Losses are piling up and frustration is mounting for Rangers.
The Blueshirts, who lost 2-1 to the NHL's worst team, the Blackhawks, on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, have played just 27 games, but they have lost more than most organizations have in recent years. also set a new record in a season that experienced many turmoil.
Heck, there might be a tampering investigation this week.
It didn't add anything to the Rangers' on-ice production, but the disconnect led to president and general manager Chris Drury's leaked trade memo, Jacob Trouba's harsh exit to Anaheim, and the Senators' captain It started long before Ottawa's accusations about the Post's coverage of the team's interest. Brady Tkachuk.
Time and time again, the Rangers have been held back by mistakes of their own making.
A lack of physicality, motivation and cohesion continued to hinder their competitiveness.
There hasn't been a spark in their game for far longer than they probably want to admit.
That's been the case for the Rangers for almost all of this season.
Coincidentally, the Rangers haven't lost to the Blackhawks since Dec. 3, 2022, when Trouba threw his helmet on the ice in frustration.
They could have used some of that, even just a sip, to revive a lineup that was lethargic.
The Islanders have a chance to move into fourth place in the Metropolitan Division standings, ahead of the Rangers (who have two games in hand), if they defeat the Kings on Long Island on Tuesday night.
Breaking a 1-1 tie established in the first period, Blackhawks wing Taylor Hall finished off a 2-on-1 rush with Connor Bedard to restore his team's lead with 6:16 left in the middle. .
Hall delivered an energetic performance under MSG's windmill ceiling, leading both teams with two goals.
It's the same ceiling where the boos of Rangers fans soared around the bowl below.
The Rangers were creating multiple Grade-A chances until the Blackhawks took advantage of a Mika Zibanejad turnover to take an early lead.
In a lame attempt to edge the puck around the boards behind the Rangers' net, Zibanejad passed the puck to Hall, who sent a pass across the zone to Tyler Bertuzzi for a 1-0 lead.
Zibanejad continues to look like a shell of himself.
The Swedish center has always been respected for his defense, but that has been a weakness for him this season, along with his struggles offensively.
Two goals, two shots on goal and a minus-1 rating turned out to be Zibanejad's final stat line on Monday night.
But on the Blackhawks' first power play, the Rangers tied it at one-all with a short goal.
Sam Carrick attacked the net with the puck and Will Quill cleaned up the rebound for the first shorthanded goal of his NHL career.
