Let's not get too crazy about the Rangers beating the Champ Cats last night in Beautiful Downtown Sunrise.
It was the "World's Only Exhibition Game Where You Get Two Points."No more, no less. But here's the big, good news; and, warning, don't jump too high with joy:
1. WINNING THE ISLES DERBY: The win enabled your favorite team to leap over the Islanders in the standings. (But that turtle race ain't over yet.)
2. REMPE BECOMES THE ROYAL RANGER: Marvelous Matt played a personal record 12:26, scored a beauty and was the best Visitor on the ice.
3. THE STREAK IS ON: On Thursday – at the MSG curtain-dropper – Peter Lavioltte's skaters will get their last chance to make it two straight W's.
4. JON QUICK FASTER THAN IGGY: Let's face it, Backup Jonathan has been the Rangers best goalie this season; and for a few pennies less than his pal.
Who cares that Florida coach Paul Maurice benched his best players as his Bluebloods prepare for the real season. The Rangers won one more for exiting Sam Rosen.
Now the Rangers are preparing for their Garden finale against the Tampa Bay Lightning, another Cup contender likely to rest its best for the postseason.
It will be a game worth watching, especially on tv because this will mark Rosen's final telecast and not the one that everyone wanted to be his sayonara; the playoffs were supposed to be where Sam echoed his trademark, "IT'S A POWER PLAY GOAL!" on MSG Networks.
Meanwhile, Rosen's MSG Networks colleagues – analysts Brian Boyle and Henrik Lundqvist – chimed in last night with their thoughts on what Boyle unhesitatingly called "The most disappointing season" in his memory.
Looking backward, King Henrik pointed to the 2024 Conference Final when the Rangers came oh-so-close to reaching the Final Round.
"They never got the momentum (from last spring) that they wanted," said Lundqvist, "and they wound up in the wrong position too many times.
Boyle: "They had no push back and could never stop the bleeding."
As for the goalie who will have the world's biggest netminder contract next season, Lundqvist bluntly said, "Igor wasn't consistent this season."
Easily the sharpest bayonet was tossed by Boyle who snapped, "There was no emotion."
Then, a pause and the killer squelch: "It was a bad product!" And we all know who was responsible for that product. But does owner Jim Dolan?