Time But Not Hope Is Running Out On The Rangers

Was the Rangers victory over Vancouver a tease or breeze? Well, if they can finally win three in a row they'll be breezin' along with the breeze. 

We'll have a partial answer to that tomorrow night in Los Angeles when the Blueshirts hope to extend their one-game winning streak to a gasp-inducing two in a row.

Coming off one of his best games of the season, Igor Shesterkin will resume his position between the pipes and two-goal Jonny Brodzinski will attempt to prove his unexpected effort was no "Fluke-ski."

Hey, this all is about the frantic Wild Card Race which has become as unpredictable as the last rose of summer.

Simple logic tells you that if the Rangers want to attain their first three-game winning streak since last year they have to first beat the very competent Kings.

"A win in Los Angeles would set the Rangers up for two relatively easy games in Anaheim and San Jose," says The Old Scout. "But they can't keep expecting Shesty and Brod to bail them out."

Which is another way of saying that the constantly disappointing core – Panarin, Trocheck, Zibanejad, Kreider, to name a few – had better get their respective acts together.

"Brennan Othmann could also be a positive factor," added The Old Scout, "but he needs more ice time than he's been getting."

Brodzinski's lamplighting should convince the coaching staff that it's about time to give the hustling fourth-liners such as Matt Rempe more ice time.

What's patently clear is that the Wild Card Race is as unpredictable as the roulette table at The Sands in Vegas.

And as long as it remains unpredictable, the Rangers have a chance.

That is, as long as they turn the Kings game into a breeze and not a tease!