Jan Levine: Game 18: TB 5 NYR 1, Failure to Compete by the Rangers at MSG on Monday Tampa Bay completely dominates the Rangers at the Garden

As posted on previous blog....

Ok first things first step away from the ledge. I watch as much hockey as anyone here, any game from anywhere, and I have watched a lot of Tampa, they are a machine. Don't base your season on last night, you still have a ton of talent on this club, I as a fan of your hated enemy hope that a loss like this one does not wake you guys up. Something did it last year, we all know that, is it a different team...yes and maybe a character guy is needed, but you don't blow up a stanley cup finalist after less then 20 games of the following season. Sometimes its fun to kick at you guys, but last night you simply ran into one of the best 3 or 4 teams in the league playing at a ridiculous level. I am sure as a squad they wanted to give the ex rangers a night, it showed, the key games are how you handle Philly and Buffalo and the first long road trip. Anyway I kinda would like a playoff series with you guys, then no mercy! []

Jan Levine: Game 18: TB 5 NYR 1, Failure to Compete by the Rangers at MSG on Monday
Tampa Bay completely dominates the Rangers at the Garden
- airjan23

I was going to get tickets to see them play on black friday in Philly, but I am glad I passed. Can't trust whether that would be a game they decide to give a full effort.

This team needs a road trip.

This team needs a road trip.
- rangerdanger94

Bring Malone to...loosen them up a bit

Bring Malone to...loosen them up a bit
- TPC

More like hype them up

More like hype them up
- rangerdanger94

As posted on previous blog....

Ok first things first step away from the ledge. I watch as much hockey as anyone here, any game from anywhere, and I have watched a lot of Tampa, they are a machine. Don't base your season on last night, you still have a ton of talent on this club, I as a fan of your hated enemy hope that a loss like this one does not wake you guys up. Something did it last year, we all know that, is it a different team...yes and maybe a character guy is needed, but you don't blow up a stanley cup finalist after less then 20 games of the following season. Sometimes its fun to kick at you guys, but last night you simply ran into one of the best 3 or 4 teams in the league playing at a ridiculous level. I am sure as a squad they wanted to give the ex rangers a night, it showed, the key games are how you handle Philly and Buffalo and the first long road trip. Anyway I kinda would like a playoff series with you guys, then no mercy!
- Sec111[]

Yeah, I agree with your overall premise and don't want to really see any major changes to the team, except maybe finding a 4th line that can compete and eat minutes like TPC said in the other blog. And that might just be bringing up someone from Hartford.

Yes Tampa gets full credit and they have been probably the most dangerous offensive team this year, but we saw the same compete level against the Oilers and a couple other teams. That's what bothers me.

Sure every team is going to have clunkers but the Rangers have seemed to have a few to many early. Again I don't think we need to change the makeup of the team. I do believe we have the horses, Its just getting all the horses competing for a majority of the 60 minutes.

I am back from being banned, wish I could extend my ban. Nothing to say right now.

Yeah, I agree with your overall premise and don't want to really see any major changes to the team, except maybe finding a 4th line that can compete and eat minutes like TPC said in the other blog. And that might just be bringing up someone from Hartford.

Yes Tampa gets full credit and they have been probably the most dangerous offensive team this year, but we saw the same compete level against the Oilers and a couple other teams. That's what bothers me.

Sure every team is going to have clunkers but the Rangers have seemed to have a few to many early. Again I don't think we need to change the makeup of the team. I do believe we have the horses, Its just getting all the horses competing for a majority of the 60 minutes.
- mdw7413

It is sad that as fans that is all we want. Just try and give effort for 60 mins lol

I am back from being banned, wish I could extend my ban. Nothing to say right now.
- jimbro83

You know things aren't good when the Rangers leave you speechless

I am back from being banned, wish I could extend my ban. Nothing to say right now.
- jimbro83

I am just here to defend the flag from annoying fans that love to rub it in the face of Rangers fans just how bad this team looks so far.

We all have watched this team fail to compete with good teams(Tampa) average teams(Toronto) and flat out bad teams(Edmonton).

Full credit to the teams that come into MSG and manhandle the home team but equal credit, in the end results of those games, goes to the utter lack of focus and compete level by these Rangers.

They have played two complete games all season: 4-0 win against SJ and last week's 5-0 win against the Penguins. They have taken too many games off this season and the team is at 99% full strength so we/they can't use the injury bug excuse anymore.

They are professionals and many of them are not playing like it. Part of being a good pro is being consistent. Can't name more than three players that have played up to or above their potential this season, rookies aside.

It is sad that as fans that is all we want. Just try and give effort for 60 mins lol
- TPC

Exactly. If they lose and busted their ass I might be annoyed they lost as a fan, but would still be positive about the effort and the team.

We don't have an Avery/Prust/Dorsett etc that can bring that energy with a big hit or a big hustle play or drop the gloves or create a scoring chance or just fly to every puck on their shift to change momentum. Glass is a plug out there and by no means am I putting our mediocre start on a 4th line player but we're missing a guy like one of those mentioned above. Not only did those guys do all the things mentioned above but they added SOME offense. Our top 3 lines also lack some nastiness to them and I think we make it easy for other teams to play against. Nash Brass MSL Stepan Kreider Zucc Hayes Hags Duclair. All 9 are not overly physical and certainly don't intimidate anyone except maybe Kreider when you go after his boy. 
Remember the difference in energy once we acquired Avery? We need that type of player again.

We don't have an Avery/Prust/Dorsett etc that can bring that energy with a big hit or a big hustle play or drop the gloves or create a scoring chance or just fly to every puck on their shift to change momentum. Glass is a plug out there and by no means am I putting our mediocre start on a 4th line player but we're missing a guy like one of those mentioned above. Not only did those guys do all the things mentioned above but they added SOME offense. Our top 3 lines also lack some nastiness to them and I think we make it easy for other teams to play against. Nash Brass MSL Stepan Kreider Zucc Hayes Hags Duclair. All 9 are not overly physical and certainly don't intimidate anyone except maybe Kreider when you go after his boy. 
Remember the difference in energy once we acquired Avery? We need that type of player again.
- nyrangers9479

Energy players are great but they also need players that don't fall completely apart after they fall behind early on. It's moot now but they looked good out of the gate last night.

After Tampa scored their first goal it was a complete no show effort at even strength the rest of the way.

Energy players are great but they also need players that don't fall completely apart after they fall behind early on. It's moot now but they looked good out of the gate last night.

After Tampa scored their first goal it was a complete no show effort at even strength the rest of the way.
- MidnightMarauder

Was going to say, this Rangers team seems very fragile. Almost like if they give up a goal or 2 they kind of just go through the motions. Little surprised by this as I thought the experience from last year would mentally make this team stronger. Obviously this could still change, but as each game goes by its tough to say "its still early".

As posted on previous blog....

Ok first things first step away from the ledge. I watch as much hockey as anyone here, any game from anywhere, and I have watched a lot of Tampa, they are a machine. Don't base your season on last night, you still have a ton of talent on this club, I as a fan of your hated enemy hope that a loss like this one does not wake you guys up. Something did it last year, we all know that, is it a different team...yes and maybe a character guy is needed, but you don't blow up a stanley cup finalist after less then 20 games of the following season. Sometimes its fun to kick at you guys, but last night you simply ran into one of the best 3 or 4 teams in the league playing at a ridiculous level. I am sure as a squad they wanted to give the ex rangers a night, it showed, the key games are how you handle Philly and Buffalo and the first long road trip. Anyway I kinda would like a playoff series with you guys, then no mercy!
- Sec111[]

I think the biggest difference here is that they can't keep relying on being a good second half team when the conference has improved by a significant degree.

The upper echelon teams, to this point, are Pittsburgh, Tampa, Montreal and Boston(still). But now teams like your Islanders have greatly improved. If you look around the conference what team is truly a door mat, aside from Carolina and Buffalo? Columbus is dealing with a ton of key injuries right now but they will pick it up as players return. Capitals, Devils and Flyers are average but they can beat any team on any given night; same can be said about Toronto. I expect teams like Ottawa and Florida to fade into non playoff caliber territory, before long, but the Rangers have a tougher hill to climb, within their own division, then they had in prior seasons.

Was going to say, this Rangers team seems very fragile. Almost like if they give up a goal or 2 they kind of just go through the motions. Little surprised by this as I thought the experience from last year would mentally make this team stronger. Obviously this could still change, but as each game goes by its tough to say "its still early".
- mdw7413

We, as fans, are running out of track, to say it's still early. There are clear problems here. Not saying they lack talent, because they have skill here, but it looks like a bad mix so far. It seems they are missing that glue type player that can bring the team together.

Players are struggling, up and down the lineup, aside from a few and to win in this league you need the majority of your lineup to play well. This isn't the NBA or MLB where a few players can carry your team to victory. It has to be all hands on deck and so far we haven't seen that much.

For most of this season, we've been worried about depth defensemen and the center position. Obviously, last night was just a piss poor lack of effort, spectating, not moving their legs, etc. But I think we might need to bring in a gritty, veteran forward,(wing) to play with Hagelin and Hayes. Duclair is not ready. Malone is too slow. Fast is a serviceable guy to fill in. They never really replaced the size and experience of Poulliot and Boyle. Glass replaced Dorsett/Carcillo. We need some grit up front. With only one contract and not a lot of cap space available, options are limited. I don't think Joey Crabb is the answer either. All that said, none of this excuses last night's lack of effort and poor defensive play. Tampa's a very good team, but they handed them that game. Callahan's 2 goals just added to the embarrassment.

i am not going to put this on tampa, yes they are hot etc but if we play to our level we can handle every team in the nhl, this again was solely on the rangers themselves

i agree with getting away rom madison square garden. i can't remember a team deseperately needing a road trip like this team needs right now. they need to get the hell out of the garden for a while, especially since they've been a pretty good road team the past couple of years.

chris kreider has to get his head out of his ass. his career is at a cross roads already. this is the season we had him pegged to break out and score 30 goals. this could be the year that defines him as a serious offensive threat or sean avery V2.0.

i am not going to put this on tampa, yes they are hot etc but if we play to our level we can handle every team in the nhl, this again was solely on the rangers themselves
- webleedblue

They gave Tampa a very easy game. The Lightning look pretty talented enough to be able to score without their opponent literally handing them two or three goals.

This sort of effort has happened at least four times this season and that is just not acceptable. Tampa is good but not unbeatable. The way the Rangers played last night they would have gotten their @ss handed to them by any team in the league.

First, Tampa is a team to gauge against, as was Pittsburgh and Montreal will be a couple games from now. Yes, injuries and suspensions have hurt them a little, but it does not excuse the forwards lack of defense on many nights that could have assisted the depleted defensive unit and the goaltenders. You cannot rely on Lundqvist every game. You need a full 60-minute effort, much like they did against the Penguins. To play the games they did against the Oilers, Jets and Avalanche, and be on the losing end of it (I don't care about the one point they received), this is not acceptable. If this team plays a hard, 60-minute game and loses, then I can accept that. There are many people who were here last year to know what needs to be done. I think the loss of Brian Boyle and Dan Carcillo is showing. Glass, and sometimes Kreider and Nash, seem to be the few that throw the body around (excluding the defensemen). That is where a guy like Carcillo would have been good, even though sometimes he goes over the line. You need more physical play to throw the other team a little off their game. As others said, I was there was someone like Avery still out there. Bang some of these big name stars around a bit. Get them and there teams off their game so you can play yours. Look at what Malkin did to Girardi. As long as you are not leaving your feet, that is exactly what this team needs to do. Get Krieder and Nash involved more physically. Play Malone perhaps and have him use his bigger body. Some of these nights, I do not know how they have so few shots on goal, let alone decent chances to score more goals. They probably do need a road trip, but you also have to find ways to win games in front of your fans too. The coaches need to step it up and put more pressure on these players. Sit some the stars here and there when they underperform. Wake them up. This team has talent, and if they are not coming through, then Sather needs to make a move or two to bring in the right people who can make a difference in the right direction. They have time to turn this around, but don't wait for the trading deadline to make decisions that may be needed before that. I am not giving up on this team. They just need to figure it out, like they need to with Anthony Duclair and move on already.

perhaps the problem is simply that we have no more excuses to help rationalize why the team is playing poorly. Maybe all of our rationalizations have been unfounded. Maybe this team just starts slow, regardless of the circumstances. They've turned it around the last few years, have made the playoffs and made some noise ... I'm hopeful this is just another historically slow start.

perhaps the problem is simply that we have no more excuses to help rationalize why the team is playing poorly. Maybe all of our rationalizations have been unfounded. Maybe this team just starts slow, regardless of the circumstances. They've turned it around the last few years, have made the playoffs and made some noise ... I'm hopeful this is just another historically slow start.
- JackBurton37

Only time will tell. If it makes anyone feel any better the team had a record of 16-18-2 after 36 games. That's twice the amount of games the team currently stands at with their mediocre record. There is time to turn it around but they can't continue with these really poor efforts like last night. It's alarmng if it occurs once but this isn't the first time the Rangers have laid an egg like this.