Stan Fischler On Rangers Cup Chances After the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/] defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in Game 2 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, The Maven Stan Fischler shares his 12 thoughts: Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2Mjg4Nzc1NDg2MTIxMTM2/usatsi_23215276.jpg] 1. Numbers can tell you why the Rangers are only two wins away from a sweep. The power play is operating at an astonishing 40 percent success rate. 2. Or, to put it in a more Southern way, Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour and his associate geniuses haven't a clue how to stop New York when the Blueshirts run the PP. 3. Another reason for New York's two-game-to-none advantage is that the Rangers' depth is deeper than the other guys'. 4. You can tell from the MSG decibel count that Igor Shesterkin has reached the Henrik Lundqvist brand of fan love level. 5. I got a kick out of Iggy's reaction to the continuous "I-GOR" chants that reverberated off the Garden's walls. "I'm almost crying!" cried the goalkeeper. 6. Hey, when you think about it, I'd cry if I made 15 key overtime saves to win a game. Like with crocodile tears. 7. Big Al Lafreniere is succeeding mightily because his confidence level is soaring. That's because Peter Laviolette has Laffy skating with Vin Trocheck and Breadman. 8. If I haven't mentioned it before, Trocheck's success does not surprise my Floridian buddy, Al Greenberg. "Wherever Vin has been," says Greener, "he's been the engine." 9. The Matt Rempe Marching and Chowder Society won't want to hear this but Le Grande Remper was just short of invisible in Game Two. 10. Lavvy allowed The Skating Steeple a whopping 4:03 of ice time, which translated into five shifts and one hit. (More of this, and Rempe will be driving the Zamboni. 11. By contrast, Matt's linemates did a lot better: Jimmy Vesey (15:32) and Barclay Goodrow (17:02). 12. Crazy Stat Department: Chris Kreider saved the Blueshirts with his third-period tying goal but wound up with a team-leading minus-3 for the night. Baker's Dozen: No matter how little Rempe plays, the Rangers always win, even if he gets ten seconds of ice time!
