Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesYour Beloved Blueshirts are on the outside looking in and it's not a pretty picture.
Technically, there are 27 games to make it to the Finish Line; not a whole heck of a lot.
Realistically, the Rangers have one game to prove they can make it and that's tonight (5:30 p.m.) in Buffalo.
"If they beat the Sabres," says The Old Scout, "they get a shot at the beatable Penguins tomorrow in Pittsburgh and then the Islanders at UBS Tuesday night."
Which essentially is why tonight is more of a MUST win than ever.
"But," adds The Old Scout, "if the Blueshirts are going anywhere they have to fix what dropped them down to the depths."
The Maven's FIX-IT list – with the potential Fixers – follows:
* IGOR SHESTERKIN: He should be ready and willing. It's the "able" part I'm concerned about. From the signing of his contract- to now, we never have been able to figure whether Shesterkin is gonna bring his A game, or not. Well, Comrade, the figuring has stopped. It has tobe – write this down Iggy – "All Or Nothing At All." And if you haven't figured that out, it's "All" as in A-Game!
* J.T. MILLER: The only Ranger who looked half-decent in the Four Nations Faceoff has become the club's king of the hill. JT's trick will be to spread his intensity around and – as I'd hoped when they got him – "become The New Messier." He's got the character and ability to do so but he doesn't have Mess' sidekicks. (Big problem.)
* ADAM FOX: His mediocre work in The Four Nations is symptomatic of a guy who's lost it. My see-all seer Jess Rubenstein suggests that Fox's 5 -11, 180 pounds frame has taken a pounding from the big guys. Assuming that Fox is the top defenseman, it means that the club is not strong defensively. Whatever the case, Fox has to find that old Adam Magic – tonight!
ALEXIS LAFRENIERE: He went into the break promising to emerge a hero in the derby ahead. But, so far, his "ahead" has not been screwed on straight. We should get a clue or two tonight.
ARTEMI PANARIN: It's tough to tell whether Breadman truly has reached the downside of his career. It would be helpful if he manufactured a mighty mass of goals as of yore as in "You're The Top." (Put it this way, I have more good vibes about Bready than anyone above, with the exception of J.T. Miller.)
MIKA ZIBANEJAD: I'm taking him at his word. Magic M says he's "energized" by this 4 Nations Face-Off experience. The promise is that his return tonight will be a continuation of a darn good tourney as well as an impressive (for him) run before the break.
VINCENT TROCHECK: In his own inimitable way, Trocheck will be as valuable to the anticipated – or should I say – hoped-for surge as any Ranger.
MATT REMPE: Don't laugh, The Skating Giraffe has enough stealth weapons to turn the Fourth Line into an admirable asset. With Slingin' Sam Carrick and Jimmy Vesey, good things can happen.
CHRIS KREIDER: If there's any spark left in his silo now's the time to convert it into goals because we know that Chris is Chairman of the Assist Of The Month Club.
THE REST: They know what to do, but can they do it? Tonight we'll know