Stan Fischler On Rangers Cup Chances The Hurricanes are getting the chills, and Chytil is giving it to them. Filip, that is; the Czech who has checked into Raleigh on the line that gives New York the edge tonight in this "Saga Of The Sweep." Fil's return in Game Three was a meaningful difference-maker. It gave coach Peter Laviolette the luxury of playing with four well-balanced forward lines. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2MzYwMDM1NDM2MDEzMjYy/usatsi_21777999-1.jpg] Or, to put it more bluntly, the arrival of Chytil -- his last previous game was November 2 -- enabled Lavvy to once-and-for-all end the "Rempe Follies." It took the head coach a bit of time to realize that four minutes of Rempe playing in one game is a joke and the joke was on the rest of his players. In this, his 2024 World Premiere, Chytil delivered 17 energized shifts worth 12:02 minutes. (When did Rempe ever play 12 minutes in an NHL game?) What's more, Fil delivered some genuine spirit sprinkled with his blend of immodest European humor. "This (Rangers) team was unbelievable without me," he chuckled. "But with me in there now, we can be even better." The "better" -- and beauty -- part is that Lavvy has fashioned a solid third and fourth line; the likes of which he could not produce with Rempe bench-sitting around. Chytil is complementing Kaapo Kakko and Alex Wennberg, while the fourth unit has Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow now augmented by ready and Will-ing Cuylle. "Chytil got better as the game went on," recalled Laviolette. "He was physical on the forecheck and banging bodies." The Blueshirts' 21st overall Draft pick in 2017, Filip allowed that his return flooded him with positive adrenalin. "I was so excited," Chytil admitted, "that when someone (on Carolina) gave me a stick in the face, I said, 'Gimme more!'" Only a victory tonight is needed to provide the Rangers with what would be their un-real eighth straight win. But it won't come easy at the louder-than-loud PNC Arena. By now -- The Maven is certain -- Lavvy and his general staff have hammered home a make-or-break point; "Show your killer instinct." Or "Prolonging the series is not in your best interest." If, for any reason, that much-needed intensity is lacking, I suspect that "Killer" Chytil will supply it! TOP STORIES
