NYR TBL Earlier, I insisted -- without a shadow of a doubt -- that the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers-chris-drury-james-dolan-stan-fischler] do NOT have to make a single deal now or right up to the last second of the trade deadline. Last night's 3-1 victory at The Garden of the previous three-straight-win Lightning proved my point. We know the Rangers can win when The Breadman and Mika Z -- among the other big shots -- make their deliveries. But we also can see that the Nobodies Who Are Somebodies are there to deliver. And they so, sister and brother, they do. Start with Jimmy Vesey, who Chris Drury rescued from the Used Useless Forward Lot. Vesey made it look easy wrapping up the victory package with the opening and closing (open netter) goal. Slim Jim stays in the shadows until he scores; which he does quite well, thank you. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0MjAzMDMzNjAzNjc5ODg0/usatsi_22468943.jpg] The other Nobody-Somebody, Jonny (On The Pony) Brodzinski, merely got the winner, while Winnipeg throwaway Blake (He Still Has Wheels) Wheeler did the digging for The Pony Boy's score. Like the legendary Rumplestiltskin, these "Nothing-Something" Rangers are weaving straw into winning gold. This is my "Don't Trade" point. All the goods are here with the best goodie of all, Jonathan (Really-Really) Quick, making like a reasonable facsimile of Georges Vezina. The Quick puck professor gave his third straight lesson in Goaltending 103, leaving the one-time Vezina Trophy-winner Igor Shesterkin back in netminding kindergarten with goalie-fixer Benny Allaire. By tomorrow, Benny should give the green light for Shesty to face the mighty Blackhawks at Chicago so that Iggie can -- as they say -- "regain his confidence." Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if the eminent general manager, Drury, ignores The Maven's advice and plunges into the trade market. But he's been warned. He's got the whole winning-The-Cup package right here and now. Crystal-clear chemistry should not be trifled with now or at the deadline. And if you don't believe me, go ask Rumplestiltskin! TOP STORIES
