New York Rangers Daily: Blueshirts make wrong statement; 9 teams were in on Mikko Rantanen trade
What else could they say? The New York Rangers focused on turning the page to their three-game road trip that starts Tuesday in Winnipeg against the League-best Jets. That’s because it was easier to do than trying to explain their meltdown against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, one day after another face-plant in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Consecutive games against the teams directly in front of them in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Consecutive losses lowlighted by stunning breakdowns. One point gained when four were needed.
So much for big brother teaching their little siblings a thing or two at crunch time this weekend. The Senators and Blue Jackets flipped the script on the Rangers.
When push came to shove Saturday with a two-goal lead and 10 minutes to play, the Rangers stumbled badly. Ditto for Sunday, when two short-handed goals in 42 seconds on the same PK to tie the game 3-3 just preceded more stumbles and another wasted opportunity to grab ahold of the playoff race.
There are 18 games to play. This race is far from over, though now the two teams in front of the Rangers have games in hand. But the Rangers are right there. It’s just that this was a statement weekend.
And the statement the Rangers made was not an impressive one.
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New York Rangers news
Here’s a list breakdown of the winners and losers from the Rangers loss Sunday to the Blue Jackets.
And here are three Rangers takeaways from the latest defeat, including a comparison between Alexis Lafreniere and Adam Fantilli.
How did the Rangers react to the brutal loss Sunday? “This one sucks” was a massive understatement.
NHL news and rumors
Utah goalie Connor Ingram is seeking help from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and stepped away from the team for an indefinite period citing issues coping with his mother’s death from breast cancer.
Jonathan Toews told The Athletic that he didn’t like how his career with the Chicago Blackhawks ended so is working toward an NHL return next season.
Pierre LeBrun reported that nine teams were in on Mikko Rantanen ahead of the trade deadline before he was dealt to the Dallas Stars by the Carolina Hurricanes. No, the Rangers were not one of those teams.
Despite seeking Mitch Marner’s permission to be included in a trade proposal to land Rantanen, the Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly are eager to sign the pending UFA to a new contract and keep him in Toronto.
Star forward Roope Hintz is day to day with an upper-body injury after taking a puck to the face over the weekend. He didn’t play against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.
Mikael Granlund scored for the Stars in their 4-1 win over the Canucks.
Cody Glass scored in his Devils debut, a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Newcomers Mark Jankowski and Logan Stankoevn combined for three goals to lead the Hurricanes past the Winnipeg Jets 4-2.
The Los Angeles Kings held on for a wild 6-5 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, who received a hat trick from Tomas Hertl.
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