Four hurdles for the Rangers to clear for a successful postseason.
Be gone, you Nit-Pickers.
The regular season is over and the Blueshirts have been crowned winners of the Presidents' Trophy.
Now it's time to rev up those Cup-seeking engines.
A dare any clear-seeking fan to discern one negative aspect to this club; except whether to play Rampaging Rempe on the fourth line or Jonny Brodzinsky.
(Maven's choice: Rempe because they never lose with this guy.)
At this moment, the only cause for concern is not-so-ancient history.
There's no denying that a year ago an overwhelmingly mighty Boston Bruins won an NHL record 65 games.
Those very same Beantowners then let Florida rally from a 3-1 series deficit in the first playoff round. Yikes! Just like that, the B's were over and out faster than you can say, "What thuh?"
While there's no guarantee that it can't happen again, The Maven assures you right here and now that IT WON'T!
That's an easy guarantee now that Peter Laviolette's regular season champs disposed of Ottawa last night at The Garden and move into playoff intensive training mode.
The first order of business has to do with injuries -- or rather the enjoyable lack of any serious maladies. A best-case scenario features a healthy squad.
All things considered, that's what's on the menu now that Mika Zibanejad breathlessly has survived that "vicious" collision with the Islanders' Adam Pellech last Tuesday.
That doesn't mean there are no potholes to fear on the Stanley Cup highway. To wit:
1. THE PANARIN PLUNGE: Breadman knows he has to deliver as he did NOT last spring against the Devils. All signs indicate that he'll be a major offensive contributor.
2. PICKING THE RIGHT STARTING GOALIE: It's gotta be Igor Shesterkin and we all know that it was Iggy who got out-goaled vs. the Devils. That can't happen again.
3. WILL 'Z' BRING HIS A-GAME? The Magnificent Mika finished the regular season on a high note. If Zibanejad maintains that momentum, oy-vay for the opposition.
4. SPECIAL TEAMS: The Blueshirts bring some of best penalty-killing and power playing to the table. This will not be the time for it to fail.
Chris Drury's well-balanced team is well-set to sweep through the first round.
Anything less than a five-game victory will be a disappointment.