Game On!

As the old punch-line goes, "TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!"

And so it should be for the Rangers at The Garden this evening when the shaky Penguins come to town. 

With apologies to the punch line ("Tonight's The Night"), perhaps the theme should be simply to pick apart the Pens whose confidence appears to be leaking out of every pore.

Granted, the Rangers have not been playing in the manner of Boston nor San Jose, but on Saturday night, they gave the capricious Capitals a good run for their Ovechkin before losing by a mere goal. Considering that Washington virtually never loses at home, the Blueshirts played them hard and well.

Tonight, however, we will learn plenty about Tom's Renney-gades. What will we learn?

1) FINDING THE JUGULAR:

The Penguins are in disarray, if such a term could be used when referring to Sid Crosby-Evgeni Malkin & Co. But it is a fact of life that Michel Therrien's sextet – if you believe the rumors – does not skate at a happy campsite. When a club like Pitt loses big at home to Florida, as it did on Saturday, the password is panic. However, the Rangers must show that they are capable of going for the Pens' jugular and do it quickly, as in the first period.

2) SPECIAL TEAMS:

At the expense of being redundant, The Maven must proclaim that the time is NOW for solving the power play-shorthanded problem before it gets even more out of hand than it is now. And, brother, if you watched Al Ovechkin power that shorthander – the winner – past Steve Valiquette in D.C., you know that something must be done to fix the failures.

3) MORE PRUCHA:

Since his return, Petr Prucha has demonstrated that he's THE most energetic Ranger and also is potting goals when others are not. (See the Washington game.) Prucha must get even more ice time and HAS earned the right to work the power play.

Along with Prucha, Lauri Korpikoski, Nigel Dawes and Ryan Callahan have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Kiddle Korps can produce, energize and set an example for some of the veterans. 

"Lauri," says Renney, "has done good things for us – forechecking, skating hard, going to the net. All in all, he's been effective."

To me, Korpikoski is another Prucha; a solid citizen, with talent, who needs more ice time to show his worth.

Which brings me to Aaron Voros, who has been splintered and scratched lately for reasons of non-production. 

By now the big guy must have gotten the message; he's got to use his size more effectively – as he did in the season's first weeks – hit like a Colton Orr, screen the enemy goalie, PROVE that he belongs back in the lineup.

More than anything, however, New York's marquee names must outplay Crosby & Co. They must show that they can, in fact, find the Penguins' jugular and resume the Rangers quest for the top. If not, they soon will have to be looking over their shoulders at the teams creeping up behind them.

This much is certain on January 5, 2009, a playoff berth has not been clinched! But steps must be taken in that direction.

Hence, the punch line: TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!

MORE:

• New Year, Old Problem
• Reactions to Saturday's Loss
• What Will the New Year Bring?