The Rangers fell to 2-6-2 with a 4-1 loss to the Sharks on Monday. Any hopes of sustaining the better play from Saturday were dashed less than two minutes in. This is a fragile team aching for strong leadership and a strong kick in the rear, neither of which has been evident this season.
These two quotes from the Post, Brett Cyrgalis and Larry Brooks show just how bad the starts have been:
The explanation of how the Rangers are losing begins at the start. They gave up the first goal to Logan Couture just 1:56 into the first period, making it the third time in the first 10 games they have given up the first goal on the first shot against. That goes along with the fact they’ve given up the first goal another three times on the third shot of the game. Overall, the Rangers have been down 1-0 within the first six minutes of the game in six of their 10 games, and five times within the first 2:40.There doesn’t seem to be anything to grab onto, anyone to grab hold of. The Rangers seem to be waiting for bad things to happen. They haven’t had to wait long, either. The Blueshirts have fallen behind five times within the opening 2:40. They — and Lundqvist — have allowed goals three times on the first shot against and three other times on the third shot against. They have trailed by two goals four times within the opening 12:45.
I never wish for players to get injured or coaches to lose their job. But the way the team has played to date, it’s hard to see how coach’s Alain Vigneault survives most longer, despite the extension he signed and team’s overall record with him as coach. When the same slow start happens repeatedly. When there is a lack of desperation and a seaming lack of effort, that’s on management and the coaching staff. I don’t want to hear about the lack of a center. While true to an extent, that doesn’t result in the questionable performances at best up and down the lineup. As I have said before, talent won’t beat effort when there is no effort from the talent. In addition, when the coach can’t adjustmmet properly, it filters down through the team.
This article was on Canucks Army in 2013 regarding AV's cons, including an inability to adjust:
Article from Thomas Drance, well-known Canucks writer in 2013: https://t.co/XeT1alQCVG pic.twitter.com/92Vvp1E9Nn
— Brandon Cohen (@brandonco4) October 24, 2017
Right now, Vigneault is searching for answers, with none to be found. But even with that searching, the head scratching decisions remain. Jimmy Vesey and Jesper Fast finished 2nd and 3rd in even strength time on ice for forwards tonight. Pavel Buchnevich finished 2nd to last. Finally, in the third, Buchnevich skated on a line with Rick Nash and Mika Zibanejad with Michael Grabner-J.T. Miller-Mats Zuccarello and Jimmy Vesey-Kevin Hayes-Jesper Fast the other two set trios, making Chris Kreider and David Desharnais the extras. Unfortunately, several of these players have been invisible.
Zuccarello has had one good game - the contest versus Toronto - but done little beyond that. Kreider should be on a milk carton or charmin wrapper because his game has for the most part lacked the edge needed. Vesey and Fast are fine, but their extra minutes should not come at the expense of Buch. While Nash couldn’t score on an empty net despite dominating action. If I am AV, I restore the KZZ line, place Hayes with Miller and Nash, play Desh with Vesey and Zucc and have Grabner-Fast as the extras with Nieves called up to create a true fourth line. The possession numbers as seen below kind of indicate who played well and poorly, though even these are skewed by the six power plays New York had, impacting the 5v5 time on ice, yet the Rangers were unable to breakthrough. That 0-for-6 now makes the team 3-for-25 recently.
Final Possession Numbers:
Final #NYR possession numbers: pic.twitter.com/LqRMrhqwGy
— Brandon Cohen (@brandonco4) October 24, 2017
On defense, Anthony DeAngelo showed he can run a power play while Ryan McDonagh is fighting it. Restore Brady Skjei to the second PP and sit McD. Plus if Kevin Shattenkirk isn’t contributing there, right now, he isn’t adding much. The team’s best blueliner has been been Marc Staal. Let that sink in, Marc Staal. The rest have been average at best, and several, worse than that. The seven D scheme isn’t working. Sit Holden, mix up the combinations and hope.
Between the pipes, Henrik Lundqvist, despite several brilliant saves, let in a few weak ones. Whether Couture’s shot was tipped by Kreider, it’s one that should be stopped. Tim Heed from below the goal line, well, you know the answer on that one. Joonas Donskoi was a bad read defensively by Zucc but Hank was too deep in net giving Donskoi an angle at which to shoot. Lundqvist’s reaction time has slowed, which is why his playing deep in the net and reliance on patience and reactions doesn’t work as well as it once does. I would love to seen him out a bit higher in the crease, challenging shooters and cutting down angles. The fourth goal, well, please don’t play the puck anymore.
Despite all the above and the possible small tweaks that can be made, maybe this is the end of an era. Maybe it is just like the George Grimm’s book, ‘We Did Everyhing But Win, the 1964-76 Rangers,’ described, where the era ends quickly. As the book and Larry Brooks noted, what happened is that Eddie Giacomin was waived, Jean Ratelle and Brad Park were traded and Emile Francis retired. Different era and times with different league rules. But maybe this is the end of an era and closure of the window, one that much faster than any of us anticipated.