RALEIGH, N.C. — The benefit of having a core of players who have played together for many years is that they share so many different experiences that they collectively lean on.
It's been quite some time since the Rangers were mired in mid-season trade talk involving key players in their own room, but the team has been through its fair share of tough times over the years.
Last season, it was essentially the entire month of January.
The Rangers went from losing just once in the first three months of the season to losing two more sets in January for a four-game losing streak.
Their record for the month was 4 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws.
However, after winning the last game before the All-Star break, the Rangers went on a 10-game winning streak en route to winning the Presidents Trophy.
“That's something we can't control,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of the outside noise Wednesday night, before the Rangers took a lead in the third period and lost 4-3 to the Hurricanes. Ta. “What we can control is what's in the room and how we attack the game.” [against the Hurricanes on Wednesday night]. “Every team goes through ups and downs throughout the year, and we did that last year. We probably had a trip to the West in January and didn't play very well, but we ended up having our best year. I was able to spend it.
“I think that's something you have to figure out. Most teams have to figure something out at some point. Now it's our turn, we've got to get through it.”
The Rangers' initial record of 5-0-1 improved to 7-8, losing 47-39.
President and general manager Chris Drury's memo to the entire league asking for trade partners is the kind of outside noise that's hard to ignore. For many players in the locker room, it's a first.
But almost every season always brings trials and tribulations.
Rangers hope this is just what is happening and that they can get out of this situation soon.
“When everything is going well, it's easy,” Mika Zibanejad said. “It's easy and there's not much to talk about. When things are like this, you can't look back on this in three months, six months, three years, five years, 10 years, whatever it is. I would appreciate it if you could. [think]“I'm glad we got through it and it turned out for the better.'' In terms of coming together as a group and getting through this situation.
“We're going to experience adversity once or multiple times during the season. We get it, it's our turn now. We work, we stick together and that's all we can do. ”
Igor Shesterkin stopped 26 of 30 shots in Wednesday's loss.
The Rangers did not practice Thursday and are scheduled to return Friday against Philadelphia.
