Was it just a few short weeks ago that the New York Rangers were celebrating a win in the Winter Classic and threatening the second spot in the Metropolitan Division?
In an NHL season filled with inconsistency across the entire league, the Rangers have demonstrated a solid consistency to be soft and weak.
After local media reported in the last two weeks that Rangers brass are in a selling mode,this club has gone deeper into lackluster play and Wednesday night was the spectacular demonstration of the result.
Zdeno Chara had a goal in easy win over Rangers Wednesday night – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Rick Nash scored his 16th of the season in an audition for next franchise to give the Rangers an early 1-0 lead overt he visiting Boston Bruins.
To highlight the state of this roster, the goal was unassisted.
From the five-minute mark of the first period to end, the Rangers pushed shoved and generally outplayed for 55 minutes in a 6-1 rout by the Bruins.
Patrice Bergeron struck for two goals in the win.
Riley Nash, Zdeno Chara, Tim Schaller, and Sean Kuraly added single markers in the relatively easy win over a disengaged Rangers roster.
“We’re trying to win every game that’s on the schedule in front of us,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “If we catch them, great. If not, if they play great, that’s the way it goes. We obviously pay attention to it but it’s not our main focus. If you ask our group, I think the guys just want to play from period to period.”
The Rangers are 4-11-0 in their last 15 games and cannot even find a path to a loser’s point.
“It’s been brutal, no question about it,” Ryan McDonagh said. “With everything going on with the team we need to stay focused on trying to put together somewhat of a complete game. We’re not getting close.”
Chara was kind after the game by claiming the first period was even.
“The first period was a pretty even one,” Chara said. “We got a lucky bounce to score early and then we tied the game. I think after that, Anton made some really big saves for us. After that, we started moving the puck much better and establishing the forecheck.”
Anton Khudobinmade 21 saves to pick up the win in the scrimmage match.
“We want to keep pushing ourselves to be better and bring our best, and the rest will take care of itself. We look at the standings but it’s not the most important thing. We want to worry about the way we play and how we play,” Chara said after the win.
[WATCH:Â All Bruins vs. Rangers highlights]
Henrik Lundqvist got the start for the Rangers but was pulled in the second period after the Bruins made it 4-1.
“Disappointing, frustrating and embarrassing,” Lundqvist said. “Me personally, I think I started the game the way I want, aggressive, and then we make a couple mistakes and it cost us. I think the way things have been going lately it takes me from being the way I want to be, on my toes, aggressive, to being a little passive in the second, late to react when [Bergeron] misfired that third shot, and just passive on the fourth goal.
“For me personally, I think it’s obviously just a mental thing right now. It’s not technical.”
Without support from the roster on the offensive end, the Rangers’ goalies are just facing target practice from the opposition.
Ondrej Pavelec mopped up and yielded two goals in his stint.
“Where do we look? I mean, it’s only up to the guys here in the room and the coaching staff. It’s frustrating for sure, but we’re the ones that have to go out there and play and represent this team and try to focus on winning one hockey game,” McDonagh said after the loss.
You must be logged in to post a comment.