Stan Fischler On Rangers Cup Chances Only fifteen wins to go. Already, The Stanley Cup is in view; at least on The Maven's telescope. A resounding 4-1 win at the World's Most Famous Arena will do that. And, by tomorrow night, the magic number will be down to fourteen; wins that is. Chris Kreider (20) is greeted by New York Rangers center Jack Roslovic (96) after scoring a goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals in game one of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1OTE2ODQzNjY2MzE4NjE0/usatsi_23083413.jpg] Chris Kreider (20) is greeted by New York Rangers center Jack Roslovic (96) after scoring a goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals in game one of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. The Washington Capitals came to Seventh Avenue as conspicuous underdogs and soon will return to the Nation's Capital even more so after Game Two of the first round. As I pointed out yesterday, there's nothing -- not even Alex Ovechkin -- in the Caps collection that can compare with Peter Laviolette's "Murderer's Row." Pathetically, it's not even close. In Game One at The Garden yesterday, the Rangers Fourth Line was better than Washington's first line. Barclay Goodrow, a Cup-Winner with Tampa Bay, bolstered the Fourth Line -- fans, it needs a name, pronto! -- with two delicious points while Jimmy Vesey fits snugly into the unit. As for Matt Rempe, you must know by now that he's so very BIG in this hockey town that The Maven shall devote a separate story that he so richly deserves. Give the Visitors credit for keeping it a zip-zip game for a period after which Man Mountain Matt dropped his grenade. Just two minutes and six seconds later, it was 3-0 New York and the trembling Garden was fortunate that it still was tied to its moorings. Washington's occasional threats were methodically defused, thus setting the stage for a relatively easy victory at home before the series either concludes in D.C. or reaches a fifth conclusive end back at Seventh Avenue. The Caps goal by rookie Martin Fehevary hardly gave Igor Shesterkin two sweats while Iggy's opposite, Charlie Lindgren, knew it was game-over -- dare I say"series?" -- when Chris Kreider brought down the curtain on his breakaway. If the D.C. skaters didn't learn it when I wrote it in this space yesterday, they are up against the Murderer's Row (MR) of hockey. Number One Gunner, Breadman Panarin fired seven shots at Lindgren including the game-winner. Meanwhile, let's not forget another MR man, Vincent Trocheck. His nifty pass to Artemi was textbook sweet. Okay, okay, it's only one game so The Maven will avoid doing cartwheels of any consequence other than to say this. Based on the Murderers Row vs. the capitulating Caps, I'd start drawing up the terms of surrender!
