from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

The Rangers deserve credit for their 6-4 victory over Vegas on Tuesday night at the Garden just a few miles north of the lower Manhattan terror that had been on the minds of the players as they prepared for the match.

This one struck home, with enough of the Blueshirts residents of the affected neighborhood to make the issue a very personal one, just as the Golden Knights felt it when their city was targeted by a gunman on Oct. 1.

But this isn’t about conferring hero status on the Blueshirts, who, truth be told, have traditionally conducted themselves as first-class citizens of our city, regardless of their place in the standings. This isn’t about the power of sports or a sports team to heal civic and national wounds....

That would be the defense....

Keeping impending free agent Brendan Smith off the market and in a Blueshirt in the wake of a stout performance through the playoffs was supposed to solidify the right side. It hasn’t. Smith has not come close to resembling the effective, edgy player he was following his acquisition from the Red Wings a day before the trade deadline.

Smith, who was a healthy scratch from the third and fourth games of the season, could find himself back in street clothes for Thursday’s match in Tampa Bay against the Lightning if coach Alain Vigneault’s third-period deployment provides a hint.

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Game highlights are below...