Rangers Should Stop Making Patsies Look Like Aces

1. Patsies such as Yesterday Monday’s visitors – the never-make-the-playoffs – Detroit Red Wings should be knocked off by the Rangers as easily as the Penguins (6-0) were last week in Pittsburgh.

2. But that theory went gonzo at the Garden on Saturday night as 18,006 former believers in Igor Shesterkin thought they were suffering from collective astigmatism.

3. Not only did Mister Moneybags allow six goals but he was beaten by a net-nobody named Conor Ingram who made 29 saves to a paltry 20 for the chutzpah king who is demanding to be the highest-paid goalie in history.

4. A few Ranger expatriates will be at The G for Monday. Netminder Cam Talbot is Detroit's starter while Patrick Kane and Val Tarasenko are up front.

5. Does anyone remember that the Kane-Tara – "wonderful" trade deadline moves – were supposed to bring Stanley back to Broadway? (They sure didn't!)

6. During training camp The Maven predicted that one Ranger who'd have a step-up season would be my favorite, Will Cuylle. I still feel that way.

7. Not So Wee Willie made me look good Saturday night with his late third period tying goal against the Utah Hockey Club which, by the way, desperately needs a nickname.

8. As you know, my old buddy Kevin Weekes is the early journalistic "Scoop" leader with his news-breaker about Igor's contract demands.

9. Wiseman Weekes can knock former Champ Friedman out of the box if Kevin can produce the details of the final Shesterkin deal once it's completed.

10. Another familiar face in the Utah entourage was ex-Ranger Dom Moore, now the Utes TV analyst.

11. Among Dom's more notable capers as a Blueshirt was scoring the goal that sent New York into the Cup Final against the Kings.

12. In the Sad News Department, I feel awful about the recent death of Don Marshall. As a Canadiens center, he was overshadowed by Hall of Famers Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard but Donny came into his own as a force with the Rangers.

13. Marshall was equally adept at offense and defense and – along with fellow Hab, Phil Goyette – gave the Blueshirts strength down the middle. Both arrived in the same deal that included legendary goalie Jacques Plante.

14. The deal that took place on June 4, 1963 included a total of seven players. The Rangers got Marshall, Goyette and Plante. GM Emile Francis sent goalie Gump Worsley, and forwards Dave Balon, Leon Rocheford and Len Ronson to the Habs.

15. It was a good deal both ways except for the eccentric Plante. Meanwhile, Worsley – he never got to meet Stanley in New York – won multi-Cups in Montreal. As for Marshall, he said, "I know I can play any position," and he was right

16. This is the "Best Coach Line Of The Week" that Lavvy should have used after the 6-5 humbling on Saturday night: "Our hands were our feet and that doesn't work very well."

17. Trouble is that the words were uttered by champ coach Paul Maurice after his Panthers lost last week. The Bard of Florida. Maurice has become the best quote machine of the 32 mentors. Laviolette is somewhere in the middle.

18. Let's not kid ourselves, Shesterkin's rep and Chris Drury should still be hammering out the new, very controversial deal as we speak. Sure, it may take a while but it will happen.

19. If, as advertised, Shesty's camp wants a two or three years – instead of a long one – it should tell you that Iggy wants to take the loot and run back to Russia by 2028.

20. I miss Mike Cosby's wonderful hockey haven on West 31st Street. Miss it, big-time. Going to any Rangers game on any night meant that you HAD to first stop in to see Mike and Rick and Jimmy before stepping into The Garden!