NEW YORK (NY) – Despite having 12 minutes of a man advantage, the New York Rangers failed to capitalize on six power play opportunities and were defeated at home to the San Jose Sharks by the score of 4-1.
After showing small signs of promise receiving points in their past three games (1-0-2) New York went back to looking like a lifeless team in need of direction. The power play went 0-for-6 (four in the first period) and even though they tallied 34 shots on net, they failed to find the back of the net until 15:33 of the third period, when the score was already 4-0.
Captain Ryan McDonagh spoke about the Sharks ability to defend the power play.
“They did a good job, that’s a good penalty killing unit but at the end of the day we need to find a way,” he said.
The Rangers once again surrendered a goal within the opening two minutes of the game when red-hot Logan Couture got his seventh of the year on a slapshot from the top of the circles. Ten minutes later, Tim Heed recorded the first goal of his career when he threw the puck on net from the goal line that somehow found its way through Henrik Lundqvist and in the back of the net.
“Right now we’re looking for a good feeling and to start the game chasing, it’s not easy” Lundqvist said on his teams repetition of starting down a goal early.
Rangers generated a respectable amount of scoring chances in the second period but the pucks seemed to have a different plan as nothing was going tape-to-tape. Passing behind the back and errant breakouts were very evident throughout as this team continues to search for their direction.
After starting the year 1-5, the Rangers lost two close games in overtime (up a goal with less than a minute in one game, came back from a two goal deficit in the other) and won their Saturday matinee against the Nashville Predators, but failed to carry any of that momentum into the Garden Monday night.
The Rangers were suppose to have an advantage to start the year with nine of their first 11 games coming at home, but have come up short in giving the garden faithful anything to cheer about.
Lundqvist stopped 20 of 24 shots while Martin Jones remains hot, stopping 33 of 34 shots on net for his fourth win in six games.
While saying “it’s still early” may remain true, it’s almost already becoming stale. For the past couple of weeks that seems to be the popular expression around Rangers Twitter and the locker room, but if something doesn’t change soon this team is headed for a very long season with no positive outcome in sight.
The Rangers next game will be another home tilt against former blueshirt Derek Stepan and the Coyotes at 7pm on Thursday.
The Sharks will head to Boston to face the Bruins Thursday night at 7pm.
Follow Danny on Twitter: @Danny_PJones
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