Why Rangers coach expects ‘pretty good response’ for bounce-back game against Red Wings
The New York Rangers are in need of a major bounce-back game after suffering an embarrassing 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.
They’ll have a chance to get back on the right track when they visit the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. If this Rangers squad is anything like last season’s that won the Presidents’ Trophy, it should be primed for a much better showing following a clunker of a loss.
“My history with this group is that often times there’s a pretty good response,” coach Peter Laviolette said Friday.
Looking back on last season, Laviolette makes an excellent point. There were several times when the Rangers had a lackluster performance, but more times than not, they responded with a win, which would often turn into a win streak.
Take last season’s 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Oct. 19 for example. A rough early loss for the Blueshirts, but they followed it up with a 4-1 win of their own against the Seattle Kraken to start a six-game winning streak. On Jan, 26, they lost 5-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights. New York then went on a scorching-hot 10-game win streak.
In fact, the Rangers only lost consecutive games in six instances last season. Five times , it was just two losses in a row. Only once did they have a stretch of more than two defeats, a four-game losing streak from Jan. 6-13.
They first lost consecutive games Dec. 5-9. They were outscored 10-2 by the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals, including a 4-0 shutout against the latter. The Rangers went on to win four of their next five games.
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Rangers seek ‘more energy,’ fast start against Red Wings
This season, the Rangers (8-3-1) have yet to lose consecutive games, and they’ll look to keep that streak alive Saturday. To do so, they’ll need to improve in nearly every facet of the game.
“I think if we play a fast, direct game, that’s our best hockey,” forward Reilly Smith said. “We just have to get to that quickly in that game. Obviously the first goal is important.”
The Rangers will need to a much better start to the game than they had against the Sabres, when they surrendered the opening goal just 26 seconds into the contest.
It was all downhill from there, as New York gave up another four goals, including three which came in a span of less than three minutes in the second period, before finally scoring one of their own in the third period.
“I think the main thing is just making sure we come back with more energy,” explained defenseman Braden Schneider. “I think if we can come back and assert ourselves into the game physically, make sure that we’re competing and just playing a simple game, I think it’s going to be huge for us. Once we get going, I think we’re a really good team.”
The Rangers are one of the best teams, in fact, once they get going. The problem is the getting going part. On any given night, especially in this 3-3-0 stretch, some part of the lineup or team is not performing up to standards. It could be the offense, the defense, or in exactly one case this season on Thursday night, the goaltending.
Lately, it’s been a mix of issues, including a lack of compete in their overall game.
The Rangers have been getting outplayed and out-worked in more games than not over the past two weeks, and have still managed to play .500 hockey.
They may have the perfect tonic to their ills Saturday. The Rangers defeated the Red Wings twice already this season by a combined 9-3, including 5-2 at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 17.
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