New York Rangers Daily: Blueshirts woes go beyond losing; Canadiens win again; Canucks historic comeback
During a riff on the latest RINK RAP podcast, which posted Wednesday morning, it hit me. The Blueshirt Faithful are not most upset at the Rangers missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, even after coming so close to reaching the Stanley Cup Final last spring.
What makes them angrier is that this is not a likeable team.
Sure, it was easy to love the Rangers last season. Fifty-five wins, 114 points, the Presidents’ Trophy, another trip to the Eastern Conference Final.
But it wasn’t just about winning. It’s how they won. How an opponent’s lead was never safe. How the Rangers seemingly never quit on a game. All the comeback wins. All the heroic moments.
Yes, that masked a lot of problems with their style of play and roster make up. The Florida Panthers exposed those areas in the conference final.
Yet along the way, there were so many feel-good moments. It was easy for the fans to embrace that team.
Not so much now. At the slightest sign of adversity, this current Rangers team folds. They don’t have a single win after trailing by multiple goals. They’ve allowed multiple goals in less than two minutes 23 times.
Then there are the late blown leads, incapable of handling momentum swings or meeting an opponent’s heightened sense of urgency with games on the line. Or simply, how about all the no-shows and lack of compete?
These Rangers are soft. They are broken. They are not likeable.
That’s not to say these players aren’t good people, funny dudes, guys you’d like to grab a beer and hang with. That’s not the kind of likeable we’re talking about here.
On the ice, Xs and Os aside, as a team, these Rangers are not likeable.
I hear it all the time from you the reader and podcast listener. You, the Rangers fan, simply cannot embrace this team. Sure, losing makes you angry. But it’s how this team loses, that’s really pissed you off.
Or worse.
Made you completely check out before this season is even officially over.
Please watch the latest RINK RAP podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page — this one gives a nod to Jonny Brodzinski for his his “It sucks to be in this position” commentary.
If you wish to listen instead, CLICK HERE. And enjoy!
New York Rangers news
Speaking of Rangers fans, they were pretty pissed off with coach Peter Laviolette’s postgame comments Monday, which made it appear that he’s checked out on the season. Here’s a fair breakdown of why the fans are so angry, as well as an explanation of why Laviolette meant.
Jonny Brodzinski and Artemi Panarin are just two of the players trying to explain the Rangers current situation as the season goes down the drain.
Jon Cooper and Peter Laviolette were among the winners and losers Monday, when the Rangers lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Here are three Rangers takeaways after their latest loss Monday, including another meltdown.
“It’s truly special”: Jonathan Quick reacts to winning the Rod Gilbert Mr. Ranger Award.
NHL news and rumors
The Rangers are now eight points out of the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, after the Montreal Canadiens won their sixth straight game, 4-1 over the Detroit Red Wings. New York’s tragic number to be eliminated is now three.
More good news for the Canadiens — they signed 2024 first-round pick Ivan Demidov to an entry-level contract. The highly-skilled and exciting 19-year-old forward, who was the No. 5 overall pick, will join the Canadiens immediately after a terrific season in the KHL.
The Ottawa Senators’ playoff drought is over. Despite losing 5-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the loss by the Red Wings clinched a berth for the Senators, who hold the first wild card in the East.
NHL history was made last night in Dallas, where the Vancouver Canucks erased a three-goal deficit in the final minute of the third period and then defeated the Stars 6-5 in overtime. It’s the first time in League history a team rallied from that many goals down with a minute or less to play.
Jack Eichel was scratched by the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday and is day to day with an upper-body injury.
Former Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey scored the tying goal to help the Colorado Avalanche edge the Golden Knights 3-2 in a shootout.
Former NHL star and Stanley Cup champion Evgeny Kuznetsov mutually agreed to terminate his contract with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, making him a free agent.
The New Jersey Devils failed to clinch a playoff spot Tuesday and instead were hammered 7-2 by the down-and-out Boston Bruins.
How’s this for a double dose of misfortune for the Islanders? Ilya Sorokin left their game against the Nashville Predators with an upper-body injury and then the Islanders blew a late lead and lost 7-6 in overtime.
Tristan Jarry and the Pittsburgh Penguins shut out the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0. But rookie forward Rutger McGroarty left the game with a lower-body injury in the second period.
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