The New Druce?

About a year ago I met a younger Ranger fan, about 20 or 21 years old. He was a die-hard fan, but, obviously, he doesn't remember 1990 for the same reason I can't remember 1975: we were 2 years old. He shared his stories of Ranger-inflicted pain. I asked if he knew who John Druce is. He didn't. "Ask your father," I said. "He knows."

All Ranger fans who were old enough to know what was going on remember John Druce. Druce was the undecorated, pedestrian Washington Capital who exploded for nine goals in five games, including a hat trick in Game Two, as the Patrick Division champion Rangers -- division champs for the first time in 48 years -- fell in five shocking games to an inferior (record-wise) team.

The Capitals entered this series as the clear, if not prohibitive, favorite to beat the seventh-seeded Rangers, so that part of the equation is not in play. Still, the Rangers became the favorite when they stole Game One. Since then, an undecorated, pedestrian Capital, goaltender Simeon Varlamov, has been the story. The Russian goalie has allowed one goal in two games. That one goal was enough to lose Game Two for his team, but that performance clearly marked him as worthy of another start over the once-impenetrable but now-shaky Jose Theodore. That second start came Monday at Madison Square Garden, where he and his suddenly improved defensive teammates shut New York out, 4-0.

Can a goalie be the new Druce? I say he can. It's not about the stats -- it's about a guy we never heard of vying to be the next villain at MSG; our own Bucky Bleeping Dent.

But I don't think it will happen. I think the Rangers will be smarter tonight and will have some surprises in store for the rookie. I don't know what that will be, but I expect the Rangers to bring their best effort of the season in this, their most important game of the season. Effort, in fact, has not been a problem in this series, even in the horrific Game Three. I think the Rangers will win this one, drop Game Four Friday in Washington, then come home and wrap it up in front of the home fans.

LET'S GO RANGERS!