The Rangers had their peaks and valleys but they surged into the NHL post-season with an ungloved iron fist. In my view, the league stood up and took serious notice when Blueshirts’ forward Colton Orr one-punched Flyers’ Todd Fedoruk unconscious on March 23 at Madison Square Garden en route to a 5-0 win and a trip to YouTube immortality. But the real turning point for the inconsistent Rangers took place on February 5 when the team traded for Sean Avery from Los Angeles. Avery is an old-school goon who actually scores goals. Since coming to New York, he has attacked opponents with a base criminality you’d see only in a Manhattan night court. His pièce de résistance came against Toronto the last week of season. With both teams vying for a final playoff spot, Avery knocked the Maple Leaf’s enforcer, Darcy Tucker, on his ass then scored two goals. He inspired the ’Gers to a 7-2 route and vaulting them to the six spot in the East.

Still, no punch thrown this NHL season can match the blow delivered by Devils GM Lou Lamoriello to his erstwhile Coach Claude Julien. With three games left to go in the regular season, Lamoriello shocked the hockey world and fired Julien. This is the same Claude Julien who just guided the Devils to an Atlantic Division title. What the fuck? Lamoriello explained obtusely that, “You don’t always judge by wins and losses as far as what you’re doing and where you’re going.” Who will take over for Julien? Lamoriello, of course. Insisting he would never coach again, Lamoriello replaced himself with Julien last June. But remember C.J., this is the same Lou Lamoriello who fired Coach Robbie Ftorek with eight regular season games left in 2000. That man has one nasty seven-year itch.

Brace yourself. The NHL’s second season might just see the Devils and Rangers duking it out before all is said and done.

But the Devils—no matter what anyone says—are not New York hockey. You are correct in that we finally have a post-season in hockey land that maybe—just maybe—we can get excited about. Now that the Knicks have tanked and are just about done—stop gloating Hollander, I know I said they would make the playoffs and they did come close—the Rangers are the only winter game left in town.

And for once, the Rangers are as tough as the city they play in. Orr and Avery are like two Westies thugs ready to throw down, beat some Canuck ass and then score some serious goals. They can outscore you and kick your ass. Not many Ranger teams have been able to ever say that.

I have liked this team all season, and they have peaked right when they needed to. This could be the start of one of the Garden’s Greatest Moments. The Ranger bandwagon is pulling out, and I am getting on it.

The NHL playoffs is all about hot goalies. The Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist is hot right now, very hot. But few are better between the post-season pipes than the Lion of the Net, the Devils’ Martin Brodeur. It would be great to see these two premier NHL goalies square off in the playoffs.

Speaking of goalies, I’m currently engrossed in a book about a former back-up goalie for a Hungarian professional hockey team. In the 1990s, Attila Ambrus played for the biggest pro hockey team in Budapest. To make ends meet, he robbed banks. But he did it with such flair; never harming anyone, presenting female tellers flowers, drinking whiskey in the pub next door prior to the robberies. Ambrus remains a beloved folk hero in Hungary, and it looks like Johnny Depp might play him in the movie version. I know I’m a few years late in coming to Julian Rubinstein’s highly entertaining, The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, but it’s perfect reading for the NHL’s second season.

SULLIVAN: If you like hockey, you don’t read. What hockey fans need to get excited about the playoffs is to rent and watch that timeless 1977 classic, Slap Shot.

Watch Paul Newman bring a team back from the dead after he lets loose the wild and wooly Hanson Brothers: those horn-rimmed eyeglass-wearing warriors of the ice. The Rangers bring a touch of the Hansons to the ice. In the movie the three Hanson boys were played by two brothers, Steve and Jeff Carlson, and one real-life Hanson, David. Avery and Orr could put on some eyeglasses and scare the hell out of the league.

But you are correct in that the playoff teams need for hot goalies, and the Rangers’ Lundqvist is about as good as they come. Granted the Devils’ Brodeur is the end-all and be-all of goalies, but the head coach getting thrown under the bus by the GM has to have some impact on the team.

I like the Rangers’ chances this season. It’s all a long shot, but if the pucks fall just right, Lord Stanley’s Tin Cup is coming back to New York City after being on loan for 13 long seasons.