We interrupt the chaos and bring you four days without a crushing Rangers defeat.
Yes, it's true. The NHL is on vacation. This helps explain how far and how quickly the Rangers fell.
The Blueshirts, who were Stanley Cup favorites about a month ago, have been reduced to a punchline like the Giants and Jets (they can't afford to lose on Sunday, it's their bye week!).
The only good thing I can say about Tuesday is that it was better than most of the previous 32 days.
It was certainly better than Monday, which started with the news that Chris Kreider suffered a healthy scrape and it only got worse from there.
The Rangers had just 12 shots on goal in their 5-0 loss to Newark, which was laughable in every sense of the score.
Jubilant Devils fans laughed as superstar Jack Hughes scored two goals and his team went 3-for-4 on the power play while shutting down all four of the Rangers' man-up opportunities. No doubt.
Afterwards, manager Vincent Trocheck said the Rangers needed to “show more heart.”
Coach Peter Laviolette's honest reaction was equally damning.
“I agree with that,” he said. “The purpose for which we play the game has to be better.”
On November 19, Kreider scored the winning goal in a 4–3 victory in Vancouver, improving the Rangers' record to 12 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.
Still, getting that point in a weak early schedule, thanks to excellent goaltending from Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, was a sign of trouble ahead.
Since then, the Rangers have lost 13 of 17 games and are tied for last place in the Metropolitan Division with the Islanders.
They rank 23rd in the NHL in scoring percentage, and while it may be a little early to start paying attention here, they are five points out of the wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with four teams above them.
Asked Tuesday if the team's sense of urgency is where it needs to be, defenseman Ryan Lingen said: “Yes. I don't know why you don't play with it. We certainly know that we have to quickly rebuild this situation. Yes, we need to understand that. ”
It is perfectly legitimate to ask how things can be made better.
On November 24, Chris Drury sent a memo to the NHL's other 31 general managers stating that the Rangers were back in business.
Captain Jacob Trouba was released to Anaheim on December 8th.
Kaapo Kakko was deployed to Seattle last week. Who else would be sent a package?
At least we won't know until the NHL's holiday roster freeze expires at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
But so far, this deal has had little effect, and neither have any other ploys.
- Alexis Lafreniere is off to a strong start with five goals and nine assists and is minus-15 since signing a seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension.
- Igor Shesterkin has lost nine of his last 12 starts before and after signing an eight-year, $92 million contract, the richest by a goaltender in NHL history.
- Matt Lempe, playing in his first major league game in about a month, was suspended for eight games after he caught Dallas' Miro Heiskanen in the head with 5 minutes and 32 seconds of play.
- Laviolette reduced Mika Zibanejad's landing time and made Kreider look like a healthy scratch, but the losses continue to mount.
Perhaps the holiday break will give the Rangers a chance to hit the reset button. Laviolette says that “could go either way.”
The schedule on the other side is anything but welcoming, with a road game at Tampa Bay on Saturday, Florida on Monday, a home game against Boston on Jan. 2, and a matinee at Washington on Jan. 4.
“It's time for a break,” Lindgren said. “I have to look at myself in the mirror here and go home hungry, because you can’t win the hockey you’re playing right now.
“This is devastating for us and our fans, so it's time to understand that.”
