If 2024 is to be Rangers' year, it probably hasn't started the way the club had envisioned.
The Blueshirts, who opened the season with a 6-1 loss to the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes, suffered their fifth loss of the season by four or more goals on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
It was only the 10th regulation loss of the season for a Rangers team that has been at the top of the NHL for weeks, but it was another crushing loss in a season filled with them.
When the Rangers lose, they tend to be as few as their previous losses, but they tend to be big.
If the Rangers are looking for a New Year's resolution, that might be a good place to start.
Keynes did what Keynes did best.
As a result, the visiting team left New York with just a five-point lead over the Rangers (with two games remaining) in the division.
The Rangers wore down the Rangers with their relentless forechecking and strong play along the boards, but the Rangers struggled to create scoring opportunities in 5-on-5 play and three power-play chances.
Carolina has been piling up goals lately, scoring 13 goals in the last three games, and that carried over into the new year.
Andrei Svechnikov was on the opposite side of the collision with Adam Fox in the first matchup, leading the Canes with two goals, although the Rangers defenseman went on long-term injured reserve.
The Rangers fell into a 2-0 hole in the first period due to the Hurricanes' power play, but they managed to claw their way back at the 4:28 mark of the second period.
Chris Kreider extended his career point streak to seven games by converting a long shot from Jacob Trouba with his stick and past Carolina goaltender Piotr Kochetkov.
However, a miscommunication between Erik Gustafsson and Braden Schneider allowed the Hurricanes to regain a two-point lead less than two minutes later.
Gustafsson leaves the puck behind the Rangers' goal with no one left and Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin tips it into the corner, where Jordan Staal picks it up and gives it a pass to Jordan Martinuk. They led 3-1.
The Hurricanes scored more in the third period, giving up two more runs to the Rangers.
The Rangers allowed two goals on the power play in the first period, marking only the second time this season they have allowed more than one goal on the man advantage in a game, and the first since Oct. 19 against Nashville.
Immediately after the puck dropped, Alexis Lafreniere was called for interference 30 seconds into the game, putting his team on the back foot.
Jack Drury (yes, the nephew of Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury) hit the post for a 1-0 lead.
A fierce battle for the puck started early, with the Canes having two power plays to the Rangers' one in the first 20 minutes.
While the Rangers had one hit, the visitors went 2-for-2, including one by Svechnikov with 30.4 seconds left in the opening frame.
