What to make of the Rangers' 3-1 victory over the Stars.
It seemed like "Old Times" in Dallas last night.
Elite goaltending, high-class penalty-killing, playing with an edge and timely goals made the Rangers look like a Presidents' Trophy-winner.
Again!
But the 3-0 victory has a 24-hour shelf life and will last until the opening face-off tomorrow at The Garden.
If the suddenly-revived Blueshirts can smite the Hurricanes – once a Ranger patsy – the disbelievers and assorted other NHL skeptics will begin taking the Rangers seriously again.
"A different New York team showed up in Dallas," says my hard-nosed scout Lloyd MacKay. "The Rangers were clearly the better team. The (Igor Shesterkin) goaltending was extraordinary and they were able to resume playing pro hockey."
This team-without-a-captain actually had a de facto leader. Vinnie Trocheck not only punched home a goal and got an assist, he virtually took over as team spokesman.
When captain-in-waiting Trocheck talks, even the coach listens.
"The boys were resilient," adds Pistol Pete Laviolette who got some of the best penalty-killing of the season.
The bitter-sweet addition of Matt Rempe to the lineup will be reviewed separately by The Maven. Suffice to say the Rangers win more games than they lose with The Skating Giraffe in the lineup.
But when all's said and done, the game was won by Igor Shesterkin whose 41 saves were the difference-maker.
Whether he can maintain a similarly high level tomorrow afternoon will be one of many reasons to check out the Blueshirts sustainability.
"One game doesn't make them champs," says The Old Scout. "The Canes are good – no doubt about it – but just like the Stars last night – they are beatable."
It didn't hurt that Reilly Smith scored again or that possible-trade-bait Chris Kreider was an empty net lamplighter.
"The point is," The Old Scout concludes, "New York was due for a win and got one. The new guys weren't out of place and that was another plus."
Like The Maven says, it seems like old times. Even for a day we'll take it!