Here are some some things to take note of ahead of the Rangers' Game 5 matchup against the Hurricanes.
1. As all-purpose, gritty rookies go, I'll take Will Cuylle over just about any freshman
utility forward in the league.
2. Between The Breadman, Magical Mika, Backcheck-Forecheck Trocheck and King Kreider, I expect no less than two goals total tonight from the group.
3. Just Wondering Department: I miss Blake Wheeler and hope he gets back into
Rangers blue, sooner rather than later.
4. I don't know how you all feel about Rod Brind'Amour but -- at this point in the playoffs -- I regard him as the Hurricanes best weapon.
5. Adam Fox is crafty, clever, cunning and the best all-round talent on the New Yorkers -- give or take Igor Shesterkin -- but I'd like to see more of the crafty, clever and cunning Foxy tonight, as opposed to Saturday in The Southland.
6. Both The Garden and PNC Arena in Raleigh have almost identical 18,000-plus capacities. Because of their dramatically different architecture, the crowd decibel counts are different, but similar in intensity.
7. For a guy who started the season as fifth right wing, ex-Devil Stefan Noesen has become a key Canes forward who can hurt you when least expected.
8. Judging by the Rangers surplus of talent, I can't see why the club doesn't have
more success 5-on-5. Maybe Lord Laviolette will have that figured out tonight.
9. And speaking of Lavvy, I like to go back to the October rumor that Chris Drury
originally wanted Mike Sullivan to coach the Rangers; ahead of Pistol Pete.
10. Bottom Line: The Rangers got the right guy. The other guy didn't even make the postseason!