It feels like it's been years since the Rangers were a top team in the NHL, even if it was just last season.
That's because, despite fielding the exact same team from that Presidents Trophy-winning campaign, the Blueshirts won most of last season's regular season since returning to full strength three weeks ago. That's because they don't even look like the team that did it.
The Jets, the best team in the NHL so far this season, faced off at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, but the Rangers were held back by an empty net and lost 6-3.
This was one of the better performances the Rangers have had in their last eight games, but that's only because the league's hottest team was at home just five days after the Rangers were humiliated by a five-goal loss to the Sabers. There wasn't. .
Winnipeg entered the night on a six-game winning streak and had just set a new NHL record with its 14th win in the first 15 games of the season. Plus, behind them was the sharpest goaltender in the league right now, Connor Hellebuyck.
The task was always going to be a noble one, but the problems that have plagued the Rangers lately — poor puck management and sloppy breakouts — were the difference.
Mika Zibanejad had a particularly tough night in a series of games where the Rangers' No. 1 center hasn't been himself. Three of his turnovers resulted in Jets goals.
There was also a moment at the beginning of the midfield frame when the Swedish center had to retreat to the Rangers' dressing room. Zibanejad's teammates realized something was wrong, and a trainer escorted him off the ice and spoke to him on the bench before briefly returning to his room.
The 31-year-old returned quickly, but Rangers continued to be hampered by his poor play.
The Rangers got off to a poppier start than the past few games, with Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck and Riley Smith testing Hellebuyck early. Kreider even rang one shot off the post on the first shift of the game.
However, poor puck management in their own zone cost the Rangers their first goal of the game less than a minute into the game.
Zibanejad was probably going to hit Artemi Panarin for a breakout, but the puck went to no one and the Jets easily returned the puck to the zone. Mark Scheifele, who was left alone, received the puck and put it in to make it 1-0.
The Jets had the best power play in the NHL, and the Rangers had the best penalty kill. This was one of several litmus tests the Rangers faced in the game, and the Jets came out on top in the special teams battle.
After Qu'Andre Miller failed to clear on Winnipeg's second man-advantage chance, some nifty stickwork from Gabriel Vilardi got the puck behind Miller, and the Jets forwards also had help from Kyle Connor. The score was 2-0.
It was the second power play goal the Rangers have allowed in their last 25 shorthanded stretches.
The Rangers were able to capitalize on their second power play after Alexis Lafreniere joined the first unit and hit a shot from the top of the zone to tie the game at 2-all.
Another Ozone score by Zibanejad then sparked an odd-man rush for the Jets, who regained the lead on a goal by Conner.
Then, after Zibanejad pickpocketed in the neutral zone to start the third period and the Jets pinballed the puck back into the net, Scheifele scored his second goal of the game, putting his team up to two points with just over a minute left in the final frame. took the lead. .
But just 32 seconds later, Kaapo Kakko scrambled for position at the front and snuck in the rebound of Braden Schneider's long shot, bringing the game back to one point.
The Jets were unable to score on a 2-on-1 rush by Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikolai Ehlers, pulling the game away. Namestnikov stayed in the play and scooped the puck in before Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin returned to the goal.
