Yashin: "Those of us who were new to the team -- me, Michael, Chris, Adrian -- we weren't concerned with what happened in 2000-01. We wanted it to be better."
The Rapid Russian put his goals where his mouth was and lit eight red lights in November and added eight helpers. That's over a point per game. Over a dozen games in December, Alexei posted 12 points.
While the taciturn Yashen let his stick do the talking Peca displayed his leadership with a captain's vocal style. Writing in his definitive A-to-Z scouting guide, "Players," author Andrew Podnieks put it simply:
"Peca is one of the finest players in the league."
Somewhat less than fine were lesser lights from which better games were expected. Mariusz Czerkawski was Exhibit A. After two-straight 30-goal seasons, the Polish forward checked out with no goals until his ninth game. The huge and talented Russian, Oleg Kvasha, also got off to a slow start.
But not monstrous Eric Cairns. The 6-foot-6 former Blueshirts defenseman had become an Islander and quickly became overwhelmed with Rangers Fever -- alias a keen dislike for his former club.
If Kvasha or Czerkawski needed any incentive Cairns was there to provide it; especially against the denizens of The Garden.
When the rivals clashed for the first time in 2001-02 a riot erupted after Cairns high-sticked Sandy McCarthy of the Rangers. That ignited assorted brawls as well as hyper-needling by visiting mouthpiece Theo Fleury.
"Fleury is immature," carped Peca. "There's no place for that stuff in the game."
What titillated fans on both sides of the war the indisputable fact that the New York-New York battle also was for a playoff berth. They were that close.