Avery scores! Dubinsky scores! Rangers get 6 in a row!

It was just a few short weeks ago that we thought we'd never see Sean Avery pull on the blue jersey again.

But tonight - we got to see him score his first goal of the season - a breakaway roof shot that beat Cam Ward from the doorstep. The Garden rose as one to welcome their crazy gritty champion back into their Ranger hearts.

And with just one lapse by Henrik in the second period the score stood knotted at 1 midway through the 3rd when the Rangers rose up - took over the game - and extended their winning streak to 6.

It started with Girardi - who we suddenly - belatedly - finally - realize is a home grown all-star defenseman. The G-man first drew a high stick from the Eric (worst brother since Cain) Staal - and then capitalized on it soon after. As Sam Rosen surmised: It's a Power Play goal and the Rangers took a 2-1 lead with about 9 minutes to go. It was good.

But it got better.

9 seconds later - the puck found the stick of the goal-less Brandon Dubinsky (not "Pointless" like the Daily News says - if you're gonna borrow Dave Puck's terminology - please use it correctly). Dubi's eyes got real big as he saw nothing but net - fired the puck and then - as he finally got his first goal of the season - Brandon looked skyward and release a yell of simple joy and relief before getting mobbed by his teammates.

A wonderful moment.

But, it got better.

2 minutes later a rejuvenated Dubinsky won a long battle for the puck in the right corner - carried it behind the net - and got in position to shoot. A mad scramble ensured - capped off by Captain Callahan banging the puck in from point-blank to make it 4-1.

And yes - it got better still.

Minutes later an alert Brad Richards (with Sean Avery promoted to his line) stole the puck from the Carolina Goalie behind the net, wheeled around and stuffed it home.

Queue the goal song - it was 5-1 and the Rangers were rolling.

And who started it all but our own Seanny - back from the dead - back on Ranger home ice - notching his first goal of the year - and starting to look like the Avery we know and love.
And - for one night anyway - all's right in Ranger land.