D-Stepan Up: An excited Derek Stepan is pumped after finally erasing a 13-game drought with his 8th goal. Dan Girardi is just as excited after the Rangers posted a 4-1 win over the Senators to stay hot.
Getty Images/Fred Chartrand The Canadian Press

Whenever the Rangers visit Ottawa, it’s usually unpleasant. They so rarely win there that I wasn’t expecting much on Hockey Day In Canada. With a special 2 PM start time, I was already an hour into my shift when already the first text came in that Senator defenseman Marc Methot scored. I rolled my eyes figuring it would be one of those days. But to my astonishment, it wasn’t. The Rangers scored the next four to pick up a big 4-1 road win at Canadian Tire Centre- snapping a five-game winless streak up north. So that’s what the name of their arena now?!?!?!?! Seriously. Thank God our team hasn’t sunk to that level. There’s still hope for some sanity.

Even though I didn’t see it, the latest victory temporarily put us in second in the Metro. That is until the Flyers rallied to beat the Islanders 6-4. Despite our team holding a slight edge in regulation and overtime wins (23-22), Philadelphia is technically still ahead due to one less game played. That won’t change with the Blueshirts coming home for a crucial division match against the Capitals on NFL championship weekend. How the schedule makers decided this was a good idea is about as out as clueless as the referee mess in Detroit that allowed them to score a controversial tying goal off the netting in a stunning shootout comeback. Pure comedy. Or shame. Along with the Flames/Canucks line brawl mess featuring former coach John Tortorella, you be the judge.

Right now, the Rangers are winning consistently. Since losing in a shootout to Columbus, they’ve won five of six and have points over their last eight (6-1-1). Most encouraging is that they’re scoring enough and getting outstanding goaltending. The defense has also settled in not coincidentally after Alain Vigneault reinserted Mike Del Zotto and put him back on the left side. With Del Zotto back to third pair status with John Moore and a healthy Marc Staal once again working well with Anton Stralman, suddenly team D is a strength again as it was under their eccentric predecessor. A lot’s gone right since Henrik Lundqvist’s statement win at Chicago. He’s back to his old self and the team is playing much better. With Washington visiting, Vigneault finally gave his number one a night off. That meant dependable rookie backup Cam Talbot. Even after a two week layoff, the unflappable #CamBot made 29 saves picking up his 10th win.

Another positive has been the power play. Ranked seventh overall, it’s now good enough to expect power play goals. Brad Richards’ netted one halfway thru the first from Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh to tie the score. The goal temporarily put Richards into the team lead with 13. While he’s played well enough to pace the team in scoring, much has been made of Stepan’s inconsistency. There’s no question he’s struggled in the first year of a bridge deal that pays him $2.3 million this year and $3.85 the next. He hasn’t produced like you’d expect from basically our top center. Everyone knows he’s not a true number one. The Rangers don’t have that. The trio of Stepan, Richards and the resurgent Derick Brassard are a solid 1-3. When our team is successful, they need all three to contribute. So, when I saw that Stepan scored late in the second following Rick Nash’s game-winner, that made me smile. He’s taken a lot of punishment. “Too weak. Not a good skater. A bad passer. Trade him.”

Basically, your typical message board garbage when a player doesn’t perform. This is why I avoid posting altogether. The best aspect of yesterday’s win is that Stepan not only snapped a 13-game goal drought but also set up the first two goals including Nash’s 12th. A three-point game for a likeable player who badly needed it. That should give him confidence and maybe jumpstart D-Step for the Olympics. Most importantly, maybe it turns his year around. We all know he’s fully capable. I’ve always been a fan of his having followed Stepan since the gold medal WJC team in 2010. He might not be the most talented. But don’t underestimate his importance. He’s a smart two-way player similar to Chris Drury. If he ever improved on faceoffs, we’d have a cardinal copy. His penalty kill work with American sidekick Ryan Callahan is essential.

”It definitely helps with confidence,” Stepan said. ”Confidence is a tricky thing in this sport. When you seem to find a little bit of it you have to try to build off that momentum.

”We’ve been talking about it as a group that points for the rest of the year are huge. This one was no different.”

Too many of today’s fans like to throw players under the bus. I admit I am as harsh as anyone. But let’s not lose perspective. The Rangers don’t have the talent of the Pens or Bruins. They are a team and must play like one working unit to win games. Finally, they’re back to doing that. It just took a little longer under Vigneault. Full credit to him, Scott Arniel and Ulf Samuelsson for staying patient. Every line including the fourth featuring Brian Boyle, Daniel Carcillo and Dominic Moore have chemistry. This doesn’t mean they’re perfect. They still must go out and earn it each night. It just looks a little brighter now.