If the Rangers expect to make the playoffs on the basis of the quartet who faced Team Canada last night in Boston, FORGET ABOUT IT!
The combined efforts of Adam Fox, Chris Kreider, Vin Trocheck and J.T. Miller amounted to less than minus-the-radical-50.
In one word, the foursome = ersatz.
Frankly I got a kick out of blogger NYR Louis because of his bullseye sentence: "The Rangers single-handedly cost us this game."
I must admit, The Maven was really pumped yesterday when I saw Adam Fox's pregame interview; the one where he said he's never been "so jacked up for a game."
At last – I hopefully figured – we'd see the Foxy, who once won a Norris Trophy, play like a winner for a change.
Nothing of the sort. Neither Trocheck nor Kreider were any bargains and the best grade for Miller would be a "C" for passable and nothing more.
"Fox was lost for the entire tourney," says my all-knowing scout," Jess Rubenstein "and Trocheck was limited to fourth line duty. Miller was decent but not a star,"
Hey, Canada won it fair and square on a faceoff, a pass and Connor McDavid, as free in his shooting area as a bird in flight.
Fox, Trocheck, Miller and Kreider are part of the core that's supposed to lead this Ranger team to a playoff berth.
If this is the Fox telling us pre-game that he's more pumped than ever in his hockey life and gives us a "Melancholy Baby" performance, I'd rather have had Ryan Lindgren in there. Or even Zac Jones.
But what's done is done. The Blueshirts go back in business tomorrow in Buffalo. They have three beatable foes coming up, just like that. It could mean six quick points – or gonzo.
Let's hope that Swiper The Fox comes up with something a lot better than his Beantown bust.
And that goes for you too Kreider, Trocheck and, yeah, J.T., 'cause you're not off the hook for the Canada loss either!