The Maven explains why it would be wise for Rangers fans to root for the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.
Now that The Rise And Fall Of The Rangers Empire is almost-ancient history it's time for Blueshirts Nation to focus on what really matters these remaining hockey nights; the Cup Finals.
And since the tension and MSG cheering has evaporated like Matt Rempe's ice time, The Maven has advice for those remaining citizens of Rangerville: ROOT FOR THE PANTHERS!
Florida's 3-0 spanking of Edmonton last night under the Sheltering Palms of Sunrise should provide a good start, cheering for the Good Guys is good for your health.
Here's why:
ROOT FOR AMERICA'S TEAM: In Edmonton where they think they know more hockey than you do, they can't believe there's a team in Beautiful Downtown Sunrise, Florida. (By the way, where's Sundown, Florida?) A Cup victory for the Sunrise-ers will prove that Floridians are good at sports other than Beach Volleyball.
DOWN WITH MCDAVID WORSHIP: Yeah, we've been told, 1,450,261 times that Connor McDavid is the greatest hockey player since Cyclone Taylor. Well, if McDavid is so good, how come he got a goose egg last night? And how about this; the Panthers version of Vincent Trocheck – Carter Verhaeghe, a refugee from Toronto of all places – got the game-winning goal. My boy Evan Rodrigues – another T.O. emigrant – lit the red light as well. (McDavid didn't even light up a coconut.)
WHO'S THAT GUY DOING THE SHESTERKIN IMITATION?: We Ranger analysts did a lot of YAY-ing over Prince Igor's super goaltending in the last round. And it was well-deserved, I might add. Meanwhile, the guy at the other end had something to do with Florida giving the Blueshirsts a large dose of the Blues. Sergei Bobrovsky was more than a reasonable facsimile of Iggy. And, last night Bobby looked like The Second coming of Shesterkin and Georges Vezina put together.
ROOT FOR THE UNDERDOG: A hockey team that lives in the shadow of Miami Beach cannot be a favorite, ever. Can it? The Maven believes that any club loaded with McDavid, Leon (Himself) Draisaitl, The One And Only Zach Hyman and Evander (Sugar) Kane has to be considered the top banana in any Final series.That's why Maven likes the Bottom Banana in this terrific tournament.
ROOT FOR THE LOVEABLE COACH: You have to enjoy a coach like Paul Maurice who has brought good, old stand-up comedy to the Cup Final. Papa Paul's dress rehearsal against the Rangers was so good that even John Tortorella almost smiled.
ROOT FOR THE BEST NAMES IN THE FINAL: Here are The Maven's faves: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Kyle Okposo, Evan Rodrigues, Carter Verhaeghe and the one – the only – EETU LUOSTARINEN.
ROOT FOR ANY TEAM THAT HAS TWO SAMS ON THE SAME LINE (SAM-TIMES): Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart.
P.S. The Rangers have to be cheering for Florida for the best reason of all; if the Cats win The Cup, the Blueshirts can brag that they lost to the best team in captivity. (Which ain't the worst thing in the world when you think about it.)