Rangers Win -- The Maven Thinks
Odds and ends about the opener
Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 3:57 PMWhat's to like about an opener game victory in Praha (that's Prague in Czech), which I originally visited in 1961 and actually saw a hockey game between a pair of Czech teams:
- SURVIVAL:
The Blueshirts have endured one of the most intense preseason schedules EVER inflicted on a hockey club, be it NHL or the Long Island City YMCA Roller Hockey League, of which I was a member (1947-49) with the Woodside Whippets. More importantly, they emerged from the grind – don't forget the two wins in Bern – with a smartly-crafted victory over Tampa Bay. Had they lost, there would have been an outcry from critics that boot camp, from Florida to Newark to Europe, was just too TOO much. Tom's Renneygades survived very well, thank you.
- THE LEAD LINE:
Scott Gomez centering Markus Naslund and Chris Drury is a unit that's here to stay. The dipsy-doodle dandies blend a variety of skills with Gomer gliding in mid-season form. They will only hone their game to sharpness as the weeks go by; figure the best is yet to come.
- OFFENSE:
Granted that New York did not get scoreboard value for their sizeable territorial edge. The Lightning obtained top-notch goaltending. If the Rangers maintain that level of attacking intensity, the goals will come.
- FLYING FINN:
After a superior training camp, Lauri Korpikoski is now in gear to show that he'll be – in The Maven's estimation – a rookie-of-the-year candidate; a latter-day Brandon Dubinsky. Speaking of whom, BD took another step forward toward stardom with the winner. Believe me, he's a better player with Jaromir Jagr not casting a shadow over his game.
- CURBING ENTHUSIASM:
One win does not make a season, but it does put the Rangers in first place and Tampa Bay in last. However, it behooves us not to get carried away. Game Two on Sunday will be most instructive.
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