Not much has happened in recent years.
A loss of this magnitude had only befallen the Rangers once in their last 175 regular season games.
That was until Thursday night, when the Blueshirts completely collapsed at Madison Square Garden. There, the home team lost 6-1 to the young Sabers, looking small and out of sorts.
This was the kind of defeat that even a record of 8 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw could not alleviate.
The defensive dysfunction, offensive disconnect, and overall lack of urgency should ring like three separate alarm bells inside the Rangers' locker room.
It's too early in the season for the Rangers to go into cruise control.
There are still 70 games left.
But it was the energy the Rangers gave off in front of their home crowd, and it wasn't a game worth hanging on to on a school night, so they headed for an early exit.
The Rangers still lack that “pop,” as head coach Peter Laviolette put it.
Breakdowns in the defensive zone are often ending up behind the goal.
Igor Shesterkin has been the sticking plaster for this Rangers team lately, but this time the Rangers goaltender was unable to cover for his teammate's mistakes.
Shesterkin allowed a rare soft goal 26 seconds into the game, allowing five goals on 12 shots, but Jonathan Quick ultimately won the favor.
It was a glimpse of what the Rangers' star goalkeeper might look like when his luster wears off.
By the way, there are no new reports regarding contract negotiations regarding Shesterkin, who has been particularly active recently.
