Game On!

Although Gary Bettman still has not gotten around to award a pair of points for pre-season victories, exhibition games DO have their significance.

Ask Petr Nedved.

When the checkered Czech announced that he'd show up at the Blueshirts' training base as a walk-on, auditioning for a part, laughter could be heard from here to Hamma-Hamma. (By the way, that's in Washington State, if you really want to know; and I'm sure you do.)

Stop laughing.

Nedved showed up for the second out of two exhibs with Ottawa on Monday night and was the most dominating player in New York's 2-1 win over the Senators at The Garden. He scored a goal, hit the post on another thrust, skimmed nifty passes and looked as professional as one would hope.

Has he secured a position on the varsity? Of course not. One game against a skeleton visiting club does not put you on the big club. But, still, Petr was better than Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund and Brandon Dubinsky, each of whom is guaranteed a spot on opening night.

Matter of fact, the only Ranger who matched Nedved's talent level and intensity was another "maybe" performer; that being left wing Lauri Korpikoski, who also scored and was named star of the game. Nedved, by the by, got the second star.

After the game Al Trautwig put the "What does this mean?" question about Nedved's superlative effort to Tom Renney. Nobody's fool, the crafty coach simply replied, "We have to play more games. By the way, I hate to dodge the question."

Fair enough. But even one of Nedved's critics of yesteryear, Mark Messier, was an onlooker and went out of his way to praise Petr.

Of course, Renney's point is well-taken because the Blueshirts have exhibitions galore and, who knows, Nedved just may be so motivated — and still is very skilled — that he will force management not to laugh him off.

Which brings me to another Ranger who cannot be dismissed and that's robust Aaron Voros, whose enthusiasm is as contagious as the Gomez smile. Hitting anyone in sight, Voros also has emerged as a goal crease-crasher without any of the Sean Avery histrionics. He will be a fan favorite within weeks.

Ditto for left wing Markus Naslund, whose gears are neatly meshing with Gomez's. I'm also nuts about Brandon Dubinsky. I will go on record now that Dubinsky will finish the season among the top two Rangers scorers. (Remember, you heard it here first.) The kid, as he was Saturday night in Ottawa, simply has the look of a star.

For Henny Lundqvist, the Monday night affair was a yawner but he looked good when he had to and, as we all know, goaltending is the least of the Rangers issues.

A more meaningful one is the final decision on Brendan Shanahan. Out of sight/out of mind is becoming a theme of the Shanahan Saga. 

At the moment, Nedved is IN sight and on Monday night at least, it was a pleasant sight to behold.

MORE:

• A Second NHL Team for Toronto?
• The Future and Brendan Shanahan
• Lundqvist's Great Expectations