NEW YORK – Are the New York Rangers back? It sure seems that way, especially after a dominant 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, one that extends their record to 6-0-3 over the last nine games. The march back into a playoff spot seems to be fully on; heading into Thursday night’s critical showdown against another team in the thick of the race, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Blueshirts are now just two points back of the Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins for a stake of the final two Eastern Conference wild card playoff berths.  To get there, they’ve had to dig out of a nearly six-week long tailspin that had many wondering if the window to win a championship had completely closed. If you were in Manhattan on Tuesday, you’d be hard-pressed to walk away with any other feeling than it remains wide open, as the Original Six franchise was running on all cylinders against a quality opponent. Three things that stood out? Igor Shesterkin was superb at times in recording his second consecutive shutout, extending his shutout streak to 164:03 in stopping all 20 Senators shots he faced. But, his night was more notable for a rare display of physicality; he memorably went after Brady Tkachuk early in the third period after getting knocked down, nearly sparking a full line brawl if opposing netminder Anton Forsberg had chosen to skate the length of the ice, which he declined to do. “I just got a couple punches from Tkachuk,” he said. “He hit me, and I didn’t really enjoy that.  I didn’t want to jump there…I just tried to hold him, but he wanted to fight.  It’s tough for me, because I can’t drop my gloves.  Maybe if I give up one (goal), I can go fight.” Alas, he didn’t. He did have many scored in front of him, however, including one from an unlikely source. Matt Rempe potted his first of the season on a stunningly nice move, going to his backhand and beating Forsberg high to the blocker side. The team’s six-foot-nine lightning rod has been oft-criticized for crossing the line with his physical nature and not bringing enough to the table on the scoresheet, but played the type of game that many had been waiting to see for quite some time at the NHL level. Still just 22 years old, he believes it’s one that he replicate as his development continues and he looks to earn continued opportunities. “I think I can bring a lot of physicality, but I think I can make plays with the puck and use my body and speed, be good defensively,” Rempe said. “I’ve been working a lot on my plays with the puck and I think the more I work the more comfortable I get, the more I can continue to make plays.  Take a breath out there, try to find the next pass, try to continue O-zone sequences and I think I can do that.  The more you make plays, the more minutes you’re going to get. I just want to continue to work on my game, and I think that’s been coming along nicely.” The same can be said for Arthur Kaliyev, who also seems to finally be hitting his stride in the Big Apple.  Picked up by general manager Chris Drury on waivers earlier this month, the one-time second round pick of the Los Angeles Kings put together his best game thus far with his new team, lighting the lamp twice – his second goal was ultimately overturned after a coaches challenge for offsides – in the blowout win. Only 23 years old and with massive offensive upside, Kaliyev brings a scoring threat to the bottom six, and has been a significant addition to a retooled group that seems to once again be fully back on the upswing. “It’s fun to get a chance to play hockey this year consistently,” said Kaliyev, who was injured to start the season with the Kings before ultimately being waived. “I’m starting to feel better each game that goes on.”