The Rangers have the Panthers just where they want them. Deceived – with a capital D, as in Deceived. Cats coach Paul Maurice and his brood just don't get it; they've been faked out. Yeah, they won the opener in New York but that was the Blueshirts playing their game of "Non-Rempe Possum." And, of course, it worked. (Check the Game Two score if you don't believe me.) Stan Fischler On Rangers Cup Chances SHAZAM! Mauler Matt returns in Game 2 and you see what happened; The Garden lit up like it had installed a million Energizer batteries. The Lavioletters then did what comes naturally to them. They awakened and showed why they won The Presidents' Trophy. (In case you missed it, take note of the following factors.) * PUCK MOVEMENT: The lads moved the rubber more easily on their attacks. * ENERGY: No, it wasn't only The Remper; it was his buds who also were inspired – with a couple of exceptions, of course – to do bigger things. * PHYSICALITY: The Blueshirts were hitting and matched the Panthers' "controlled game." * REBOUND-ABILITY: After the Cats' energetic Ryan Lomberg whacked Mika Zibanejad so hard I thought he'd wind up in the Amtrak station next door, the Z Man recovered to play again. Had he not, it would have been the turning point of the game in the visitor's favor. The series resumes this afternoon in Sunrise, down among the sheltering palms, and home ice will not be an advantage for Paul Maurice, Ltd. A good reason for that is that: A. Home "advantage" no more than a hill of beans these days and, B. There are enough well-throated New York fans in the Sunrise crowd to even up the decibel counts. The Maven has a strong suspicion that while Igor Shesterkin is getting stronger; his opposite, Comrade Sergei Bobrovsky, is going in the opposite direction. My buddy, coach Maurice, says that "The margin of victory is so thin." That still makes me believe my premise; that the Rangers can get this suspense over in five games. Frankly, The Maven's song for this series is "Yearning." So, we'll sit back – if such a feat is possible – and see if the Rangers can make things happen again whether Kaapo Kakko does something or not. P.S. I figure not; how about you?
