LOS ANGELES — The reality is the Rangers, and this downward spiral into the second half of the season, which started off steeply, has exposed their true state.
And with a crucial three-game series at Golden State on the horizon, the Blueshirts are in serious jeopardy of losing all the luxury they gained from their red-hot start.
Without that cushion, your concrete paving won't go far.
The rapid descent of this Rangers team to .500 level hockey was astonishing.
So will it be the 18-4-1 Rangers who play with killer instincts and find ways to win?
Or will it be the 10-10-1 Rangers who buckled after every mistake and are now looking for a way to lose?
Will the real New York Rangers stand up?
“I think the way we want to play and what we're aiming for is a heavier, more consistent style of hockey,” Chris Kreider said. He needs to do more than just score goals, and that hasn't happened in seven straight games. “You just eliminate big chances by leaving the goalie out to dry. Keep doing the right things in the O-zone and then take the next step.”
The Flyers — yes, you read that correctly — beat the Stars 5-1 on Thursday night in a noisy manner, bringing the Rangers within two points and strangling the Rangers in the Metropolitan Division standings. .
He will also play every night in Philadelphia for the remainder of the Rangers' trip out west.
Losing the No. 1 spot in the division, which the Rangers have held solidly since Oct. 24, will raise even more doubts as the team works to get back on track.
That's when the spiral turns into a steep decline.
The challenger turns into an impostor.
The prince turns into a frog.
The Rangers may still have a game left against the Flyers, but the way former head coach John Tortorella makes Philadelphia play shouldn't be underestimated.
Current Rangers coach Peter Laviolette could face even tougher questions if the club sheds the Premiership shield.
From the team game to the individual effort, the Rangers need more from up and down the lineup.
The abundance of scoring opportunities the team used as a crutch means nothing if it doesn't show up on the scoreboard. Especially when every mistake is reflected on the opponent's scoreboard.
That may be the way the puck bounces for the Rangers right now, but good teams create their own luck.
“We're talking about bringing pucks and bodies to the net and making it difficult for the other team's goaltender,” Kreider said. “I think it probably does a better job of getting to the net-front area and generating a little bit of traffic, not necessarily just him, but maybe two guys flopping around in front. We have to wreak a little havoc and be a little tough on them.”
The first 44 games were a tale of two Rangers teams.
The rest of the season will depend on who is in charge.
