In New York, the old refrain will be heard in echoes in the locker room, ‘we weren’t prepared’.
At some point, someone has to look in a mirror and start taking responsibility.
One game after routing the Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-3, the Rangers found themselves on the losing end of a 5-2 count.
A pitiful third period response was classic metaphor to this season. A complete lack of urgency.
Tristan Jarry made 22 saves to get the win.
“I thought Tristan was solid all night,” Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan said. “There were a couple of goalie handles there where there was some miscommunication, but other than that he made some big saves for us. The penalty shot was a big moment in the game.”
Colin Blackwell scored off the power play for New York in the second period.
“Any time a game is run and gun a little bit and you put up eight, a team is definitely going to tighten up,” New York’s Adam Fox said. “That’s what they did. You could tell they were playing from the middle out in the [defensive] zone and limiting our chances. You knew they were going to come out fast after last game. They did a good job limiting us.”
Kris Letang,Radim Zohorna, Jason Zucker, and Evan Rodrigues had a goal each in the win.
“I thought we were much better,” Sullivan said. “I thought not only the quantity but the quality of the chances were not as good as we gave up the other night. I think that’s reflective in the score.
“Nobody was happy with the last couple of games, specifically the result, but the process had a lot to do with it. Our leadership did a real good job and we brought a sense of urgency to the game that is necessary to win in this League.”
Kevin Rooney got the Rangers as close as 4-2 with a third period strike.
Mark Jankowski iced the game with a late empty-net goal.
Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves in the loss.
“They were obviously better this game,” the Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad said. “They made it hard for us. We were maybe a little bit too stubborn with the puck in our decisions, forcing a little bit too much. I think just eager to get something going, and they feed off of that. They’re a good team and we were a little bit too stubborn.”
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