Time for Rangers to deliver in postseason

Ever since Thursday, Oct. 13th, Rangers fans have been waiting for this week. That’s because the Stanley Cup playoffs begin on Wednesday and the faithful knew that their heroes would make it.

Ever since Thursday, Oct. 13th, Rangers fans have been waiting for this week.

That’s because the Stanley Cup playoffs begin on Wednesday and the Blueshirts Faithful knew all along that their heroes would make the postseason.

In case you’re new to big-league hockey, there are actually two distinct seasons:

1. The 82-game marathon that ends tonight.

2. The postseason which is the one that really counts.

Unfortunately, it cannot count for either the New York Islanders nor New Jersey Devils but that’s a matter not for now but for next season.

For now, the Rangers have to deduce ways and means to beat their first-round opponent, the Montreal Canadiens.

More than halfway through the season, that seemed like a question unworthy of Sherlock Holmes or Dick Tracy, for that matter.

In December the Rangers were playing like world-beaters and the Canadiens — alias The Habs — were so bad that coach Michel Therrien was fired and Claude Julien replaced him.

This actually was a hockey version of “Dumb and Dumber” because Julien only previously had been canned by the Boston Bruins for the sin of all coaching sins, not winning enough.

Meanwhile, the French-Canadian gentleman running the Rangers — Monsieur Alain Vigneault — is in no threat of losing his job because his Blueshirts are finishing well above the .500 mark. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Madison Square Garden — sold out for every game — has been a very inhospitable home for the Locals. In other words, good, old “Home Ice Advantage” ain’t what it used to be for Vigneault, Inc.

But that could change very quickly.

Then again, why worry? Plus the playoffs are a whole new season and the New Yorkers have a lineup that should beat the Habs.

Mind you, the operative word is “should” and there are plenty of smart people out there who figure it will be the Montrealers series because they play the 200foot game and the Rangers are more like 180-feet skaters.

Hey, I don’t but that but I thought you should know that this figures to be one heck of a close, thrilling series.

Here’s why: MSG Network Hockey Analyst

Goaltending

In other years this would be a No Worry issue for the Rangers. This, however, is a different year for Henrik Lundqvist. While his play for the most part has been superior there have been erratic periods along the way.

But let’s not forget that this season he became a member of the exclusive 400 wins club, and the only netminder in history to win 20 or more games in each of his first 12 seasons and 30 or more in 11 of his first 12, with only the lockout shortened 2012-13 season being the exception to the 30-win plateau.

On the other hand, his counterpart in Montreal, Carey Price, had his usual outstanding season. Among other things, the Price was right as he ranked in the top-five in wins, goals-against-average, and save percentage.

Rested and super-motivated, King Henrik’s health is less a concern than his defense, but I’ll get to that in a moment.

The Rangers advantage in the puck-stopping area is in the Backup Department. Antti Raanta is better than Al Montoya but neither team wants to have to go that route.

Defense

Based on all reasonable metrics, the Habs are a top-three team in terms of overall defense. The Blueshirts top banana is their captain Ryan McDonagh with ace rookie Brady Skjei right behind in the talent department.

Many serious Rangers-watchers wonder just how well the likes of Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Kevin Klein, Nick Holden, Brendan Smith and Adam Clendening will fare under playoff pressure. That’s a very reasonable source of migraines.

Warhorse Girardi causes the most concern although he has the experience and will to surprise. I figure he has one more good playoff season in his battered body.

However, stats don’t tell the whole story, and the Rangers’ blue line has something that the Habs do not, a playoff pedigree.

They have gone deep in Lord Stanley’s tournament five times in the last six years, with three Eastern Conference Finals appearances and one trip to the Stanley Cup Final. And lest we forget, the boys in blue beat the boys from up north in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013-14, with the same McDonagh-Staal-Girardi D core in place.

Offense

This could and should be the series-turner for New York. Coach Alain Vigneault can orchestrate four well-balanced lines giving the Seventh Avenue Skaters a clear edge over their northern neighbors. In this case numbers tell the tale: The Blueshirts are a topfour team in overall team offense, while the Habs are eleven notches below.

With all due respect to Montreal’s scoring ace Max Pacioretty, the Rangers have 11 men with 30-plus points while the Habs only have seven.

Special teams

Both teams have struggled on power plays and penalty kills. That said, New York gets the edge because the Blueshirts are tied for fourth in the league with nine shorthanded goals. The Habs only have four.

Intangibles

The Rangers have never played well at Montreal’s Bell Centre. Since the series opens there they had better get over that hump in a hurry. That goes for Lundqvist in particular. Even more baffling have been the Rangers problems winning at home. That makes two worries rolled into one.

Motivation normally would be equal but in Montreal both the media and fans remember that the last time these teams met in the playoffs there was an incident in Game One of the 2014 playoff between these clubs that still makes Canadiens peevish.

When the Human Torpedo, Chris Kreider collided with Price in the goalmouth, the Habs goalie was one and done for the series. Montreal was knocked out and Bell Centre supporters have never forgiven nor forgotten Kreider’s crash, deliberate or otherwise.

Balancing the scales there’s the leadership factor which is where the Blueshirts excel. With their core of Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Rick Nash, Mats Zuccarello, and Henrik Lundqvist, there’s a surplus of the brand of leaders nowhere to be found on the Habs.

Finally, there’s the coaching matchup of Alain Vigneault vs. Claude Julien. Each is a vet with a ton of playoff experience. Julien won a Cup in Boston while A.V. almost won one in Vancouver, beaten by Julien.

Conclusion

Wise friends tell me I’m wrong, but my gut tells me that the Rangers will win the opener in Montreal and take the series in six games. You have more than a week to correct and de-Maven me!

Author-columnistcommentator Stan “The Maven” Fischler resides in New York City and Boiceville. His column appears each week in the Sunday Freeman.

YMCA Kids Classic, April 22, 8 a.m., Dietz Stadium, Kingston. Annual kids day of races sponsored by the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County. Entry fee is $5 before March 31, $10 thereafter. Race-day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Races run through 12:15 p.m. by gender and grade level. For more information, contact Eleni Dedovich at (845) 338-3810, extension 107, or on the YMCA website at www.ymcaulster.org. Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation 5k, April 22, 10:30 a.m., Tymor Park, Lagrangeville. Annual 5k run/walk to support breast cancer research and education. Entry fee is $25, $35 on race day. Mile kids run (at 10 a.m.) is free for pre-registered runners 12 and under and $10 on race day. For more details, email to lorirun4@hotmail. com or www.milesofhope.org/ funrun. Kiwanis Kingston Classic 10k, April 23, 1 p.m., T.R. Gallo Park, Kingston. 35th annual 10k race sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Kingston. Accompanying 2.1-mile run also offered. Entry fees are $20 before April 1 and $25 thereafter for the 10k, $15 for 2.1 mile. The event also includes Team Challenge and Mayor’s Cup. For more information, visit the race’s website, www.kiwaniskingstonclassic.com. Ray’s Run, April 30, 12:30 p.m., Dietz Stadium, Kingston. 23rd annual 4-mile run to benefit the Ray Caddy Memorial Scholarship Fund at Kingston High. Entry fee is $20, $25 on race day, $8 for students. There is also an accompanying 2-mile walk and free fun run on the track for kids. For more information, contact Yvonne Sill at (845) 339-5474 or by email at Ysill1@aol.com. Platte Clove Mountain Run, May 10, 6:30 p.m., Manorville Road, Saugerties. First race in the Catskill Mountain Spring Series, a 3-mile run up Devil’s Kitchen to Elka Park. Course gains 1,300 feet in elevation. Entry fee is $2. Register starting at 6 p.m. at corner of Manorville Road and Platte Clove Road. For more details, contact Doug Freese at (845) 246-7954 or email to dfreese@hvc.rr.com. YWCA Mother’s Day 5k, May 13, 10 a.m., YWCA of Ulster County, Kingston. Annual pre-Mother’s Day race to benefit the YWCA of Ulster County. Entry fee is $15 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under until April 30. Race-day registration fee for adults increases to $20 and begins at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact Meghan Zweifel at (845) 338-6844, ext. 102 or by email at mzweifel@ ywcaulstercounty.org. Run the Pace Cross-Country Trail Run, May 14, 9 a.m., Locust Hill Farm, Hyde Park.

Olana Star Loop 10k, May 24, 6:30 p.m., Olana Historic Site, Greenport. Second race in the Catskill Mountain Spring Series, a 10k trail run at the former home of Hudson River artist Frederic Church. Entry fee is $2. Register starting at 6 p.m. by the lake. For more details, contact Doug Freese at (845) 2467954 or by email at dfreese@ hvc.rr.com. Woodstock Races 5k/15k, May 28, 8 a.m., Woodstock Music Lab, Woodstock. Annual Memorial Day weekend races sponsored by the Onteora Runners Club. Entry fee is $20, $25 on race day. Raceday registration begins at 7 a.m. 15k start is at 8 a.m., 5k starts at 8:45 a.m. For more information, contact Cyndy Borzumato-Cobb at (845) 249-0152 or e-mail: ccobb@ hvc.rr.com. High Rock Run Up Indian Chair, June 7, 6:30 p.m., White’s Road Extension, Palenville. Final race of the Catskill Mountain Spring Series, a 2.25-mile run up High Rock to Indian Chair. Entry fee is $2. Register starting at 6 p.m. For more details, contact Dick Vincent at (518) 6783293 or by email at eldicko@ aol.com. Bernie Stahl Onteora Mile, June 9, 6:30 p.m., Dietz Stadium, Kingston. Annual mile run on the Dietz Stadium track sponsored by the Onteora Runners Club. Entry fee is $10, $5 for runners under 18. Race-day registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Kids races for 12 and under begin at 6:15 p.m. and mile heats start immediately after. For more information, contact Steve Schallenkamp at (845) 3395474 or email to ssrun54@ aol.com. CHK 4k, June 28, 6:30 p.m., Children’s Home of Kingston, Kingston. Sixth annual 4k race in downtown Kingston to benefit the Children’s Home of Kingston. Entry fee is $20, $18 for under 18 and ORC members, and $25 for all on race day. Race-day registration begins at 5 p.m. There is an accompanying 2k walk (same pricing at 4k run) and a free 1k kids run (at 6 p.m.). For more information, call the Children’s Home of Kingston at (845) 331-1448. Application also available online at www.chkingston.org. RUNNERS CLUB INFO: Onteora Runners Club: Website: www.onteorarunners.org; Club President: Deb Domack, orcpres@gmail.com. Shawangunk Runners Club: Website: www.shawangunkrunners.com; Club President: Steve Schallenkamp, ssrun54@aol.com.