The Rangers continued their futility at the Barclays Center, losing their seventh straight in their new House of Horrors, 7-5 on Thursday. After jumping to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals within 35 seconds in the first, the Rangers allowed the Islanders to tie it on two goals in a 63 second span. in a penalty filled game where defense appeared optional, the Blueshirts trailed 5-3 after the second and 6-3 in the third before rallying to late to make the contest a one-goal game. Cal Clutterbuck's empty-net goal on another play where a Rangers defenseman was outmuscled for the puck sealed the loss.
Game recap:
David Quinn Post-Game:
A few thoughts:
1) Deflection goals - the theme of the night, as you will see if you didn't watch last night. From the NHL.com game recap column:
Anthony Beauvillier made it 2-1 at 9:35 when he redirected Thomas Hickey's slap shot from the point. It was his second goal of the season and first since Oct. 27. Beauvillier got inside position on Tony DeAngelo in front of the net with Brady Skjei also on the ice.
Brock Nelson tied it 2-2 when he redirected Nick Leddy's shot for his ninth of the season at 10:38. Kevin Shattenkirk on defense in front of the net paired with Fredrik Claesson.
Beauvillier completed the hat trick and gave the Islanders a 4-3 lead when he redirected Johnny Boychuk's shot for a power-play goal at 5:13. He beat Neal Pionk for position in front of the net.
Anders Lee deflected Leddy's shot for a power-play goal at 14:04 to make it 5-3. On this play, no one in front of the net to move Lee out. Pionk and Staal the blueline pair on the ice.
Four of the first five goals against came on deflections in front of Henrik Lundqvist. The fifth came via a breakaway after a poor pass in the neutral zone.
Leo Komarov finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play with Valtteri Filppula and Beauvillier to make it 6-3 at 9:56 of the third. The play started on a horrific giveaway by Skjei in his own zone and ended when Komarov was able to get inside position and fend off Skjei to score.
Clutterbuck's game-clincher came after Nelson outmuscled ADA for the puck in the neutral zone.
2) Defense - conceptually only and not in actual practice. Gaping holes through the neutral zone and then when the Islanders entered the offensive zone, little push back by the Rangers, both by the forwards and the blueline. Even when the Blueshirts showed a semblance of bite in their own zone, the lack of coverage in front of the net was staggering.
Of the six blueliners for the Rangers, maybe Claesson, who scored, had a good game. Skjei's regression from two years ago continues somewhat unabated. He was a whole lot of woof yesterday. Pionk showed that while his offense, especially on the man-advantage, as seen on his beautiful keep in the offensive zone leading to the first goal, is excellent, his play in his own end leaves a tremendous amount to be desired. Embarrassingly bad as Pionk can't seem to make a clean pass to create a clear zone breakout or use proper positioning defensively. Marc Staal didn't impress at all, neither did Shattenkirk or DeAngelo' all three blueliners making gaffes throughout the contest. No Ranger finished on the plus side of the ledger, though another fairly solid game by Filip Chytil, who scored late, and Chris Kreider, who tallied both power play goals.
What was most staggering was the ease in which the isles outmuscled and outworked the blueliner in the offensive zone. Little push back or ability to move an opponent off a spot and beaten along the boards repeatedly. Quinn has to change the new style of playing the opponent side-saddle in front of the net and/or do a better job of having the defense lift the stick or not allow the forward to just plant his body in front of the net.
3) Lundqvist - pulled, but not his fault. Four of the five goals off directions in front and the fifth a breakaway. He and Alexandar Georgiev were outplayed by Thomas Greiss, who was very good despite allowing five goals on 41 shots. But this loss was not on Hank and the benching was more as a message to the team rather than a reflection of Lundqvist's play.
4) Refereeing - the Rangers' defensive ineptitude was only matched by the blind mice on the ice.
A double minor was called against Mikea Zibanejad for cutting Leo Komarov with a high stick. Only problem was that it was Filppula's stick that caused the damage. This is what Quinn referred to as "whoop-de-doo' in his press conference when asked about it as the refs laster apologized for the blown call. The Blueshirts killed the penalties and escaped the first tied 2-2
But with the score tied at three after the shorthanded goal by Kevin Hayes, who was very good again and one second left in the penalty to Vinni Lettieri, Skjei was called for interference, an absolutely horrific call. The Rangers killed the first minute, but Beauvillier completed his hat trick with yes another deflection goal in front. Then after a missed boarding call on the Islanders, Chris Kreider, who scored twice, was sent off for tripping and Lee made it 5-3 on the PPG on yup, as noted above, yet another deflection.
5) Power play - despite going 2-for-4 on the power play, I am not in love with having Zib move from the left point and dot to right hash with Mats Zuccarello on the left. This change prevents Zib from getting off the one timer or using his fine shot with Kreider in front as a screener.I wouldn't be shocked if this is switched around for Saturday's game. Also, as was pointed out to me on twitter, earlier in the season, they finally has scratched the drop back pass through the neutral zone to gain momentum. Now it's back. Please scrap that again.
6) Barclays Center. First, the weather kept the crowd down, which was late arriving and lots of fans disguised as empty seats. Early on, it sounded like MSG when the Rangers were up 2-0. Then the chants of Yes, Yes, Yes started in earnest. When it became 6-3, the chant of “You can’t beat us” was ringing in my ears. When the Blueshirts made it 6-4, a bit of panic started in the crowd. Then when the score became 6-5, the arena sounded like a Rangers' home game. The rally died there but it was fun to put a scare in the road arena that a three-goal comeback was possible.
7) Regroup - today should be a hard practice. Lots to work on and fix. Lines could be tweaked, but if a change occurs, expect that on the blueline. i wouldn't be shocked if Brendan Smith played Saturday, though that is probably somewhat remote.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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