Tomorrow the Rangers face the Hurricanes for Game 6 in what may be their biggest test of the season.
Thursday evening in Raleigh is the night when we learn how strong the Rangers are physically, artistically and mentally.
Or, to put it in simple Brooklynese: Do the Blueshirts have the goods -- and the gumption?
Lacking the "Killer Instinct" in Games Four and Five of the Canes Tournament, Peter Laviolette's skaters still stand at the precipice of a grand march into the third Stanley Cup playoff round.
Or, the real possibility of being handed their third straight loss and the fear of being – implausibly – kicked out of the playoffs in Game Seven at The Garden.
I have listened to and read enough cheery homilies about the last two losses that – if I hear another alibi -- I just might remove my hearing aid and go deaf after all.
There is a Rangers cure, of course, but it was ignored in the last two games.
It had better not be ignored tomorrow night.
No, it has nothing to do with line changes – unless we're talking Rempe Line; but
The Maven will get to that later.
It starts with the term resiliency which we've heard over and over and over again about Laviolette's club. Yeah, they got it'; yeah, they got it. Well, they HAD it.
The term was justified in the past and accounts for the New Yorkers winning the
Presidents' Trophy. But that was then and this is now.
So, if resiliency is, in fact, the Rangers trade mark it had better show up in Raleigh.
For that to happen certain slackers have to make their presence felt forcefully and -- most importantly – with results.
And it starts with, you guessed it, Artemi Panarin.
Up until two games ago, he looked like The Breadman who was making up for his
AWOL performances last spring against the Devils. But this series didn't end with Game Three. Except that Bread's contribution seemed like it.
There can be no excuses. Put up the goals, Artemi and shut up the Canes!
Then we get to the troubling question of what's happened to Power Play Quarterback King, Adam Fox.
Those onlookers who've been focusing on Foxy see a player moving around the pond like there's a lead weight in his hockey pants.
Playing through pain is the hallmark of hockey players but Adam is a special case and if this extra day of rest doesn't speed him up then adversity will have to be spelled with a capital A.
We all know that Igor Shesterkin steals games. Or, that is, used to steal games. What better time than Game Six. Unless, unless – and I've said this before – he just may be suffering from overuse.
Which is why Jonathan Quick might be the better choice since the Blueshirts are up by one game and Quickie is dependable. Sure, it's a gamble but I'm not sure that Laviolette is up for that at this point in time.
One could surmise as well that – after three losses – Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour had the Rangers all doped out. Since then, he's moved ahead in the brain game. Which accounts for the Canes last two victories.
What Lavvy had the power to do in Game Five is get an all-time, 100 percent energetic performance in what could have been the clincher.
Instead, they took a 1-0 lead into their period and spent the rest of the losing night as if the one goal advantage was as untouchable as The Hope Diamond.
The Canes knew better.
Tomorrow night the Rangers had better play like a Presidents' Trophy-winner, physically, artistically and mentally.
Or else – seeya at The Garden for Game Seven.