Game On!

Tom Renney tells me that he didn't expect his Rangers to be in such a lofty position – standings-wise – at this point of the NHL season.

On Saturday afternoon in Ottawa, we'll learn whether the brakes applied on the Blueshirts' locomotive on Wednesday night have slowed the club from fast to half-fast.

Granted that New York topped Ottawa in a Shootout last Monday at MSG, but that now seems like ancient history after the 6-3 drubbing applied by Vancouver on Wednesday at the Garden.

The possibility exists – still remote – that Scott Gomez will return to rev up a suddenly sputtering engine.

Let's be candid; who ever expected Henny Lundqvist to forfeit five goals well before the game was half over? Or that Lundqvist would yank himself, with the coach's assent, from the game with less than six minutes gone in the second frame?

Renney is quick to note that he had contemplated giving his number one goalie a respite even before the fifth goal.

"I waited for him (Henrik) to make eye contact," says Renney, noting that he had been thinking about it two goals previously. "This (the Ottawa match) is a good opportunity to see how mature our team is."

For one game at least the Locals were made to look about as slow as the Broadway IRT local, compared to the Canucks who had the feel of an Acela Express at its best.

Whether the result would have been different with Gomez in the lineup is borderline irrelevant since every team (see New Jersey) suffers injuries.

But this much was obvious: even down 5-1, the Blueshirts had ample opportunities to redeem themselves; especially since Steve Valiquette moved between the pipes and never allowed a goal, although Vancouver did get one more on an open-netter.

Actually, another Rangers comeback seemed possible after they tightened the game at 5-2 before the middle period ended and enjoyed a four-minute power play which extended into the third frame. Yet the visitors tightened their game just enough, although a Ryan Callahan goal at 7:45 of the third whetted the fans apetite for a couple more red lights.

Lundqvist's yanking inspires the question: how will it affect the high command's decision on Saturday's goaltending choice? Most likely the general staff will accommodate Lundqvist who has been their bedrock when others have crumbled.

"We'll see what we'll do," says Renney.

If nothing else, Wednesday's events give cause for reflection about Saturday afternoon's tilt.

After a two-day hiatus, the Rangers hope that it will be the pause that refreshes!

MORE:

• Ice Time: Luongo Tops Lundqvist
• Second-Straight Shootout Win
• Renney Wants Wider Rinks