It’s the back end that might make-or-break the Rangers’ season. Marek Malik. Fedor Tyutin. Daniel Girardi. Michal Roszival. Paul Mara. Not a Norris Trophy contender, or a household name, for that matter, among the bunch. But they may be better than you think.

“Tyutin and Girardi, people don’t realize it yet, but those two are going to be good for years to come,” said St. Louis Blues president John Davidson, who broadcast Rangers games until taking his position with the Blues last season.

Malik gets booed mercilessly by the Garden faithful, but is the glue that holds this unit together. Roszival is their best two-way defender and to this group add 2005 first-round pick Marc Staal, the latest product from that hockey family in Thunder Bay, Ontario, who could make as quick an impact on the league as did brothers Eric (Carolina) and Jordan (Pittsburgh).

Jagr was quick to jump to the defense of his team’s defense, insisting strong defensive play stems from everyone sticking to the club’s system.

“It’s not like football,” Jagr said. “It’s not just about offense and defense. You have to have five guys working together. The defensemen have to join the rush, and the forwards have to help defensively.”

The driving force, the man who makes it all click in New York, who has succeeded where six men before him failed, is coach Tom Renney. Outwardly, he receives little credit, but he should have won a Jack Adams Award for the performance he got out of this team the past two seasons. “He’s one of the best,” Straka said.

He’s also happy to allow the players to get the kudos, an important element on such a superstar-laden squad. Renney talks a lot about karma and chemistry and he’s certainly cooked up a batch that works in this dressing room.

As opening night approaches on what could be a show-stopping season for the Rangers, they are well aware of the cost of failure in the Big Apple.

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At that same time, all of them recall the outpouring of emotion from the faithful when the Rangers ended their 54-year Stanley Cup drought in 1994, so they also understand how rewarding a positive outcome can be in the city that never sleeps.

“If we can have success here, let’s face it, it’s the biggest market,” Gomez said. “It’s the capital of the world.”