Now, there’s no question that this team is less Jagr-centric than it was two seasons ago, or even last season. But let’s turn it around for a second: Can you honestly envision a scenario when the Captain is floundering and the Rangers are still riding high?

Fact is, you simply can’t have this team reach its potential without Jagr as a serious threat, and with him feeling like a necessary cog in the wheel.

Yes, some of that has to do with his well-documented fragile psyche. But another part has to do with the amount of attention Jagr would receive from the opponent, which naturally frees up his teammates as a result.

And then there’s that last part: Uh, this guy’s pretty good, and if he ever picks it up to the level we’ve all seen, the Rangers start looking pretty scary again.

But let’s not get all bent out of shape thinking that Colton Orr was some innocent bystander. His hands were up, and his helmet collided with Cullen’s. If you want to take issue with how the penalty assessment was handled, have at it.But it’s not like it came out of thin air either.

As early as 10 days ago—after the Phoenix game, if you must know—we were were pretty sure my wife was going into labor that night. Then she was definitely going to give birth by today.

And yet, rather than the miracle of childbirth, my bride was participating in the miracle of post-Christmas linen sales at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Which is all fine, even if I purposely scheduled a week’s vacation to coincide with the big event, and I’m now nearing the end of it.

Some things are worth waiting for. I already know this is one of them.

More later…