from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

How impressed were you by the Rangers' 2-1 win in Anaheim on Wednesday night?

I stayed up to watch, and let me tell you, it's been a while since a team stifled the Ducks like the Rangers did. That was one heck of a defensive effort by the Blueshirts who began their scary three-game California trek with a huge win against what has been the hottest team in the NHL since Christmas.

The win put the Rangers two points up on the rival New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division, although the Brooklyn squad has two games in hand.

It doesn't get any easier for the Rangers, who play the Pacific-leading Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, but a win against a Cup contender like Anaheim can go a long way toward setting the tone for the Rangers as they try to hold off the Isles for that all-important No. 2 spot in the Metro.

more on the Rangers from the ESPN hockey crew...