The Hurricane Warning States That Carolina CAN Compete With The Rangers

In one night the Rangers will face their hardest victory challenge of the season.

And mark The Maven's words, if the Blueshirts blow it, they could -- and I say this alcohol-free -- blow the whole series.

Sure, losing one game, by one goal, by one questionable late game penalty does not mean we have to suffer a severe case of mogo-on-the-go-go-go.

But there should be concern in Rangerville before tomorrow night's Game Five at The World's Most Famous Arena.

Look, nobody expected the Blueshirts to win four straight from a team that finished just three points behind New York over an 82-game schedule.

But there also was the matter of Ranger's "Killer Instinct" and it was not there in Raleigh when it really mattered. Finally, the Canes' late power play -- previously inept -- converted late in the third.

"The game was pretty even until the power play," said coach Peter Laviolette, who then added, "with three or four minutes left in the game."

Some would say that the loud crowd at PNC Arena may have inspired the whistle; or that a rinky-dink call should not happen at that critical point in an otherwise even game.

What really mattered -- and matters going forward to Monday night -- is that Igor Shesterkin was not his usual flawless self and therein was one of many reasons that the Blueshirts failed. (Four goals against is not like the Iggy we know and love.)

It was New York's third and fourth-liners -- Will Cuylle and Barclay Goodrow -- who scored the first two goals. Then, the ever-hot Big Al Lafreniere tied the count in the third by adroitly caroming the puck off goalie Fred Andersen's back and into the net.

What specifically decided the game was the ineffectiveness of the Rangers "Murderer's Row" -- Breadman Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.

Panarin not only was conspicuous by his ghost-like performance but he finished the game at an abysmal minus-three. (Come out, come out, wherever you are, Bready.)

"When the Rangers went six-on-five after pulling Shesterkin," noted one scout,

"Panarin could have tied the game but his shots were bad ones."

Conclusion: Panarin had better bring his A-Game to The Garden tomorrow.

Then, there was another major minus. Filip Chytil, who looked so promising in his comeback during the Game Three win, was medically scratched from the lineup.

The official word from Lavvy was that Fil "woke up in the (Saturday) morning and didn't feel well."

Conclusion: Don't expect Chytil back in the lineup. That means Jonny Brodzinski -- he had a Grade C game -- works on the fourth line with Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey Meanwhile Will Cuylle will remain on the third line.

Let's not panic over a Shesterkin "ordinary" game.

Conclusion: The hope is that he rebounds with an A-Plus effort in Game Five and does not wind up with something akin to his mid-season slump. (Then it's OY-VAY!)

And when you realize that Carolina's new PP Plan -- Skjei was moved to the left side as quarterback -- worked so well. it means that Lavvy and staff have a lot to be concerned about.

Then again, which Rangers fan wouldn't be happy to be returning to MSG with a three-one series lead?

What it comes down to is this: You have to look in the mirror and decide what kind of Rangers fan you are.

Or, to put it another way:

* The optimist Rangers fan says, "The glass is half-full."

* The pessimist says, "The glass is half-empty."

* The rationalist says, "The glass is twice as big as it needs to be."

* Jacob Trouba says, "We had a couple of breakdowns, and they capitalized on their power-play goal. That's hockey. So, now we move on to Game Five."

The Captain makes sense but -- I have to admit -- I'm worried about Game Five!