The Rangers lost for the third straight time on Monday to Tampa, this one by a 6-3 score. If you read a lot of what's been written, you would believe that the sky is falling and that the team is on the verge of falling out of the race. That's not to say there aren't issues that need resolution, but some of the portrayals of where this squad is are a bit over the top with too much drama ensconced in them.
The player blamed the most for Monday's loss is Henrik Lundqvist. Per Larry Brooks, or at least the headline associated with the column, Lundqvist has "regressed." I am not sure that term is the right classification for Lundqvist, though if going by his overall numbers - .905 save percentage and 2.70 goals-against average - as compared to years prior, that may be an apt term.
However, have we all forgotten how last year started and ended? The Rangers and Lundqvist got off to horrible starts last season. Cam Talbot helped right the ship, allowing Lundqvist and the team time to regain their form. Once that occurred, especially after the first two months of the year, it was all systems go. The new coaching staff, style of play and contract negotiations contributed to Lundqvist's slow start a year ago, so those are no excuse now. But, if you take out the three games against Tampa, during which he allowed 14 goals in 79 shots, the overall numbers look a lot better and closer to where they usually are.
Stammerman posted his view on each goal Monday and how Lundqvist wasn't really to blame for most of them. I will touch on that below but I will agree that Lundqvist hasn't been as consistent as usual this season. The defense, which includes the blueliners and forwards, who have failed to do a good job picking up the slot, hasn't helped but Lundqvist does need to be sharper. When he struggles, it due to playing too deep in his crease or failing to properly track the puck, the latter of which is usually a strength. But to characterize his year as a regression is a bit strong 24 games into the year.
Here is a look at the goals, first what Stammerman wrote and then my view in italics. I am posting this not to necessary focus on the individual goals but more so the broader concerns that helped result in each one.
Looking at all the goals by Tampa:
First goal by Tyler Johnson (The Bolts had great zone pressure and Victor Hedman thru it on net at Ondrej Palat and Lundqvist has to react that way but Palat swiftly sent to Johnson who had half the net and no one covering him) I put that on the D (agree. The defense failed in their coverage, in this case Matt Hunwick, who lost track of the puck after it went off Palat and didn't clear Johnson, while the forwards also did a poor job of backchecking and marking TB's offensive line, which in this case was on Dominic Moore, as he allowed Palat to get inside position. A major reason for the Rangers slow start was the forwards inability to handle their responsibilities in their own zone. It came back to bite them again Monday)
Second goal by Brent Connolly (yes this is on Hank I suppose but he was clearly screened by Brenden Morrow and a Defender and I think it was Staal who looked like a fool on the inside out move also screening Hank) but I can see this one being Hank. (This one I disagree with as I put this one more on Staal and the D than Lundqvist. Staal was faked out and has been too reliant on the stick check, as has the whole defense, rather than playing sound, positional hockey. Dan Girardi was unable to budge Morrow, which to me in general is a concern, as the lack of physicality from the blue line has been all too evident the first quarter of the year. Last, Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider didn't bust it back, which gave Tampa more time in the offensive zone aiding their efforts in scoring).
Third goal by Matt Carle (Not on Hank at all, the Lightning trapped the Rangers into their own zone and the Rangers couldn't clear and still had the 3 penalty killers on the ice while the Bolts were able to change - that was all Bolts pressure and tired D on the Rangers) plus the shot Carle made was great I don't blame Hank on that one. (disagree on this one, as pointed out by Steve Valiquette. Lundqvist did a poor job of tracking the puck, and when it did come to Carle, Lundqvist was too deep in net. With that, he wasn't fully square to the shooter and giving Carle less space at which to shoot. Also, this one on Moore and McDonagh, each of whom could have cleared the zone and failed to do so).
Fourth goal by Connolly (Power play, can't say you can really blame the goalie on a PP goal, Connolly has a quick wrister and it beat Hank) 50/50 on if he stops that shot but he could have made a save there. (great shot, don't blame Lundqvist fully for this one as he was screened, though it would have been nice if he was out a bit higher to cut down the angle)
Fifth goal by Johnson (Again this was on the D, Nikita Kucherov won the battle behind the net against two Rangers D and sent a nice pass to Johnson who came in unmarked and one timed it passed Hank with a goal scorer type of goal) - not on Hank. (This one is on Klein and McDonagh, though Derek Stepan was in the paint rather than marking Johnson and Chris Kreider and Martin St. Louis also failed defensively. Klein was outhustled by Kucherov, who got it to Johnson and he had no one on it as noted above).
Overall, one goal can be directly attributable to Lundqvist while the remainder were a result of some poor play in the Rangers' own zone. However, Lundqvist needs to do a better job of fighting through screens, cutting down angles and covering up for break downs. Last year, during the Rangers run, Lundqvist did that, this year, while that has happened at times, it has not occurred as consistently as we are used to given Hank's past performances.
What's more concerning is the blue line play. Too often, the D has been content to stick check. What has happened too often is that they either get beat by the forward or a penalty is called. Ulf Samuelsson needs to work with the defense to be better positionally and play more physically. We have harped on that lack of a physical d-man in the past, which has bitten New York at times the past several years, especially in the series against LA. I am not sure if anything will change, given the current constitution of the blue line. But if they play better positionally, it will somewhat make up for the lack of a true bopper on the back line.
McDonagh rounding into form should help as well. After missed over three weeks, he was good in the first game against Philly, okay in the back end of the home-and-home and subpar Monday. He gets a bit of a pass due to the time he was of course and need to get back up to speed, but the Rangers need Mack Truck, along with Lundqvist, to be elite players. Please don't use the captaincy as an excuse as its a crutch. Again, it's only 24 games in, and while McD needs to be better, it's a bit early for me to be concerned that it won't happen this year.
While New York was outclassed by Tampa, it's not time to panic. The goal is to get to the point where they are on equal footing with Tampa, who is one of the elite of the league right now. That right now is key. There is 58 games left, so plenty of time remains. Plus, when I say get to the Tampa level, it's not necessarily to play that team, since the season series is over and they wouldn't meet until the ECF, but it's to get to playing at that level. If they do meet each other, then I will worry about not matching up well, but of course, who knows what each team will look like at that time due to trades and injuries. Also, I thought the team played very well in they Escondido, carrying action much of the period, until the goal by Carle.
There is a long way to go and a lot of work to be done, but everyone needs to take a step back and chill a bit. Take away the three losses to Tampa and NY is 5-3-2 in their last 10. Kreider and Mats Zuccarello haven't done much at all, especially Zucc, who may be gripping the stick too tight to justify a new deal. Because there is plenty of time and I do believe several players will rebound, which will help when/if Rick Nash comes back to earth, not all is lost in Rangerstown.