The Rangers annual trip to Tampa went pretty much like the trip goes annually, a loss. While the Blueshirts' effort was markedly better that the prior time these two teams met on November 17, it wasn't enough to overcome a myriad of mistakes in the loss. As of now, Tampa looks like a strong Cup contender while the Rangers have lots of work to do to get to that point; but we are just a bit more than a quarter in the season.

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all. To those celebrating, I hope you have a great day. Thanks to all my readers and commenters, we all have a lot to be thankful for.

I am likely to repeat the following until I am blue in the face, but it warrants repeating. We all react and overreact way too much to one game. This player has a good game, he is the best thing since sliced bread. He struggles, well it's time to bench him and why was he signed. Evaluations need to be done over time, not just game-to-game, because you do lose the forest through the trees, If the same pattern repeats over and over again, then we have our pattern and the evaluations make sense. Similar if the strong outweighs the weak or vice versa, then we can make a true call on a player. Doing it game to game is overkill, though I know I am shouting into the wind.

A few quick thoughts from yesterday:

Martin St. Louis - Unlike Ryan Callahan the week before and last night - more on that later - St. Louis seemed shaken by the enormity of the emotions he felt. It's understandable and hard to criticize someone who had seven goals in his prior eight games, but he didn't provide much last night.

Callahan - As I tweeted earlier today, can someone - anyone - lay a body on him. Callahan has been given way too much room the past two games played between the teams. Maybe the Blueshirts need a reminder that he no longer wears the red, white and blue of New York but the blue, gray and white of Tampa. Callahan is playing with an elite center in Steven Stamkos, which makes things easier. But he has been given way too much room to roam, which has to stop,. Be clean and physical with him and don't allow him free reign to go to the front of the net.

Rick Nash. The penalty on him for his hit on Ondrej Palat seemed fair.There did not look there was any intent, as he was just trying to go over Palalt as he skated past him, but he did make contact to the head, which is a penalty. Because it did not appear intentional, even though there was head contact, a major did not look warranted. I can understand the cobra view because there was head contact and wouldn't be shocked if a fine comes down, but there is no phone hearing, so no suspension, which to me also would have been extreme.

Offensively, he continues to rake. Another goal, giving him 15, but beyond that, he looks to be a threat every time he is on the ice. Because of that status, he draws extra attention, which should open the ice for his teammates.

Penalties. As crazy as this sounds, I am almost getting to the point where maybe every penalty should be reviewed. Some of the calls, which applies to all teams, are just ridiculous. Players have learned to "sell" the boarding call, by just turning their back at the last minute. That is not and should not be a penalty because there is nothing the opposition can do because they are already engaged to make the check when the body turn occurs at the last minute.

I would really advocate for reviews but there are lots of problems with suggestions that and I will give two. First, what happens if the call ends up as a delayed penalty and with the goalie pulled, a goal is scored. Could it be overturned since the delayed call should have never been made? Second, pace and time of a game. Since goals and possible goals are reviewed for confirmation, the game is already rightly slowed a bit. If we did it on penalties, even just certain calls, we might end up in Yankees-Red Sox territory. I am unsure what's the best way to proceed, but right now too many improper calls are getting made.

Neutral zone play. In the back-to-back games against Philly and Montreal, the Rangers dominated the neutral zone, stifling the opponents' attack. After the first period yesterday, New York seemed to forget how that is supposed to be done. Tampa Bay won the battle of the neutral zone handily, leading to attacks and counter attacks. When you couple that with a horrific performance in the dot, poor own zone play and subpar penalty killing, it's no shock the Rangers lost. They are lucky the score wasn't worse.

The fourth line. Similar to my neutral zone play, the fourth line was great in the two wins and lousy yesterday. Jesper Fast had his worst game since his promotion and Tanner Glass, everyone's favorite whipping boy, stunk. He has to mark Callahan in front of the net, not allow him to get position and score. In addition, his turnover led to the fourth goal.

My feelings on Glass are well known but here I go again. I thought giving him three years in general was ridiculous. But when you award him $1.3 million per season, it looks even stupider. Glass doesn't have the skill or speed of Derek Dorsett and lacks the offensive touch and speed of Dan Carcillo. I felt at the time the signing wasn't wise but he is not the scourge of the earth nor the reason why New York has struggled. If others were playing up to their capacity - like Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello to name a few - his so-so play would be a side light. But because others aren't pulling their weight, any mistake or failure Glass makes - given his standing with the fan base, it gets magnified.

Lineup Changes

Ryan McDonagh, out since November 1 with a separated shoulder, participated in full-contact practice today skating on a line with Dan Girardi. In my prior blog, I said I would allow McD another week to make sure he was fully healed, but it looks like he will play Friday. As such, John Moore appears to be the odd-man out, with Matt Hunwick the sixth d-man, playing with Kevin Klein while Marc Staal, who also was horrific yesterday, remains with Dan Boyle.

Lee Stempniak, out the past few games with a lower-back injury and then scratched to keep Fast in the lineup, skated on the third line in place of Anthony Duclair today. I know everyone wants Glass benched and questions why Duclair is the one getting sat. I view Duclair as a star burst or streaking comet, he looks great at times but it's fleeting and not something that gets repeat frequently. Once of twice a game we something brilliant from Duclair, but the rest of the time, he isn't noticeable. Duclair is just 19 and growing into his body and talent at this level. I agree he shouldn't be sent to juniors, but agree with sitting him. Given the Flyers' style of play and possibility for some rough stuff, that's likely why Glass - and not Duclair - is in.

Cam Talbot was bound to play one of the back-to-back contests against the Flyers. That game will be tomorrow's as Henrik Lundqvist will go Saturday. If Talbot can play anywhere close to the way he did in the win over Philly last week, New York should be in good shape.

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