The Rangers don't play until Friday when the Penguins come to the Garden, but the next three days will be the most important in a season that is quickly becoming a sinkhole.
President and general manager Chris Drury has a responsibility to communicate with his team, both collectively and in one-on-one meetings, to figure out who wants to be here and who is in too much pain. To play for my teammates.
Although the standard of play at the Garden on Monday was actually the best it's been in weeks, the Rangers still lost to the Devils 5-1, their sixth regulation loss in their last seven games.
There were turnovers in the most dangerous areas, odd rushes and breakaways early on, and they almost immediately fell behind 2-0, but the Blueshirts couldn't overcome. It didn't help at all that it was a night when Igor Shesterkin, who had been under siege for almost the entire season, not only bent but broke in a decisive loss to Jacob Markstrom at the other end.
