Rangers can make themselves hard to ignore

A year ago the 1-3-1 sprung to life in the victorious season opener in Buffalo that served to set a template for Peter Laviolette’s first season behind the bench en route to the Presidents’ Trophy. This one, a year later in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, was a tour de force in a 6-0 demolition of the Penguins in which Igor Shesterkin settled the team early with multiple brilliant saves before the Rangers went rolling thunder with all four lines chipping in with at least a goal. And this can serve as the template for 2024-25, a season in which Laviolette has vowed to get more players involved in the game in more situations.So there was Will Cuylle dipping his toes into penalty-kill waters.

There was Kaapo Kakko on the second power-play unit and so, too, was K’Andre Miller. Alexis Lafreniere popped, scoring a gorgeous goal just the way he did in last year’s opener that presaged No.13’s breakout season.

Filip Chytil, dancing and engaging all night, ripped one under the bar in the first period for his first regular season goal since March 28, 2023. Chris Kreider scored twice that included his league-leading 10th shorthanded goal since the start of 2021-22 and by the way, the decision to use No.20 on the penalty kill is the gift that former head coach Gerard Gallant bequeathed to his successor.

If Kreider is not on Team USA for Four Nations, the U.S.House should convene hearings. Vincent Trocheck battled and scored.

Cuylle had a strong night as did Kakko, stoned twice by netminder Tristan Jarry.Artemi Panarin made a brilliant defensive play high in the zone to spring Lafreniere.

The newly designed Braden Schneider-Jacob Trouba pair was outstanding. Of course it is a bit different with a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes, but ice-time allotment was egalitarian with the forwards packed in between the 9:52 for Jonny Brodzinski and the 17:59 for Trocheck.Victor Mancini got 17:27 of ice time in his NHL debut and surely did not look out of place. I didn’t particular...