Here are some things to watch out for ahead of the Rangers and Panthers first Eastern Conference Final matchup.
STANLEY CUP – OR BUST!
That's what this series is all about for the Rangers; and I don't mean maybe either. Anything less is for Calamity Jane and other historic losers.
"It's the Rangers Cup to lose," says my buddy Glenn "Chico" Resch and, as always, he's right.
Which means that – starting tonight at The Garden – there are important things to (A) Expect; and (B) To carefully watch for in terms of where this series is heading.
* Expect Matthew Tkachuk to take a near-penalty run at Artemi Panarin, signaling the start of hostilities.
* Watch for Breadman's I.Q. (Intensity Quotient) and make sure it doesn't dip to that abhorrent level we loathed in Games 4 and 5 vs. Carolina.
* Expect Fiery Fil Chytil to be the most souped-up Ranger because he's so delighted to be back in the fray.
* Watch for Chytil to make any disturbing moves that suggest the same problems that caused his "sickness" the last time out.
* Expect the Panthers penalty-killers to be meaningfully more aggressive than the Canes PK crew.
* Watch for Hat Trick Man Chris Kreider on the Rangers power play and study how he manages to squirm free to release his radar shot.
* Expect the Cats' Ryan Lomberg to be in the penalty box by the middle period; and not likely all by himself.
* Watch Erik Gustafsson on every defensive shift alongside Braden Schneider. If Gus has a good game, the Cats will be in deep doo-doo.
* Expect the Rangers Fourth Line – Cuylle, Goodrow, Vesey – to play so aggressively well that nobody will mention the name Matt Rempe.
* Watch Rempe in the press box. He'll be rooting hard for Fil Chytil because – when all is said and done – The Skating Giraffe is a team player.
* Expect the Panthers – any Panther – to take runs at Adam Fox whenever possible – for obvious reasons.