The Tampa Bay Lightning look to even the score against the Toronto Maple Leafs New York Rangers Friday night after getting molly-whopped in Game 1.
By now you know the narrative.
The Lightning have been here before. One game is nothing. This is nothing new for a veteran squad famous for putting losing matters behind them.
Still, the Rangers appear to maintain that singular, hockey playoff magic that’s gotten them here in the first place—the kind that is unavoidable, unstoppable. Which is to say that, once again, it’s time to fire up the rumor mill. For nothing spoils an opponent’s team chemistry quite like some good ol’ fashion BS. (That, and this drill seemed to have worked the first time.)
Are any of these shocking rumors true of the Rangers? Of course not. But again, you can pretty much let anything fly on Twitter these days without any proof, source or verification whatsoever. So let’s conjure up some hogwash and take a look at what our most anonymous NHL insiders are saying about the Blue Shirts this morning—and spread them like wildfire.
Adam Fox’s parents based his personality off Adam Banks from the Mighty Ducks movies.
He’s even named after him.
Chris Kreider used two fake IDs in college. One as Enes Kanter and one as Shia LeBeouf.
Neither of them worked.
Mika Zibanejad starred as “Argyle” in the latest season of Stranger Things.
Zibanejad has matured since production, thanks to long pandemic delays and a natty playoff beard. But the centerman’s turn as Lenora Hills’ lovable stoner has been a hit with fans worldwide.
The name “Igor Shesterkin” is a Broadway stage name given to the Rangers netminder upon his arrival in New York City.
His real name is Boris Popov.
Artemi Panarin was nicknamed the “Breadman” after teammates learned of his lifelong suffering from Artophobia.
Panarin reportedly can’t even be in the same room as a loaf of whole wheat.
Jacob Trouba is just as much of a bully off the ice as he is on it.
Often times found trespassing on local middle schools in search of a day’s lunch.
Filip Chytil wears No. 72 in honor of his grandfather’s birth year and thinks chopped cheeses from the bodega are disgusting.
Is this your King?
Ryan Strome’s go-to party trick is speaking to people in his normal accent.
People are just blown away that this guy isn’t British.
K’Andre Miller was accidentally added to the roster while modeling the team’s uniform line.
Decent skater though.
Barclay Goodrow is an outstanding guy, universally beloved by the organization and its fans.
This one actually checks out.