1. If you are an Official Ranger Scoreboard-watcher, your prime focus should be the Canadiens who are young, fast and well-coached by Marty St. Louis.
2. The Habs have beaten tough teams such as Florida last night and now face less tough foes.
3. The amazingly resilient Blue Jackets have defied the odds to keep pace but face more of the better teams enroute to The Finish Line.
4. Chris Kreider will be an interesting "watch" from tonight through the final game. He can exit as a Rangers hero or – don't be surprised – as dead wood.
5. Remember when Chris Drury read us his GM's Gospel that young prospects such as Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard should first cut their puck teeth in Hartford before hitting the NHL.
6. The above – re Othmann and Berard – made sense. So, how come Gabe Perreault gets a free pass to the NHL, skipping a stint with the Wolf Pack? (Answer below)
7. Perreault Answers: A. Gabe has more talent than Brett and Brennan put together: B. The Rangers are hard-up for a winning streak and Perreault is the best, new catalyst available.
8. As for John Tortorella as the next Rangers coach? Answer: Nix. When Torts took the Philly gig he whispered that it would be his last.
9. Then again – since coaching is in his blood and if he changes his mind – Torts' best bet for next season would be Buffalo where there's plenty of talent on the Sabres' roster.
10. Book Department: Recommended for ALL hockey fans. Must Read. Nobody writes hockey history better than Kevin Shea. Period! But the man outdid himself with his latest work. It's called
"Jack And The Box – My Search For Stanley Cup Champion Jack McLean." Don't just take The Maven's word for it. "Jack And The Box" just won The Paul Kitchen Award for best hockey research project. And if that ain't enough, take The Maven's word – I loved it!