Why The Rangers Infantry And Cavalry Must Pull Them Through Tonight

They are Peter Laviolette's "Stealth Soldiers" and if the Blueshirts are going to make the playoffs they must deliver.

The playoff counterattack begins tonight at MSG with The Maven dividing the newly-named "Stealth" brigade in half.

The Cavalry – "The Three Rempeteers" – comprise of Slingin' Sam Carrick, Adam (How High The Moon) Edström and of course Matt (Call me Mister Clean) Rempe.

Lavvy's Infantry, led by Will Cuylle, are foot soldiers. Arthur Kaliyev is up front. Will Borgen and UIho Vaakanain bring up the rear.

They are "Stealths" because – unlike Adam Fox, Breadman Panarin and Vin (Should Be Captain) Trocheck – they mostly move under the radar.

(Note: Special exceptions are made for Rempe and Edström who are too tall to fall under any radar.)

"Without getting headlines," says The Old Scout, "this group keeps the club's head above water. When Breadman, Vinnie or Mika fail, these guys have plugged the gaps."

This will be imperative tonight against a previously strong Carolina club that is even more powerful with the additions of starry Mikko Rantanen and Taylor (Not Swift) Hall.

Perennially weak in goal, the Canes will lose if Emperor Igor Shesterkin is on his game – he was not on Sunday – and has some scoring help from his friends.

Which brings up a point made by reader Bernard Rohde: "Are The Garden clocks broken? If not, why are the Rangers always giving up the first goal?"

Good question. The Maven thinks they're drinking too much Diet Coke and decaf. My simple solution follows:

I'm going to buy a used sundial and have it placed on the dressing room carpet.

Hey, if it worked for composer Ludwig van Betthoven it should work for Breadman. (As for Mika? I dunno!)