There is a lot to be said for our team’s effort in this series. Entering it, they knew Ottawa presented a challenge. In terms of speed and skill, they’re superior. Sadly, what’s transpired is that they’re outworking us. Yes, the Senators are beating the Rangers at their own game by getting better netminding and playing well defensively.

At this time of year, there are no shortcuts. So, when an injured star on our side is throwing the weight around more than a few bumps on the log who can’t be bothered to show up, it’s no wonder this team is facing elimination tonight. Rather than bore you with the ridiculousness of Joe Micheletti who probably still thinks the 41 shots our team sent at Craig Anderson were hard, I’ll cut right to the point.

It’s still up to the Blueshirts, whose identity all year is do whatever it takes to win. If they can do that starting in three hours, there’ll be a Game Seven Thursday. That means everybody does their job and chips in. Everyone is hard on the puck and crashes the net getting to rebounds. Every Ranger sacrifices by taking the body and becoming human shields in front of any shots. Every Blueshirt gets black and blue.

That’s how they became the conference’s best team in the regular season. There are quite a few players on our roster that have been through recent disappointments. So, there are zero excuses. It’s time for them to show that this team has a pulse. A first round loss is UNACCEPTABLE. It would make everything they did a complete waste. From a coach unwilling to make the necessary adjustments that could help change the outcome while grasping at straws to a team that’s been a shell of itself the first five games. Time to suck it up and give our fans something instead of teasing us to death.

The leaders on the club have to lead. I’m not going to rattle off the names. We all know who they are. The supporting cast that includes a few core guys the organization’s stuck with better make themselves known later. How about this for a concept. Responding to our best player’s injury on what still was a cheap shot from the blindside even if the powers that be ignored it. The best way to respond is by kicking the tail out of the bad guys starting tonight. Enough pussyfooting around. Go out there and meet the challenge. Hit them where it hurts most. On the scoreboard.

I could care less who scores the goals, who delivers the hits, etc. Every Ranger who puts on the red, white and blue knows what’s at stake. As Yoda once said, there is no try. Do or do not. It’s up to them.