SPORTS FOLDEROL

  It took too long for them to wise up but …  ZAC JONES  finally is appreciated by just about everyone … except the one that counts. Check some of the latest comments by hardened fans of the NHL New York Rangers, and you’ll find they prefer Jones, 23, who has spent most of the season a healthy scratch, over  ERIK GUSTAFSSON , 32, who joined the team as a free agent prior to season’s start … and immediately was installed (over Jones) on the third defensive pairing.  “ No question Jones is better than Gus.” “ More energy … smarter player. Like his game more.” “ His game does not look like an accident waiting to happen.  Gus, on the other hand, is accident prone.” That was a mere sample of opinion … most of which favored  Jones, the Richmonder who remains the only player to suit up  in the NHL born AND raised in Virginia. OK, so one observer  did request caution: “ Pump the brakes a little on Jones here. He looked spectacular  last game [he...

  You don’t think fans are fickle in New York … especially those who follow the NHL Rangers? … Richmond’s  ZAC JONES  has gone from “too small … get rid of him” to keep Jones, dump  JACOB TROUBA : “Odds he turns the puck over or ices it on the first shift, 3 to 1.” … In fact, the Broadway Blueshirts were 2-0 during Trouba’s recent suspension for elbowing … Jones, at 5-11, 185 the same size as NY’s  ADAM FOX , 2022 winner of the Norris Trophy, was plus-4 (game-winning goal and assist) in 7-2 comeback win over Ottawa then played a personal-season-high 18:07 (2 blocked shots, 0 plus-minus) as the Rangers again came-from-behind with a 2-1 verdict over favored Colorado Monday night at Madison Square Garden … As much as it must pain him, first-year coach  PETER LAVIOLETTE  has had to say some nice things about Jones who was a healthy scratch in 33 of the team’s first 48 games: “He’s really been a good solider,” Laviolette told The New York Post. “Works hard ...