns firing from all stations. And I do mean ALL.
Why, you almost could feel the world stop turning now that Mika The Magnificent and Mister Tongue Twister, THE man, himself, Kaapo Kakko, are scoring. Yes, scoring -- as in GOALS.
WAIT! WAIT! Get this: Erstwhile flub, Jonny Brodzinski produced the winning goal over the Islanders. (This is the guy who -- only the other day -- looked like he wanted a one-way ticket on the New York, New Haven and HARTFORD Railroad.)
Right this second: This club is soooooooo good that it wins big even without Ye Not So Olde Matt Rempe who just finished his four-game AWOL.
Naturally, no Ranger team in history can be discussed without a negative item inserted. Sorry, but this one happens to be about the pride of Burnsville, Minnesota, redoubtable Ryan Lindgren.
New York's does-it-all defender suffered what appeared to be a knee injury Sunday after an innocent collision with the Isles Jean-Gabrielle Pageau. Serious or not, we'll get the details soon enough.
Lavvy is so loaded on defense, he doesn't know what to do with half the talent. Zac Jones has stepped in and is proving what The Maven was thinking all the time; anytime Brother Jones was benched was sinful.
Ditto for righty Braden Schneider who got so good, so fast, my Park Slope buddy Jake Silberfarb tells me that B.S. already is his 16-year-old daughter's "second favorite Ranger."
That said, The Maven almost overlooked the fact that even without recovering captain Jake Trouba the good citizens of Rangerville can merely do a "So, what?" yawn.
The yawning will halt tomorrow night when the Jets arrive on Garden ice. Old Pal coach Rick Bowness has his club atop the Central Division which is a remarkable feat considering that Winnipeg was picked to finish behind Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota.
Which leads me to wonder if Bowness knows which "Secret Weapon" Lavvy is going to pull out to shoot down his Jets.
And don't you dare tell me Matt Rempe.
Nay, nay; a thousand times nay; that's no secret.
I'm talking about San Diego's gift to the NHL. The Rangers World Premiere for the one and only CHAD RUHWEDEL.
Now that's depth with a capital D, as in depth-defenseman.
I don't know about you, fella, but The Maven just can't wait!
(Shhh. Neither can Chad!)