Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG The New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/game-day/rangers-get-revenge-on-columbus-blue-jackets-with-4-1-win-at-the-garden] march through March begins Saturday night in Toronto where they'll play a top-heavy offensive team with an eh defense and a corps of Number Two goalies. No question, but the Blueshirts fabulous February ended on a high note with a 4-1 -- really 2-1 with a pair of open-netters -- win last night at MSG over Columbus, the worst team in the East. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0NjkyNDg3NTM5Nzk1NTM2/usatsi_22648009.jpg] But a win is a WIN, especially since Peter Laviolette's lads have reached the 40-victory mark faster than any team in the league. They're flying high and I've got a feelin' they're not falling. Or, as they say on King Street in Toronto, "Not too bad, EH!" "Our plan," Lavvy explained, "was to have a better month in February and we did. Now we take on March." All signs are ga-ga and hip-hip-hooray. Igor Shesterkin is playing so confidently that even when he makes a mistake -- as he did on the lone Blue Jackets goal -- he can laugh it off; as he did. "I was very good in the net," joked Comrade Iggy, "but very bad behind the net." No big deal; he only made it interesting in the third period when Shesty proved his worth. Empty netters by Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin made a close game look like a blowout; which it was not. The Breadman delivered an earlier red light and a power play goal by the ever-improving Adam Fox rounded out the scoring. Indubitably mulling the possibility of baking a few Bialis, Panarin reminded all the esteemed media historians that this was not only a two-point victory but a moral one as well. "After they beat us in Columbus," Panarin noted, "we had a debt to pay back and we did." Yay Artemi for your high I.Q., as in Intensity Quotient. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0Njc4NjY0NDU1OTg4ODE2/usatsi_22647297.jpg] Kudos also to the fourth line with Barclay Goodrow Adam Edstrom plus the superduper Man-Mountain, Matt Rempe. (More on Peace In Our Time Rempe in another story). The Fourth Liners tenacious forecheck spread over two periods should underline The Maven's advice to GM Chris Drury -- do not disrupt team chemistry -- DON'T MAKE A TRADE! Not to be overlooked was Old Reliable Kreider's delicious pass to Fox, who tallied the game-winner on the power play. The game was pockmarked with a few skirmishes -- alias fights -- not worth mentioning since the pre-game temperature pointed to a Black-eyed Rempe main event with Mathieu Olivier, the man responsible for Rempe's shiner. (More on the-fight-that-became-a-non-fight in the next story.) With their one-game winning streak, the Blueshirts now can take aim at another ten-straight run proving that one can make hay in March. "We don't get any trophies now," concluded captain Jacob (Jake The Rake) Trouba. "It feels good." Then a pause: "But who really cares?"
