Rangers Vs. Ducks: Did Someone Hit The Easy Button Or Something?

- First of all, sorry this place has been a little dead recently. I was sick last week with some type of respiratory thing that turned into pneumonia this weekend, so, yeah, it's been a little rough.

- And since I'm bedridden and can't do anything other that lay around and try not to die by breathing, having the Rangers pop on at 7:30 was a welcomed surprise. Winning was better.

- And winning like that was something else. The Ducks are widely believed to be not as good as their record, but they are a very good hockey team with a plethora of firepower. The Rangers manhandled them offensively, and after the first 10 minutes shut them down (for the most part) defensively.

- In the moments when the Rangers didn't shut them down Cam Talbot was there. Another great night from him and another spectacular, I mean just jaw-dropping, glove save to rob Corey Perry of his hat trick. I know the game was already out of hand at that point, but wow.

- I mentioned this last night but I'll say it again here, I really think Talbot is going to fetch more than his predecessors did (Adam has a nice recap of that here). I think Talbot's played enough games, against elite teams no less, to prove he's beyond those other guys. At least there should be enough evidence to convince a few teams in the NHL that's the case.

- As for that slumping offense? Derek Stepan had two goals (including one on the power play) and an assist. Derick Brassard had a goal, Mats Zuccarello had two assists, Kevin Hayes had two assists (and an "are you kidding me?" move to nearly pot a goal) and Ryan McDonagh added an assist. Oh, there was one more standout ...

- In a game full of statements this needs to be the game where J.T. Miller proves himself to Alain Vigneault once and for all. Against a very good, tough team -- a team who walked into the night tied atop the NHL's standings -- Miller had one of his best games of the year. He scored a goal, added an assist, created two more goals by forcing turnovers off of board battles and had a good game in his own zone. The kid is for real. It's time he starts being treated like it.

- Oh yeah, Jesper Fast too. Another goal and another sparking defensive effort. That kid -- like Miller and Hayes -- is for real.

- Wait, just one more (sorry I'm so forgetful, blame it on the drugs), Keith Yandle. See, this kind of circles back to my point about how we all remember the big mistake or the big event in terms of judging a player. Yandle finished the game with three assists (including the primary assist on the Stepan power play marker) but I really don't think Yandle was any better than he had been since he's come to Broadway. His teammates just finished. That pass to Zuccarello (before he set up Miller) was cray cray, though.

- The fourth line though? That's a bad fourth line. You can't come back soon enough, Marty.

- And now the Rangers sit atop the NHL again. Kind of fun isn't it?

Thoughts?